IIHF European Champions Cup

The IIHF European Champions Cup (ECC) was an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation, which took place during a long weekend in early January. The winner is considered the official club champion of Europe by the IIHF. The Champions Cup was first played in 2005, as a replacement for the defunct European Cup and the suspended European Hockey League. Beginning in the 2008-09 season, it will be replaced by the Champions Hockey League, which will be the new official European club championship event.

IIHF European Championships

The IIHF first established a European championship in 1910, this was played for until 1932.

IIHF European Champions Medals

From 1933 to 1991, the European Champions were established by comparing the records of the European teams at the Ice Hockey World Championships, and medals were accorded thusly.

European Cup

The European Cup, also known as the Europa Cup, was a European ice hockey club competition for champions of national leagues which was contested between 1965 and 1997, governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

History

Inspired by the success of football's European Cup (now UEFA Champions League), the IIHF decided to start the competition in 1965 during a meeting in Tampere, Finland. The idea was brought up by a German, Dr. Sabetzki, and approved by a majority of the delegates.

However, the tournament was often plagued with problems. Teams from different countries were generally of wildly differing standards due to different levels of development in ice hockey across Europe, resulting in many uncompetitive, one-sided games. Significant organisational difficulties were also posed by the refusal of some Soviet Union teams to play away games in certain places. This resulted in no final being held some years, and more than one final being held in others. The competition was discontinued after 1997. In its place, the European Hockey League and the Continental Cup, and later the IIHF European Champions Cup, were started.

Format

Teams were seeded and drawn into groups of four teams, with the winners of each group progressing to the next round, where they were drawn into groups again. Each round was played over a long weekend (Friday to Sunday) in a single venue, until one final group was left, the winner of which would be considered champions. After the European Cup was discontinued, the Continental Cup would adopt this format.

Winners

Knockout, 1966-1979

ee also

*IIHF Continental Cup
*IIHF European Championship
*Champions Hockey League
*Spengler Cup