The New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) is New Zealand's top-level ice hockey league. Established in 2005 by Guenther Birgel, the NZIHL is sanctioned by New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation). The NZIHL is an amateur league with players not paid to play. The NZIHL champion is awarded the Birgel Cup. The NZIHL is currently contested by six teams from three affiliated regions, including three teams from the North Island and three teams from the South Island. The most successful team in NZIHL history is the SkyCity Stampede, who have claimed eight NZIHL championships. The current champion, from 2023, is the SkyCity Stampede.

History

The New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) was formed in 2005 to develop the sport of ice hockey in New Zealand by Guenther Birgel, and to give the top players in the country regular competitive hockey to improve the skill level of the game domestically and make New Zealand more competitive on the international stage. The league was setup with restrictions on import players (players born outside of New Zealand and Australia) to assist in the promotion of local players to help achieve its founding goals. Scheduling for NZIHL would fit into the Northern Hemisphere's ice hockey offseason, to enable a small amount of quality import players to help grow the sport and teach local players. The league was founded with four teams that included the Canterbury Red Devils, West Auckland Admirals, Southern Stampede and South Auckland Swarm.

The first ever game of the NZIHL in the inaugural 2005 season, was played on 3 June 2005 at Paradice Botany Downs, Auckland. The game saw hosts, West Auckland Admirals, defeat the visiting Canterbury Red Devils 5–2, with all goals coming in the third period after blank first and second periods.

The maiden season ran for four rounds and twelve games followed by a best of three finals series in Dunedin. Southern Stampede finished top of the regular season standings, claiming the league premiership. The Stampede were joined by the Admirals in the finals series. Southern Stampede were crowned NZIHL champions and lifted the maiden NZIHL Trophy with a 2–0 clean sweep of the finals series. Simon Glass, from the Stampede, finished as the league's first top points scorer with 14 points and took out the league MVP award. Steven Reid, also of the Stampede, was named Finals MVP.

Prior to 2007 season, the South Auckland Swarm changed its name to the Botany Swarm in order to differentiate themselves with a more unique name from the West Auckland Admirals. Previously there had been confusion around the similar names. Botany was chosen as the Swarm's home rink is located in the Auckland suburb of Botany Downs.

In 2008, the league expanded for the first time and added a fifth team. The Dunedin Thunder joined the league as a second team from Otago, creating the first South Island derby in the league along with the Southern Stampede. The Stampede relocated to Queenstown leaving the Thunder to build its supporter base in Dunedin.

For the 2010 season, the league announced a change to the NZIHL championship trophy. The NZIHL trophy was retired and the league introduced the Birgel Cup to be handed to the league champion who wins the NZIHL Finals.

ニュージーランドアイスホッケーリーグ(NZIHL)は、ニュージーランドで開催されるアイスホッケートーナメントです。このトーナメントは、ニュージーランド国内のアイスホッケーチームが参加し、優勝を争います。

NZIHLは、プロフェッショナルなアイスホッケーリーグであり、高いレベルの競技が展開されます。トーナメントは通常、夏季に開催され、数週間にわたって行われます。

ニュージーランドのアイスホッケーファンにとって、NZIHLは非常に重要なイベントです。各チームは、地域や都市を代表して戦い、熱狂的なサポーターを魅了します。

NZIHLは、スリリングな試合や激しい競争が特徴であり、選手たちはスピード、技術、戦術を駆使して優勝を目指します。トーナメントは、プレーオフ形式で進行され、最終的な優勝チームが決定されます。

ニュージーランドの美しい自然環境の中で開催されるNZIHLは、観客にとっても魅力的なイベントです。アイスホッケーの試合を観戦しながら、美しい景色や素晴らしい雰囲気を楽しむことができます。

NZIHLは、ニュージーランドのアイスホッケー界の発展に貢献しており、若い選手たちにとっても重要な舞台となっています。将来のスター選手の発掘や育成にも力を入れており、ニュージーランドのアイスホッケーの将来を担う選手たちが輩出されています。

ニュージーランドアイスホッケーリーグ(NZIHL)は、アイスホッケーファンにとって見逃せないトーナメントであり、競技の魅力を存分に味わうことができるイベントです。