Oberliga (Germany) 2021/22

The Oberliga stands as the third tier of the German ice hockey pyramid. Situated below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) and the DEL2, it feeds directly into the second division. The competition is structured into two regional divisions: the Oberliga Nord and the Oberliga Süd. Each division hosts a regular season before the winners meet in cross-division playoffs to determine the national champion.

The league officially holds amateur status according to the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB), though it includes teams with half-professional players. The DEB organizes the tournament, which currently comprises twenty-five teams in total. The winner of the playoffs earns promotion to the DEL2. Relegation is not fixed; it depends on the number of eligible teams in the fourth tier and administrative decisions. In recent years, relegation has often been suspended or replaced by club withdrawals due to insolvency.

The competition has a long history, having been founded in 1948. It originally served as the top tier of West Germany until 1958. It then operated as the second tier until 1973, when the third tier role began. Between 1994 and 1999, the league was renamed the 1. Liga before reverting to its original name. The current two-division structure was re-established in the 2015/16 season, following a period of four regional groups.

EV Füssen holds the record for the most titles with seven, all won during its time as the top tier in the 1950s. Notably, the Dutch club Tilburg Trappers won the title three consecutive times between 2016 and 2018. The current champion is Blue Devils Weiden, who defeated Hannover Scorpions in the final.