The
Deutsche Eishockey Liga (
German Ice Hockey League, shortname DEL) is a German professional
ice hockey league that was founded in 1994. It was formed as a replacement for the
Ice hockey Bundesliga and became the new top-tier league in Germany as a result. Unlike the old Bundesliga, the DEL is not under the administration of the
German Ice Hockey Federation. The DEL currently has the highest number of American and Canadian players outside North America.