The Blue Devils Weiden are a professional ice hockey team based in Weiden, Bavaria, Germany. The team currently plays in the DEL2, the second-highest level of ice hockey in Germany. The Blue Devils play their home games at the Hans-Schröpf-Arena.
History Founded in 1985 as 'EV Weiden', the club began play at the lowest level of German professional hockey, the Bavarian ice hockey leagues (Bayernliga). Little information is available for the team's early years, however, by the early-1990s, the club had made its way into the Oberliga, the third-level in Germany. The club continued its ascent with solid play for a few years before jumping up to the 2nd Bundesliga (2nd-tier) in 1994. Unfortunately, Weiden was not able to continue its winning ways in the second league and had been relegated back to the Oberliga by the end of the 90s.
In 2000 the club was sold, renamed as the Blue Devils, and started their second life in the Regionalliga (fourth-league). Within 3 years they earned a promotion back to the Bundesliga but their second stint there didn't last long. The Blue Devils were relegated in 2005 and then spent three more years in the Oberliga before being sold once more. Weiden returned to the Bayernliga in 2008 but was able to climb their way back to the Oberliga by 2012. While the club was supposed to have been relegated in 2014, they managed to remain in the third league due to the withdrawal of ERV Schweinfurt. After saving themselves from relegation the following year, Weiden was able stabilize as a middling playoff team.
After coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Weiden saw a drastic change in its fortune. In 2022, the club set a new franchise record with 29 wins. While they flamed out in the postseason, the Blue Devils won 39 games the following year and ended as the league runners-up. 2024 saw the team win 43 of their 48 scheduled games and cap off the year with a league championship. The title sent Weiden back to the second league (since renamed DEL2) for the first time in almost 20 years.
Season-by-season results Since 2012 Season Finish PlayoffsOberliga 2012–13 40 15 0 5 20 50 117 151 t-8th of 11, Oberliga SouthWon South Qualification series, 4–2 (EC Peiting)Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–3 (Kassel Huskies) 2013–14 44 9 5 4 26 26 129 198 11th of 12, Oberliga SouthLost Relegation Semifinal series, 1–3 (Deggendorf Fire)Lost Relegation Final series, 1–3 (Eisbären Regensburg) 2014–15 44 8 2 3 31 31 109 201 12th of 12, Oberliga SouthLost Relegation Semifinal series, 1–3 (ERC Sonthofen Bulls)Won Relegation Final series, 3–0 (EV Füssen) 2015–16 40 13 2 5 20 48 130 160 8th of 11, Oberliga SouthWon South Qualification Semifinal series, 2–1 (ERC Sonthofen Bulls)Lost South Qualification Final series, 1–3 (Eisbären Regensburg) 2016–17 46 15 5 4 22 59 169 182 7th of 12, Oberliga SouthLost South Qualification series, 1–3 (Selber Wölfe) 2017–18 46 15 4 4 23 57 169 201 8th of 12, Oberliga SouthLost Eighthfinal series, 0–3 (Tilburg Trappers) 2018–19 50 15 7 3 25 62 165 1967th of 12, Oberliga SouthLost Eighthfinal series, 0–3 (Hannover Scorpions) 2019–20 32 10 2 3 15 41 105 132 10th of 12, Oberliga Southpostseason cancelled 2020–21 34 11 5 0 18 43 122 128 10th of 13, Oberliga SouthLost Qualifier, 0–5 (EC Peiting) 2021–22 41 29 5 3 4 100 193 96 1st of 12, Oberliga SouthLost Eighthfinal series, 2–3 (Black Dragons Erfurt) 2022–23 48 39 4 2 3 127 253 88 1st of 13, Oberliga SouthWon Eighthfinal series, 3–0 (Füchse Duisburg)Won Quarterfinal series, 3–0 (Hannover Scorpions)Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (Saale Bulls Halle)Lost Championship series, 1–3 (Starbulls Rosenheim) 2023–24 48 43 1 1 3 132 291 114 1st of 13, Oberliga SouthWon Eighthfinal series, 3–0 (Herner EV 2007)Won Quarterfinal series, 4–0 (EC Peiting)Won Semifinal series, 4–1 (Tilburg Trappers)Won Championship series, 4–2 (Hannover Scorpions)DEL2 2024–25 52 22 3 5 22 77 158 166 7th of 14, DEL2Won Eighthfinal series, 2–1 (EC Bad Nauheim)Lost Quarterfinal series, 2–4 (Krefeld Pinguine)
References
External links Official website DEL profile Elite Prospects Hockey DB