NÖELV cele­brates its 30th anniver­sary

A brief journey through the fascinating history of the Lower Austrian Ice Hockey Association (NÖELV). Before the 1990s, Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland belonged to the same regional association. However, the clubs had very different starting positions, particularly in the youth sector. This led to the formation of a committee to establish a separate Lower Austrian ice hockey association, led by Gerald Moll from Stockerau. The time came on 19 January 1994. The NÖELV, of which Burgenland had also been a member for 25 years, was officially founded in the presence of the then ÖEHV President, Dr Hans Dobida. Dr Heinz Stingl proudly took office as its first President. With its own championships and a dedicated Lower Austrian youth selection team that caused a sensation at U14 level, the association focused on nurturing young talent from an early stage.

With the introduction of the Lower Austrian provincial league and its expansion to include clubs from Upper Austria, the association reached further important milestones under the leadership of Hans-Stefan Hintner. From 2001 to 2005, City Councillor Robert Mayer led the NÖELV and paved the way for the next chapter under the leadership of Peter Aichholzer and his team. Under Aichholzer's leadership, the Eishockeyliga Ost was founded, bringing together clubs from Lower Austria, Burgenland, Upper Austria and Vienna. The integration of clubs from the Waldviertler Eishockeyliga into the NÖELV was also the result of his work and has had a lasting impact on the association.

The unexpected death of Peter Aichholzer in 2008 shook the Lower Austrian ice hockey community. However, at an extraordinary regional association meeting in the same year, a new board led by DI Dr. Peter Andrecs took office to continue the association's legacy. Under Andrecs' leadership, the NÖELV's youth development flourished, with initiatives such as ELAP, ENZO and kindergarten programmes offering young players first-class training opportunities. In addition, coach education was established and the popular FairandFun summer ice hockey camps were introduced. The recent establishment of the Lower Austria Stars in cooperation with Okanagan Hockey Europe is further proof of the association's commitment to nurturing young talent.

In 2022, Jürgen Hampel took over as President, focusing on strategy, infrastructure and association marketing. The recognition of the achievements of Gerald Moll and Peter Andrecs, as well as the appointment of Johannes Rosenthaler as an honorary member, acknowledged the commitment and passion of those who have shaped ice hockey in Lower Austria.

Numerous distinguished guests gathered in Stockerau on 19 January 2024 to celebrate the 30th anniversary in fitting style and work together on the future of our beloved sport.