Meldung vom 21.10.2025
Der aktuelle DOHOPs (Department of Hockey Operations) Bericht erklärt, warum die win2day ICE Hockey League die verschärften Strafmaßstäbe eingeführt hat – und auch weiterhin an diesem höheren Standard festhalten wird. Im folgenden Video präsentiert DOHOPs mehrere Szenen aus dem Sonntagsspiel zwischen dem EC Red Bull Salzburg und dem HC TIWAG Innsbruck, in dem der Unterhaltungswert hoch war und die Spieler ihr Lauf- und Körperspiel deutlich angepasst haben – wodurch die Notwendigkeit mehrerer Strafen reduziert werden konnte.
Originaltext von Lyle Seitz aus dem Video:This week's DOHOPS report is a description of why we changed and will remain with the heightened and now current penalty standard. The league must evolve from being a solid regional league into a fully professionalized, development-driven, and strategically unified European hockey product. The league owes it to the fans to entertain through speed and skill, owe it to the national players to have a product that resembles international play, and owe it to all the players for the sake of player safety.
After all, we are the win2day ICE Hockey League that is multi-country based, multi-national, and a league derived of many players with many different hockey backgrounds. We also know that we are capable of being a top European league, since we have three teams each season playing with both disciplined and speed and skill-driven hockey while being competitive within the Champions Hockey League. We also have many referees that are very well respected and do a top-notch job in the Champions Hockey League and IIHF games.
The difference in the ICE Hockey League, we, and I, previously allowed our product to slip to non-consistent and non-speed and skill-driven hockey. We are certainly making progress and must remain focused on the key behaviors and reminders to progress our game. Here are some examples from the first game, first period on Sunday, where the entertainment value was great and the players all made a noticeable change in working escape and body position, eliminating the need for multiple penalties.
Clip one in the video below shows how maintaining stick control and the blade of the stick below the knee. From the corner puck battle to the net front puck battle, the stick stayed away from the hands, players could make a play without a risk of injury, body positioning was used, Thaler could make a play on the puck in tight and the entertainment value to the fans was enhanced. And credit to Moberg who tied up St. Denis with a legal play by starting with a stick at ice level, working to gain a body position and using a stick in a legal manner.
Clip two shows play while players had respect for the opposing players hands, arms and head. Instead of using a stick in an illegal manner, both plays provided legal body checks. First hit, raffle with puck possession and legal to be checked, receives a legal check. Kerber skated into a position to make a check, stick down, regard for the puck and delivers a shoulder-to-shoulder legal body check. The second example is Wilkins coming down on the attack, passes a puck and within a permittable timely manner, Kerber delivers a legal body check.
Clip three shows first stop puck regard by using poke checks and lifts and minimizing skating lane by body positioning. Kraus comes down on a one-on-one with Lattner. Lattner keeps a stick low as a regard for the puck, body position and skating to minimize lane with an option if warranted to make a body check. Again providing an entertainment and skill-driven play for both Kraus on the attack and Lattner making a legal defensive play.
Clip four demonstrates on how to stay disciplined by body angles and moving feet. Benker receives a pass, skates into the attacking zone and is cut off by both Lewington and Baltram, skating and angling to legally eliminate the skating lane of Benker. Both Lewington and Baltram have a regard for the puck, kept their sticks low and used their feet to be in position.
In summary, the game and the brand is improving. We're seeing less dump and chase which is not as exciting in entertainment value and more puck possession or movement while entering the attacking zone providing a more exciting brand of hockey with players able to use their skill both offensively and defensively and more plays occurring in the slot and high slot area. The initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to player safety, consistency and game quality.
By applying a high and more consistent standard particularly in the areas such as stick and body fouls we aim to reduce dangerous plays, emphasize skill and speed and maintain fairness across all games. A cleaner game enhances both player performance and fan experience ensuring that the focus remains on talent, teamwork and competition. Foot speed, proper angling and body position will be the three pillars of success for those players that have or do figure it out.