After intensive discussions with the clubs over the past few days, the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund has decided to continue playing the Women's Bundesliga (DFEL) from next weekend. The prerequisite for this is, of course, that the applicable Corona protective measures are observed and adhered to and that the women's Bundesliga is classified as a top-class sport.
However, the game mode has already been changed for the 2020/21 season. The play-offs at the end of the season will be canceled in order to create space for catch-up games. The German women's ice hockey champion should instead be determined in a “Final Four” tournament between March 19 and 21, 2021. The four best teams in the main round will take part.
DEB-League leader Markus Schubert: “We had a very productive video conference with the DFEL clubs. It is very commendable and gratifying that the clubs in the women's Bundesliga are working together on the existing problems and want to find flexible solutions in order to continue playing in November. From our point of view, this was a great sign, although the different hygiene regulations continue to make uniform implementation difficult. That’s why we decided to adapt the mode.”