Relegation from the North and South Oberligas will be suspended again at the end of the current 2021/22 season. The Deutscher Eishockey-Bund decided to take this step after consultation with the clubs involved in the upper leagues, the regional associations whose games are affected by this, and after a thorough examination of the current situation.
The most important reasons for this are the already competitively distorted table pictures and the danger of a further deterioration in the economic situation of some upper league teams.
DEB-Vice President Marc Hindelang (responsible for LEV/Oberligen): “The two professional leagues are the border to the amateur area. Different mechanisms apply than between DEL and DEL2. We have to act very carefully here and with this decision we take into account the difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic.”
The scheduled relegation rounds in the Oberliga Nord as well as in the Oberliga Süd omitted. Promotion to the DEL2 and the upper leagues is still possible and will be played via the regulated playoff mode.