German Minor-Pro/ Semi-pro Ice Hockey

[dw91 0]

Recently, Ive been reading a lot about hockey in Germany, specifically minor/semi-pro leagues. What I would like to know is some information on transfer rules (number of americans allowed), salaries, and level of play in the different levels of pro hockey in Germany. Basically, just what the difference is between each level, and where each league falls as far as level of competition. I know there are discrepancies in each state, but I'm just looking for kind of an overall estimate. Thanks

[Jason Harris 31]

I'll ask Gouche to reply to this. He played/coached/gm'ed 17 years in Germany and was the Marketing Director for the Hannover Scorpions this season.

[dw91 0]

That'd be awesome! My buddy from Ettenheim, which is by Freiburg, knew nothing about it. Of course, he was a soccer player too, so he's probably not too concerned with the hockey scene in Germany. But Ive always been interested. I speak a little german, so that helps a little with reading some of the team websites.

Jason, I figured out who Gouche is, and based on Eurohockey.net's profile of his playing career, he should be a veritable encyclopedia of german hockey knowledge, lol

[Jason Harris 31]

I left a message for him.

If you speak a little German, you should visit the Hannover Scorpions' website, because Gouche has some interviews in German, and he says half the fun is how badly he speaks German.....

[Flames#60 0]

Recently, Ive been reading a lot about hockey in Germany, specifically minor/semi-pro leagues. What I would like to know is some information on transfer rules (number of americans allowed), salaries, and level of play in the different levels of pro hockey in Germany. Basically, just what the difference is between each level, and where each league falls as far as level of competition. I know there are discrepancies in each state, but I'm just looking for kind of an overall estimate. Thanks

hey, i live and play in germany

so, i dont know about the first league, but in the second you are only allowed to have 6 foreigners. there is no salary for any team. to the leagues, each state has his own leagues until the third league. the third league is divided in a north and a south division. the best two teams will move up in the 2nd league. since 2 years you cant not move up in the first league anymore, that should help somehow but the entire hockey teams agree on changing that two normal again. the 2nd league is nationwide and the winner of the playoffs will move up.

i think thats basically it

if you wanna know anything else, just ask me

[Kerry Goulet 0]

Hi Guys,

I am presently in Germany wrapping up a great season for the Hannover Scorpions. Great to see the interest in German Hockey and Jason thanks for the recommendation. I am traveling back to Toronto Monday morning and will give some insight on German Hockey and of course the break down on leagues and salaries later in the week.

Also I do a European Hockey show each year and I will inclose the link for anyone interested in keeping up to date on all the leagues.

Kerry Goulet "the Gouche"

[dw91 0]

Haha the german is a little rusty in the shows Gouche, but it's always hard to pick up a second language. You're not doing too bad. As long as you know the difference between "ich bin heiss" and "mir ist heiss", you will probably be ok in Germany, lol, the younger people are very fluent in english, from my experience. I can't wait to go over there as soon as I get the opportunity, I'm saving up right now :)

[DVX 0]

A friend of my mother from her high school days now coaches the Heilbronn Falcons. My agent(for lack of a better word) who is trying to get me a tryout in Italy is also friends with this guy and hes been in contact with him. So ill be learning what German hockey is all about. Im confused by the 2-3 different leagues there are and which is considered the top league(my assumption would be the DEL)

[Globalz 1]

Yeah the DEL is the best level of hockey in Germany.

[dw91 0]

A friend of my mother from her high school days now coaches the Heilbronn Falcons. My agent(for lack of a better word) who is trying to get me a tryout in Italy is also friends with this guy and hes been in contact with him. So ill be learning what German hockey is all about. Im confused by the 2-3 different leagues there are and which is considered the top league(my assumption would be the DEL)

DVX, top league is DEL. Heilbronn is 2. Bundesliga, afaik, so thats one step down from DEL. Not too shabby at all. What team did you last play for?

[DVX 0]

A friend of my mother from her high school days now coaches the Heilbronn Falcons. My agent(for lack of a better word) who is trying to get me a tryout in Italy is also friends with this guy and hes been in contact with him. So ill be learning what German hockey is all about. Im confused by the 2-3 different leagues there are and which is considered the top league(my assumption would be the DEL)

DVX, top league is DEL. Heilbronn is 2. Bundesliga, afaik, so thats one step down from DEL. Not too shabby at all. What team did you last play for?

lol thats the thing thats sort of holding me back from going over to europe, i havent played anything higher than AAA hockey and sr. mens hockey and im 20 years old right now. My agent, John Vecchiarelli was a huge player in Italy not too long. My sister is friends with his daughter and he invited me out to play with his team this season so i did. Thats when he offered to get me something in Europe because he thinks im good enough to be playing there, and i sure as hell wouldnt be wasting my time if he didnt. Anyways long story short politics screwed me out of junior A hockey, lost love for the game then just got back into it. Ill be playing provincial junior A in the meantime.

[dw91 0]

Sounds like me. Didnt see the point in spending 8,000 a year on jr's, where I would be expected to goon it up, when i could spend 10,000 a year going to school, and playing ACHA D2 hockey. Didnt get screwed out of Jr. A, I had my shot, school's just more important to me. It's be neat to play in europe after college, but Im not holding my breath, Id have to be one heck of a standout at the ACHA level to play anything decent over there, from what I see. But I'll be giving it my all in college hockey, thats for sure.

[DVX 0]

I probably should have played hockey during my first year of uni, would have done me some good i suppose.

thank god junior is free here, no way in hell id pay for that stuff.

ive got confidence in my ability as a player to be able to play in europe, european teams may think otherwise due to my resume but its all about who you know, and im quickly learning this

[Flames#60 0]

A friend of my mother from her high school days now coaches the Heilbronn Falcons. My agent(for lack of a better word) who is trying to get me a tryout in Italy is also friends with this guy and hes been in contact with him. So ill be learning what German hockey is all about. Im confused by the 2-3 different leagues there are and which is considered the top league(my assumption would be the DEL)

DVX, top league is DEL. Heilbronn is 2. Bundesliga, afaik, so thats one step down from DEL. Not too shabby at all. What team did you last play for?

lol thats the thing thats sort of holding me back from going over to europe, i havent played anything higher than AAA hockey and sr. mens hockey and im 20 years old right now. My agent, John Vecchiarelli was a huge player in Italy not too long. My sister is friends with his daughter and he invited me out to play with his team this season so i did. Thats when he offered to get me something in Europe because he thinks im good enough to be playing there, and i sure as hell wouldnt be wasting my time if he didnt. Anyways long story short politics screwed me out of junior A hockey, lost love for the game then just got back into it. Ill be playing provincial junior A in the meantime.

well in the second league you are only allowed to have a few foreigners (i think 6). unless you are really good, or really cheap, most of the time they wont take you (but since you know the coach, that shouldnt be biggest problem lol). thats the only good thing about being german. if you want to play its not that big of a deal, because you dont take away any space for an american or so

[DVX 0]

A friend of my mother from her high school days now coaches the Heilbronn Falcons. My agent(for lack of a better word) who is trying to get me a tryout in Italy is also friends with this guy and hes been in contact with him. So ill be learning what German hockey is all about. Im confused by the 2-3 different leagues there are and which is considered the top league(my assumption would be the DEL)

DVX, top league is DEL. Heilbronn is 2. Bundesliga, afaik, so thats one step down from DEL. Not too shabby at all. What team did you last play for?

lol thats the thing thats sort of holding me back from going over to europe, i havent played anything higher than AAA hockey and sr. mens hockey and im 20 years old right now. My agent, John Vecchiarelli was a huge player in Italy not too long. My sister is friends with his daughter and he invited me out to play with his team this season so i did. Thats when he offered to get me something in Europe because he thinks im good enough to be playing there, and i sure as hell wouldnt be wasting my time if he didnt. Anyways long story short politics screwed me out of junior A hockey, lost love for the game then just got back into it. Ill be playing provincial junior A in the meantime.

well in the second league you are only allowed to have a few foreigners (i think 6). unless you are really good, or really cheap, most of the time they wont take you (but since you know the coach, that shouldnt be biggest problem lol). thats the only good thing about being german. if you want to play its not that big of a deal, because you dont take away any space for an american or so

im not german, im canadian with an italian citizenship so i can work in the EU. i know the italian league(serie a and a2) has changed their rules recently and regardless if you hold an italian citizenship, if you are not registered as an italian player, you have to play 2 years as a foreigner then you are considered an italian player.

[Kerry Goulet 0]

I played professional hockey in Germany from 1987 until 2001. I had a successful career in the second, third and fourth division as a player, player/coach and player/coach/general manager of 7 different organizations. (Eschweiler, Timmendorfer Strand, Hamburg, Grefrath, Hannover, and Deggendorf) The hockey was fantastic, but it was not only about playing the game, it was about learning a new culture. I now speak somewhat fluent German and understand the European lifestyle. I feel comfortable in any part of Europe and had the chance to travel because of hockey not only Europe but the northern part of Africa. I was in Germany in 1989 as the Berlin Wall fell and that is a far greater moment then the three German Championships I won as a player/coach.

I have been often asked what was it like to play professional hockey in Germany and my answer is always the same, unbelievable. It is certainly not made for everyone and even the most talented North American players never made it over there. The game is a little different overseas but in principal as a player it was about winning and losing. It was not usually the game that proved difficult for North American players but the language and the culture. I look forward to explaining life in European hockey in a 5 part storyline here at Mod Squad for you. (Leagues, Expectations, Salaries, Opportunities, Culture). Of course I will take it from my personal experiences and my time overseas as a player and now as a media personality. I am still very close to the game, as I am the assistant General Manager of the Hannover Scorpions of the DEL (First Division in Germany) and European Media Consultant for 29 Sports. Over the weekend I will write part 1 and explain the different leagues and the quality of each country and league in Europe. I will help explain the different styles and leagues that exist in Europe, from the DEL to the Bundesliga to the Champions Hockey League.

[#56 0]

Looking forward to your post!

Thanks for the insight.

Brice, a belgian player. :)

[Neal 41]

29Sports, thank you very much for taking the time to post your response and I'm really looking forward to your storyline. I'll have to let my cousin who played in Germany for a couple years know about it, I'm sure reading it will bring back memories for him.

[Patrick67 1]

Here is my own ranking of european leagues in comparison with AHL & ECHL, just some insight for north americans that are not familiar with european hockey:

1.KHL

2.Swedish Elte League

3.---AHL---

4.Finnish SM-Liga / Swiss LNA

5. German DEL / Czech O2

6. Allsvenska (swedish 2nd league)

7. --ECHL---- / Danish Elite League / Austrian League

8. British Elite League / French Elite league /German 2nd league

Again this is my own personal evaluation of the different european leagues.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I'm just curious, but are there guys that have made it into European (or even North American semi-pro leagues) who didn't play Juniors as a kid? Or have most guys been playing since they learned to walk?

[legiahockey 3]

im playing in the 1st league in poland. there is ne league higher in poland. id compare it to jr a hockey. although all i have played is AA hockey. always being a top player on my team though.

[DVX 0]

I'm just curious, but are there guys that have made it into European (or even North American semi-pro leagues) who didn't play Juniors as a kid? Or have most guys been playing since they learned to walk?

anything is possible as long as you know the right people and a team is willing to give you a chance.

This is my case right now and trust me, although im as good as many pro players, getting a tryout because i havent played junior or pro is a pain in the ass right now as teams dont want to waste spots on just any foreigner, they want the best and your playing history will help you get that tryout.

[kovyperron5727 0]

im playing in the 1st league in poland. there is ne league higher in poland. id compare it to jr a hockey. although all i have played is AA hockey. always being a top player on my team though.

hey, noticed you are from texas too and I've played in AA too. How did you get to where you are and what can I do to get in your position?

[dw91 0]

bump

[adam14 182]

Here is my own ranking of european leagues in comparison with AHL & ECHL, just some insight for north americans that are not familiar with european hockey:

1.KHL

2.Swedish Elte League

3.---AHL---

4.Finnish SM-Liga / Swiss LNA

5. German DEL / Czech O2

6. Allsvenska (swedish 2nd league)

7. --ECHL---- / Danish Elite League / Austrian League

8. British Elite League / French Elite league /German 2nd league

Again this is my own personal evaluation of the different european leagues.

the swiss league is faster than the DEL, and since a swiss team won the champions league, you would think they would deserve a spot on that list, somewhere in front of germany and under swedish, and dont forget, not many ahl players make it successfully in the swiss elite A league.