The return of the Krefeld Pinguine to the German Ice Hockey League is perfect. However, the relegation of the Dresdner Eislöwen is still not certain due to the approved licensing application of the second division champions. The licensing procedure for the other first division club will continue until around the end of June. Should a previous DEL club surprisingly not receive a license for the coming season, the Saxons could continue to play in the top flight.
"We are delighted to welcome Krefeld Pinguine, a club with a long tradition, back into our league," said DEL Managing Director Gernot Tripcke on the 2003 German champions' return to the league. The Pinguine were relegated in 2022.
The Rhinelanders had left it open for a long time whether they would submit the license documents for the DEL for financial reasons. They only decided to do so a good two weeks ago, long after winning the play-offs in the lower house. The Krefeld application had been reviewed in advance.
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