This upcoming season there are more nations where the local competition and season will start such as Belgium, Finland, Netherlands and Sweden. Austria and France will start one respectively two weeks later.

From a player perspective, they are usually happy that the lengthy pre-season is over and they will be ready to perform in proper championship matches. Now it is time to find well working line ups, to shape the powerplay and boxplay specialists and to get a first taste which teams are hot favourites for the playoffs.

Here is the overview of countries which will start playing this weekend (or a 1-2 weeks later) in their highest leagues.

BELGIUM
Women: Womens
Number of teams: 6
Champions 2020/2021: none – due to Covid-19

Men: Adults Division 1
Number of teams: 8
Champions 2020/2021: none – due to Covid-19

FINLAND
Women: F-Liiga Naiset
Number of teams: 16
Champions 2020/2021: PSS

Men: F-Liiga
Number of teams: 14
Champions 2020/2021: Classic

NETHERLANDS
Women: Damescompetitie Eredivisie
Number of teams: 6
Champions 2020/2021: Sonics

Men: Herencompetitie Eredivisie
Number of teams: 8
Champions 2020/2021: UFC Utrecht

SWEDEN
Women: Svenska Superligan – dam
Number of teams: 14
Champions 2020/2021: Thorengruppen IBK

Men: Svenska Superligan – herr
Number of teams: 14
Champions 2020/2021: IBF Falun

AUSTRIA
Women: ÖFBV Bundesliga Damen
Number of teams: 5
Champions 2020/2021: ASKÖ FSG Linz/Rum

Men: ÖFBV Bundesliga Herren
Number of teams: 9
Champions 2020/2021: VSV Unihockey

FRANCE
Women: Nationale 1 Féminine
Number of teams: 7
Champions 2020/2021: none – due to Covid-19

Men: Nationale 1
Number of teams: 12
Champions 2020/2021: none – due to Covid-19