The Onesto Tigers Bayreuth are a professional ice hockey team based in Bayreuth, Bavaria, Germany. The team currently plays in the Oberliga, the third-highest level of ice hockey in Germany. The Tigers play their home games at the Kunsteisstadion.

History

Founded in 2006 as EHC Bayreuth (Eishockey Club Bayreuth), the team began as members of the Bayernliga, the lowest level of professional hockey in Germany. The club earned two promotions in their first three years of operation, earning a spot in the Regionalliga by 2009. It took just 4 years for the Tigers to win a championship and earn another promotion, this time to the Oberliga (third tier). The club continued their rapid ascent and reached the league final in 2016. While they ultimately fell to the Tilburg Trappers, because their opponents were a Dutch team, Bayreuth was awarded a promotion to DEL2.

The team's first season in the German second league ended with them posting a middling 21–21–10 mark, the first time the club did not post a winning record. After that season, the team rebranded as the 'Bayreuth Tigers' but the new name did not portent a brighter future. The second season was a disaster for the club as they finished last in the standings and lost in relegation. However, due to the financial problems of SC Riessersee, Bayreuth was given a reprieve and allowed to remain in DEL2. While Bayreuth saw some improvement over the next few years, the team was continually at risk of relegation and had to stave off demotion every year (relegation in 2020 and 2021 did not occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2023, even after saving themselves in the relegation round, the Tigers were unable to secure a license for the following year and were demoted back to the Oberliga.

A year after returning to the third tier, the club reached a sponsorship agreement with Onesto, an Ordering and Booking company, to shore up the club financial situation. As a result, the team officially became the 'Onesto Tigers Bayreuth' in 2024.

Season-by-season results

Since 2009

SeasonGPWOTWOTLLPtsGFGAFinishPlayoffs
Regionalliga
2009–1030172110561291054th of 16, BayernligaLost First Intermediate Group A Round Robin, 3–3–0
2010–1130181566115195t-2nd of 16, BayernligaLost Group A Round Robin, 2–0–2–2
2011–12302122569136803rd of 16, BayernligaWon Group B Round Robin, 4–0–2–0 Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (EV Weiden)
2012–13262020464141622nd of 14, BayernligaWon Group B Round Robin, 8–0–0–0 Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (EC Pfaffenhofen) Won Championship series, 3–1 (ERC Sonthofen 1999)
Oberliga
2013–1444233216771771364th of 12, Oberliga SouthWon South Qualification Semifinal series, 4–2 (EHC Klostersee) Lost South Qualification Final series, 1–3 (VER Selb)
2014–1544264311891941284th of 12, Oberliga SouthWon South Qualification series, 4–0 (Tölzer Löwen) Lost series, 0–3 (EHC Freiburg)
2015–1640244012801561132nd of 11, Oberliga SouthWon South Qualification Finals series, 3–0 (Deggendorfer SC) Won Quarterfinal series, 3–0 (Saale Bulls Halle) Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (EVR Regensburg) Lost Championship series, 0–3 (Tilburg Trappers)
DEL2
2016–1752212821751461558th of 14, DEL2Won First Round series, 2–1 (SC Riessersee) Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–4 (Bietigheim Steelers)
2017–18521065314713419514th of 14, DEL2Lost Relegation Semifinal series, 3–4 (Lausitzer Füchse) Lost Relegation Final series, 1–4 (Tölzer Löwen)
2018–19521864266817019611th of 14, DEL2Won Relegation Semifinal series, 4–0 (Deggendorfer SC)
2019–20521775237018318312th of 14, DEL2relegation cancelled
2020–21501245294914520514th of 14, DEL2relegation cancelled
2021–22521716285916520311th of 14, DEL2Lost Relegation Semifinal series, 2–4 (Selber Wölfe) Won Relegation Final series, 4–2 (Tölzer Löwen)
2022–2352846343812520614th of 14, DEL2Lost Relegation Semifinal series, 2–4 (Eispiraten Crimmitschau) Won Relegation Final series, 4–2 (Heilbronner Falken)
Oberliga
2023–2448222519751841826th of 13, Oberliga SouthDid not qualify
2024–25481143314114522612th of 13, Oberliga SouthDid not qualify

External links