Release from 20.12.2024

Stability and Future Direction: Results of the AHL Forum

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On Monday, December 16, the annual Alps Hockey League Forum took place. Representatives from the participating federations of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia, as well as the league’s clubs, joined this important online discussion. The focus was on the league’s stability and key decisions for future development.

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Memorandum of Understanding will be extended
A crucial step for the long-term stability of the Alps Hockey League was achieved through the decision to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – the agreement of intent between the three federations. The Austrian Ice Hockey Federation, the Italian Federation, and the Slovenian Federation all agreed to continue their partnership. This collaboration underscores their shared interest in a strong, cross-border league.

Registration Deadline for Existing Clubs: January 15 – January 31
Another key focus of the forum was the registration process for the upcoming season. Existing clubs will have the opportunity to register between January 15 and January 31 to allow for early preparations for the next season. At the same time, the federations emphasized that after the deadline, additional national teams may be proposed to expand the field of participants.

Stability and Further Development at the Core
Over the past few years, the Alps Hockey League has established itself as a highly competitive and attractive competition, confirmed by the successful collaboration between federations and clubs. The lively exchange during the online forum once again highlighted the importance of joint decisions for the league’s future progress.

Marcello Cobelli, Chairman of the AHL Board of Governors, summarized: “The decision of extending the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrates that all parties believe in the league and are looking ahead together. The Alps Hockey League stands for stability, exciting competition, and strong player development.”

The Alps Hockey League Success Story
The Alps Hockey League looks back on an impressive development and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in the upcoming season. Across the eight completed seasons, there have been four different champions from two countries, highlighting the league’s competitiveness and balance. Currently, the AHL is writing another exciting chapter: with EK Zeller Eisbären, an Austrian team is leading the standings. No Austrian team has ever won the Alps Hockey League title before.

Furthermore, the AHL is known for its thrilling and closely contested games: Around 20% of matches are decided in overtime or shootouts, and nearly 60% end with just a one-goal difference. The league’s young talents play a significant role in this excitement. With an average player age of 22.5 years this season, the Alps Hockey League has firmly established itself as a breeding ground for future stars.