A week after the North group, the Oberliga South also starts the 2016/17 season tomorrow. The North's successful start makes us even more excited for the South's games.
After the strenuous and constructive negotiations over the summer, the league can now start again with twelve teams thanks to three replacements. Even more: through the later interlocking with the Bayernleague brings a completely new, attractive component to the league. “We are happy that we can compete in this constellation. “Thanks go to all club representatives and those responsible in the associations, who ultimately made it possible in many rounds of negotiations to find a solution that makes sense from a sporting and economic point of view for all sides,” says Vice President of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) Marc Hindelang.
The focus is of course on the three replacements from the Bayernleague. While champions EHC Waldkraiburg are playing in the third division again after 24 years, the runners-up for the last two years, Höchstadter EC, are returning to the top league after eleven years. For the EV Lindau Islanders, champions of 2015 and most recently in the semi-finals, the league is completely new territory. “After carefully approaching the venture of advancement, anticipation and even euphoria can now be felt at all three locations. That's why we're of course hoping for a good performance from the newcomers." So the EHC Waldkraiburg will probably play in front of a full house in the derby against the EHC Waldkraiburg at home in the stadium with a completely renewed band especially for the Oberliga EV Landshut compete. Höchstadt (to Peiting) and Lindau (to Weiden) first have to travel on Friday. Two days later, Waldkraiburg presents its calling card in Sonthofen, while in Höchstadt there is a neighborhood duel against Weiden and Lindau hosts the southern champions Regensburg.
The EVR, which dominated the preliminary round in the south last season and only failed in the semi-finals against newly promoted Bayreuth, will probably be the measure of all things this season too. The toughest competitors are Selb, Bad Tölz and last year's surprise team from Peiting. Behind them, Landshut, Deggendorf, Weiden and Sonthofen are considered play-off candidates. The EHV 09 Schönheide, now in
second year in the league, is seen alongside the promoted teams as outsiders in the fight for eighth place, which entitles them to take part in the championship round. The play-off places and home advantage will be played here from mid-January. The teams from ninth place onwards will be linked to the Bayernleague. The best four qualify there Oberliga Süd.
Unlike in previous years, this time there will not be a double round with twelve teams. “A single round is played, to which ten games (five home and five away games) are added according to regional division. This means that all teams have 32 preliminary round games,” says DEB-Director of gaming operations Oliver Seeliger. With the additional derbies, the clubs expect higher spectator numbers and correspondingly higher income. The main thing, however, is that the... Oberliga Süd lives again and has gained perspective.
The games of the weekend:
| Time of day | Home | Guest |
| Friday | ||
| 19:45 | EHC Waldkraiburg | EV Landshut |
| 20:00 | Deggendorfer SC | EHV Schönheide 09 |
| 19:30 | EC Peiting | Höchstadter EC |
| 20:00 | Blue Devils Weiden | EV Lindau Islanders |
| 20:00 | EV Regensburg | Even wolves |
| 19:30 | Tölzer Löwen | ERC Bulls Sonthofen |
| Sunday | ||
| 17:30 | EV Lindau Islanders | EV Regensburg |
| 18:00 | EV Landshut | Deggendorfer SC |
| 17:00 | EHC Schönheide 09 | EC Peiting |
| 18:00 | Höchstader EC | Blue Devils Weiden |
| 18:00 | Even wolves | Tölzer Löwen |
| 18:00 | ERC Bulls Sonthofen | EHC Waldkraiburg |
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