EHC Freiburg

EHC Freiburg is a professional ice hockey club from Freiburg im Breisgau, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The club competes in DEL2, Germany’s second-highest national ice hockey division, and is commonly associated with the Wölfe, or Wolves, identity. Its activities center on operating a senior professional team, representing Freiburg in national competition, and maintaining the wider sporting organization connected with the EHC Freiburg name. The club was established in 1984 as EHC Freiburg. Its most significant early competitive breakthrough came in 2003, when the team won the 2nd Bundesliga championship. That success earned Freiburg promotion to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the 2003–04 season, placing the club in Germany’s top professional league. For the DEL campaign, the professional operation was separated from the parent association and transferred to Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH. The professional team adopted the Wölfe Freiburg name, while the other teams and club structures remained with EHC Freiburg e.V. The first DEL season was difficult. Wölfe Freiburg finished last in the league and returned to the 2nd Bundesliga. Over the following years, the organization moved between the 2nd Bundesliga and the Oberliga, reflecting both sporting fluctuations and financial pressures. In 2006, Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH filed for insolvency. A successor company, Wölfe Freiburg GmbH, was formed in 2007, but it too ultimately became insolvent in spring 2011. The professional team was consequently relegated to the Regionalliga, Germany’s fourth tier at the time. The 2011–12 season marked a major rebuilding phase. The team again used the EHC Freiburg name while retaining the Wölfe emblem. Freiburg won all 21 of its regular-season matches and went on to win the Regionalliga championship, securing promotion back to the Oberliga. The club then developed into a competitive force at that level and won the Oberliga championship in the 2014–15 season. That title brought another promotion to DEL2 for the following campaign. EHC Freiburg’s history is therefore defined by repeated movement through the German league system, alternating between top-level opportunity, relegation, insolvency-related restructuring, and sporting recovery. The club’s identity has remained linked to Freiburg, the Wölfe emblem, and the effort to sustain professional ice hockey in the region. In 2019, the club announced that Scottish coach Peter Russell would leave the Glasgow Clan to become head coach in Freiburg, succeeding Jan Melichar. The team continues to operate as a DEL2 club, with its official communications and current organizational information provided through its German-language website.

EHC Freiburg was founded in 1984 in Freiburg im Breisgau and became one of the city’s principal ice hockey organizations. The club’s competitive history has included participation across several levels of German hockey, with its professional operation at times separated from the registered association. The first major milestone came in 2003, when Freiburg won the 2nd Bundesliga. The championship gave the club the right to enter the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the 2003–04 season. To manage the professional operation, Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH was established as a separate vehicle, and the team competed under the Wölfe Freiburg name. EHC Freiburg e.V. continued to hold the club’s other teams and activities. Freiburg’s only DEL campaign ended with a last-place finish and relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga. The following period was marked by movement between the 2nd Bundesliga and the Oberliga. Financial difficulties became a central issue in the organization’s history. Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH declared bankruptcy in 2006, after which Wölfe Freiburg GmbH was created in 2007. That successor organization later went bankrupt in spring 2011. The resulting sporting and organizational consequences sent the team down to the Regionalliga, the fourth tier of German ice hockey. For the 2011–12 season, the team resumed the EHC Freiburg name while continuing to use the Wölfe emblem. The rebuilt side produced an exceptional regular season, winning all 21 of its regular-season games, and then captured the Regionalliga championship. The title restored the team’s place in the Oberliga. Freiburg continued its recovery in the Oberliga and won the 2014–15 championship. The success earned promotion to DEL2 for the 2015–16 season, returning the club to Germany’s second tier. This sequence—from bankruptcy-related relegation to an undefeated regular season and then an Oberliga title—became one of the defining sporting chapters in the modern history of the club. In May 2019, Freiburg announced the appointment of Peter Russell, who moved from the Glasgow Clan to coach the DEL2 side and succeeded Jan Melichar. The club remains based in Freiburg and competes under the EHC Freiburg name, with the Wölfe identity continuing to play an important role in its public presentation. The available reference material does not establish a complete current ownership structure, executive roster, arena history, or detailed youth-development organization.

• 2019

  Peter Russell appointed head coach

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  The club announced Peter Russell as its new DEL2 coach, replacing Jan Melichar.

• 2015

  Oberliga championship and return to DEL2

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Freiburg won the Oberliga and entered DEL2 for the next season.

• 2012

  Regionalliga championship

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Using the EHC Freiburg name and retaining the Wölfe emblem, the team won all 21 regular-season games and captured the Regionalliga title.

• 2011

  Relegation to the Regionalliga

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  After Wölfe Freiburg GmbH became insolvent, the team dropped to the Regionalliga.

• 2007

  Successor company established

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Wölfe Freiburg GmbH was established as a successor professional organization.

• 2006

  Professional company declares bankruptcy

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2004

  Relegation from the DEL

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Wölfe Freiburg finished last in its only DEL season and returned to the 2nd Bundesliga.

• 2003

  2nd Bundesliga championship and promotion

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  Freiburg won the 2nd Bundesliga and earned promotion to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the 2003–04 season.

• 2003

  Professional operation renamed Wölfe Freiburg

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  The professional team was placed in Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH and competed as Wölfe Freiburg, while the wider club remained EHC Freiburg e.V.

• 1984

  Club founded

  [1]EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org

  EHC Freiburg was established in Freiburg im Breisgau as an ice hockey club.

A regional professional ice hockey club representing Freiburg in Germany’s national league system, with a brand built around the Wölfe identity, competitive recovery, and continuity of hockey in southern Baden.

• Professional ice hockey · 1984

  EHC Freiburg professional team

  The club’s principal sporting offering is its professional ice hockey team, which represents Freiburg in Germany’s DEL2. Its activities include league fixtures, home-game entertainment, player and coaching operations, and the Wölfe-branded matchday experience.

• Sports association · 1984

  EHC Freiburg club organization

  EHC Freiburg also refers to the broader club association connected with teams beyond the professional operation. The available references indicate that these teams remained with EHC Freiburg e.V. when the professional team was separated into a commercial company in 2003.

• Club brand and merchandise

  Wölfe Freiburg identity

  The Wölfe, or Wolves, identity is the club’s principal nickname and visual sporting theme. Although the professional team returned to the EHC Freiburg name in 2011, it retained the Wölfe emblem, making the identity an enduring part of the club’s public presentation.

• 2011

  Bankruptcy of Wölfe Freiburg GmbH

  Wölfe Freiburg GmbH became insolvent in spring 2011. The team was relegated to the Regionalliga and subsequently returned to the EHC Freiburg name.

  Source

• 2006

  Bankruptcy of Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH

  The company operating the professional Wölfe Freiburg team declared bankruptcy, contributing to organizational restructuring and later changes in the professional operation.

  Source

Read more

• 2019

  Appoint Peter Russell as head coachOther

  Background

  The DEL2 club sought a successor to Jan Melichar.

  Action taken

  Peter Russell joined Freiburg after leaving the Glasgow Clan.

  Aftermath

  Russell took over the club’s coaching responsibilities; the available reference does not provide later performance details.

  Source

• 2015

  Advance from the Oberliga to DEL2Generation change

  Background

  Freiburg won the Oberliga championship during the 2014–15 season.

  Action taken

  The club accepted promotion and returned to DEL2 for the following season.

  Aftermath

  The move restored Freiburg to Germany’s second-highest level of professional ice hockey.

  Source

• 2011

  Restore the EHC Freiburg nameStrategy

  Background

  After Wölfe Freiburg GmbH became insolvent and the team dropped to the Regionalliga, the organization needed to continue under a reorganized structure.

  Action taken

  The team again used the EHC Freiburg name while keeping the Wölfe emblem.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt team won all 21 regular-season matches and the Regionalliga championship, returning to the Oberliga.

  Source

• 2003

  Separate the professional operation from the club associationStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2nd Bundesliga championship and promotion to the DEL, the professional team required a separate operating structure.

  Action taken

  The professional operation was transferred to Die wölfe Eishockeyveranstaltungs GmbH and the team competed as Wölfe Freiburg, while other teams remained with EHC Freiburg e.V.

  Aftermath

  The team played one DEL season, finished last, and was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga. The operating company later entered bankruptcy.

  Source

1. 1EHC Freiburgen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EHC Freiburg official websiteehcf.de