France women's ice hockey league explained

Championnat de France de hockey sur glace féminin
Upcoming Season:2021–22 FFHG Féminin Élite season
Sport:Ice hockey
Inaugural:1986–87
Teams:12
Country:France
Champion:Remparts de Tours
Champ Season:2022–23
Most Champs:HC Cergy-Pontoise (19)

The France women's ice hockey league (French: Championnat de France de hockey sur glace féminin|lit=French Championship in women's ice hockey) or the FFHG Féminin Élite ('FFHG Elite Women') is the top level of women's ice hockey in France. The league is organized by the Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace (FFHG). The competition began in 1987. In some years, a second-level competition, the Excellence Division, has been held.

Format

The twelve teams in the league are divided into two divisions, North and South. During the regular season, each team plays each of the others in their division twice (once at home and once away), with 3 points being awarded for a win in regulation time, 2 points for a win in overtime or shootouts, 1 point for an overtime/shootout loss, and 0 points for a regulation time loss. The overtime period lasts 5 minutes, and is played 3 vs. 3 sudden-death. The regular season usually takes place from September to March.

The top two teams from each division then go on to play in a three-game playoff tournament (facing each other team once) in a pre-selected host city. The team that finishes with the most points in the playoff tournament is crowned league champions. The playoff tournament usually takes place at the end of March.

Current clubs (2021–22)

Poule Nord
TeamCityArenaCapacity
Gothiques d'AmiensAmiensColiséum2882
HC Cergy-PontoiseCergy-PontoiseAren'ice4500
Jets d’Évry-ViryEssonnePatinoire des Lacs900
Bisonnes de Neuilly-sur-MarneNeuilly-sur-MarnePatinoire municipale de Neuilly-sur-Marne500
Griz'Louves de Saint-Ouen/GargesSaint OuenPatinoire de Saint Ouen700
Remparts de ToursToursPatinoire de Tours2316
Poule Sud
TeamCityArenaCapacity
Aigles de BesançonBesançonPatinoire La Fayette1300
Déferlantes de Bordeaux/AngletBordeauxPatinoire de Bordeaux Mériadeck3312
Brûleurs de LoupsGrenoblePatinoire Polesud3496
Hockey Féminin 74ChamonixPatinoire Richard-Bozon1700
Rafales d'OccitanieCastresPatinoire de l'Archipel
Amazones de Marseille-PACAMarseille

Champions

Sources: FFHG,[1] [2] Hockey Archives[3]

Excellence Division Champions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Les Championnes de France Féminines par décennie . . https://web.archive.org/web/20110817170822/http://www.hockeyfrance.com/ffhg-championnats/feminin-elite/palmares-602.html . 2011-08-17 . fr . 2011 . dead.
  2. Web site: Palmarès - Championnats et Compétitions . Hockey France . 6 December 2023 . fr.
  3. Web site: Biller . Philippe . Championnat de France féminin . HockeyArchives.info . 2022-04-03.