2016–17 National League B season

The 2016–17 National League B season is the 70th ice hockey season of Switzerland's second tier hockey league, the National League B.^[1][2]

2016–17 National League B season
League	National League B
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	September 9, 2016 – February 12, 2017
Number of games	48
Number of teams	12
Regular Season
Playoffs
Semi-Final champions	SC Langenthal
Semi-Final runners-up	HC Ajoie
Semi-Final champions	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Semi-Final runners-up	HC La Chaux-de-Fonds
Swiss champion NLB
Champions	SC Langenthal
Runners-up	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

HC Ajoie is the defending champions as they have not handed in their application for a promotion to this year's NLA season.^[3][4][5]

Teams

HC Ajoie

HCB Ticino Rockets

HC La Chaux-de-Fonds

GCK Lions

SC Langenthal

EHC Olten

SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers

Red Ice

Hockey Thurgau

EHC Visp

EHC Winterthur

EVZ Academy

National League B teams for the 2016–17 season

Team	City	Arena	Capacity
HC Ajoie	Porrentruy	Patinoire de Porrentruy	4,300
HC La Chaux-de-Fonds	La Chaux-de-Fonds	Patinoire des Mélèzes	7,200
GCK Lions	Küsnacht	Eishalle Küsnacht	2,200
SC Langenthal	Langenthal	Schoren Halle	4,500
EHC Olten	Olten	Kleinholz Stadion	6,500
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	Rapperswil	Diners Club Arena	6,200
Red Ice	Martigny	Forum d'Octodure	4,500
HCB Ticino Rockets	Biasca	Pista Ghiaccio Biasca	3,800
Hockey Thurgau	Weinfelden	Güttingersreuti	3,200
EHC Visp	Visp	Litternahalle	4,300
EHC Winterthur	Winterthur	Zielbau Arena	3,000
EVZ Academy	Zug	Bossard Arena	7,015

Regular season

The regular season started on 9 September 2016 and ended on 12 February 2017.^[2]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	SC Langenthal	48	32	6	2	8	181	105	+76	110	Advance to Playoffs
2	HC La Chaux-de-Fonds	48	30	3	6	9	198	137	+61	102
3	Red Ice	48	26	6	3	13	152	115	+37	93
4	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	48	29	1	2	16	174	139	+35	91
5	EHC Olten	48	26	4	5	13	176	130	+46	91
6	HC Ajoie	48	24	6	2	16	202	136	+66	86
7	EHC Visp	48	20	2	4	22	162	159	+3	68
8	Hockey Thurgau	48	15	5	2	26	135	161	−26	57
9	EHC Winterthur	48	14	1	2	31	121	195	−74	46
10	EVZ Academy	48	10	4	4	30	102	180	−78	42
11	HCB Ticino Rockets	48	9	3	7	29	127	195	−68	40
12	GCK Lions	48	9	3	5	31	106	184	−78	38

Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2017. Source: National League B
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) a higher number of wins in the regular time; 3) a higher number of wins in overtime and shootouts; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots.

Playoffs

	Quarter-Finals					Semi-Finals					Finals
	1	SC Langenthal	4
	8	Hockey Thurgau	0
						1	SC Langenthal	4
						6	HC Ajoie	1
	2	HC La Chaux-de-Fonds	4
	7	EHC Visp	1
											1	SC Langenthal	4
	(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
											4	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	3
	3	Red Ice	1
	6	HC Ajoie	4
						2	HC La Chaux-de-Fonds	1
						4	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	4
	4	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	4
	5	EHC Olten	1

League Qualification

HC Ambrì-Piotta vs. SC Langenthal

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

TBA TBA

TBD

v

TBD

Series tied 0–0

References

1. "National League-Spielpläne sind bekannt" (in German). SIHF. June 17, 2016. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
2. "Meisterschaft NLB / Championnat LNB – Saison 2016/17" (PDF) (in German). SIHF. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
3. "HC Ajoie claims 2016 NLB Championship title and cancels League Qualification Series". swisshockeynews.ch. April 1, 2016. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
4. "Der HC Ajoie ist NLB-Meister!" (in German). Hockeyfans.ch. April 1, 2016. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
5. "Der HC Ajoie ist NL B Meister 2016" (in German). SIHF. April 2, 2016. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016.

External links

• Official website (in German)
• Official website (in French)
• National League B, hockeyarchives (in French)