Ice hockey is a popular sport in Germany, with a long history and a strong following. The German Ice Hockey League (Deutsche Eishockey Liga or DEL) is the top professional league in the country, featuring 14 teams from across Germany.

The DEL was founded in 1994, following the merger of the German Ice Hockey Championship and the 1st Ice Hockey Bundesliga. The league has since become one of the most competitive and well-respected in Europe, attracting top talent from around the world.

The DEL season runs from September to April, with each team playing a total of 52 regular-season games. The top six teams then compete in the playoffs, with the winner being crowned the DEL champion.

In addition to the DEL, Germany has a strong presence in international ice hockey, with the national team regularly competing in major tournaments such as the Winter Olympics and the IIHF World Championships. Germany’s best performance in the Olympics came in 2018, when they won a silver medal after losing to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the final.