Wikipedia - Metal Ligaen

The Superisligaen, known as the Metal Ligaen for sponsorship reasons, is the highest-level ice hockey league in Denmark. The league consists of 9 professional teams.

Teams from the Superisligaen can participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League). Going into the 2022–23 CHL season, the Superisligaen was ranked the No. 13 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top team to compete in the CHL.

History

The Danish Ice hockey league has become a springboard for foreign players and a place to start their European careers, before traveling to other bigger leagues such as the Swedish Hockey League or DEL. The teams rely mostly on foreign talent, but there are still a lot of skilled professional Danish players. Mostly the older Danish players are full-time professional. Most younger players are semi-professional because of the tight economy in Danish hockey, and most of the money is spent on more talented foreign players.

In the past, the league has consisted of as many as 10 teams. Despite the introduction of a salary cap as well as a limit to the number of import players allowed, several teams have struggled financially in recent years. As a result, the Herlev Hornets and the Rungsted Cobras have withdrawn from the league, reducing the number of active teams from 10 to 8. Teams from the second-tier league were offered the empty spots, but no team were able to accept the offer, citing financial issues as their main concern.

On 9 January 2015 TV2 Sport debuted as a new sports channel on Danish TV. Same day, HockeyNight also aired for the first time, with a match between Odense Bulldogs and Rungsted. Since 2015 TV2 Sport has been the place to watch icehockey and other sports.

On 18 June 2016, it was made clear that the foreign player limit of 8 was against EU law and was therefore removed. The 2016–17 season was the first time, since 2009, that a Danish ice hockey team could have an unlimited number of foreign players. The salary cap was created in order to regulate the league, and was 6 million DKK for the 2016–17 season .

On June 3, 2017, Metal Ligaen was expanded once again, to an historic number of 11 teams. Hvidovre Fighters, who had previously left the league in 2013 because of bankruptcy, got their submitted papers approved, making them the 11th team of the 2017/18 season.

Descrizione del torneo di hockey su ghiaccio "Danimarca - Metal Ligaen" in italiano:

Il torneo di hockey su ghiaccio "Danimarca - Metal Ligaen" è uno dei più prestigiosi e competitivi campionati di hockey su ghiaccio in Danimarca. Questo torneo coinvolge le migliori squadre di hockey su ghiaccio del paese, che si sfidano per il titolo di campione nazionale.

La "Metal Ligaen" è conosciuta per la sua alta qualità di gioco e per l'entusiasmo dei tifosi che riempiono gli impianti sportivi per sostenere le loro squadre del cuore. Le partite sono caratterizzate da un'intensa azione sul ghiaccio, con giocatori talentuosi che dimostrano abilità tecniche e strategie di gioco impeccabili.

Il torneo si svolge durante la stagione invernale, quando il clima freddo e le basse temperature creano le condizioni ideali per la pratica di questo sport. Le squadre partecipanti si affrontano in una serie di partite di qualificazione, seguite da una fase a eliminazione diretta che culmina con la finale per il titolo.

Gli appassionati di hockey su ghiaccio in Danimarca non vedono l'ora di assistere a questo torneo, che offre un'esperienza emozionante e coinvolgente per tutti gli amanti dello sport. Le squadre si sfidano con grande determinazione e spirito di competizione, rendendo ogni partita un evento da non perdere.

Il torneo "Danimarca - Metal Ligaen" è un'occasione unica per godersi lo spettacolo dell'hockey su ghiaccio di alto livello, mentre si sostiene la propria squadra preferita e si vive l'atmosfera unica che solo questo sport può offrire.