2022–23 National League (ice hockey) season explained

2022–23 National League season
League:National League
Sport:Ice hockey
Duration:September 14, 2022 – March 4, 2023
No Of Games:52
No Of Teams:14
Season:Regular season
Season Champ Name:Best record
Season Champs:Genève-Servette HC
Second Place:EHC Biel
Top Scorer:Roman Červenka
Top Scorer Link:
  1. Statistics
Playoffs:Playoffs
Conf1:Semi-Final
Conf2:Semi-Final
Finals:Swiss champion NL
Finals Champ:Genève-Servette HC (1st title)
Finals Runner-Up:EHC Biel
Seasonslistnames:National League
Prevseason Link:2021–22 NL season
Prevseason Year:2021–22
Nextseason Link:2023–24 National League (ice hockey) season
Nextseason Year:2023–24

The 2022–23 National League season was the 85th season of Swiss professional ice hockey and the sixth season as the National League (NL).

With a 52-game regular season remaining intact, 14 teams were announced to be participating in the campaign, marking the return of EHC Kloten after four years, following promotion from the Swiss League.[1] [2] The 2022–23 season begin the new league sponsorship partnership with Yuh Financial.[3] [4]

In the postseason, the quarterfinals and semifinals of the NL playoffs are split and featured on alternative days and in the NL playout finals, four foreign player licenses were allowed to participate on each team in the series against the playout loser and Swiss League champion.[5]

Teams

TeamCityArenaCapacity
HC AjoiePorrentruyRaiffeisen Arena5,078
HC Ambrì-PiottaAmbrìGottardo Arena6,775
SC BernBernPostFinance Arena17,031
EHC BielBiel/BienneTissot Arena6,562
HC DavosDavosEisstadion Davos6,547
Fribourg-GottéronFribourgBCF Arena9,009
Genève-Servette HCGenevaPatinoire des Vernets7,135
EHC KlotenKlotenStimo Arena7,624
Lausanne HCLausanneVaudoise Aréna9,600
HC LuganoLuganoCornér Arena7,800
SCL TigersLangnau im EmmentalIlfis Stadium6,000
SC Rapperswil-Jona LakersRapperswilSt. Galler Kantonalbank Arena6,100
ZSC LionsZürichSwiss Life Arena12,000
EV ZugZugBossard Arena7,200

Regular season

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following shows the top ten players who led the league in points, at the conclusion of the regular season.[6] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.

PlayerTeam
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers43164359+2160
Genève-Servette HC52164056+340
SC Bern46233053+765
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers52242751+1030
Genève-Servette HC46173451+1962
EV Zug52203050+426
HC Ambri-Piotta50143650-18
EHC Kloten52202949-544
EHC Kloten51193049+120
Genève-Servette HC47182846+2432

Leading goaltenders

The following shows the top five goaltenders who led the league in goals against average, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes, at the conclusion of the regular season.[7]

PlayerTeam(s)
ZSC Lions331936:317292.652.23
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers422472:279491.492.28
EHC Biel352019:057792.272.29
Genève-Servette HC251455:335691.322.31
HC Fribourg-Gottéron361967:207690.742.32

Playoffs

Bracket

Relegation playoffs

Playouts

SCL Tigers, who finished 13th in the regular season, and HC Ajoie, who finished 14th in the regular season, played in a best-of-seven playout series, which determined the team that would retain its place in the NL for the 2023–24 season. SCL Tigers won the series in six games (4–2).

League qualification

After losing in the playout series, HC Ajoie played in a best-of-seven league qualification series against HC La Chaux-de-Fonds, who won the Swiss League in the 2022–23 season. HC Ajoie won the series in six games (4–2).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: On the trail of the perfect schedule . . 15 September 2022 . 15 February 2023 . German.
  2. Web site: NL: Still with 14 teams . . 1 November 2022 . 15 February 2023 . German.
  3. Web site: Yuh becomes the new league sponsor . . 24 February 2022 . 15 February 2023 . German.
  4. Web site: 52 rounds and more free TV then ever before! . . 16 June 2022 . 15 February 2023 . German.
  5. Web site: NL starts in two week; what's new? . . 1 September 2022 . 15 February 2023 . German.
  6. Web site: Player stats . SIHF . 25 September 2022.
  7. Web site: Goalie stats . SIHF . 14 September 2022.