2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)

The 2nd Bundesliga was the second-highest tier of professional ice hockey in Germany, below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). It existed under this name and format from 1998 to 2013. Teams competing in the 2nd Bundesliga aspired to promotion to the DEL, while also facing the risk of relegation to the Oberliga, the third tier of German ice hockey.

The league operated with a varying number of teams throughout its existence, often ranging from 12 to 14. The format generally involved a regular season followed by playoffs to determine the champion. The champion often had the opportunity to apply for promotion to the DEL, subject to meeting the DEL's licensing requirements regarding financial stability, arena capacity, and other operational standards. If the champion did not meet these requirements, or declined promotion, the opportunity could be offered to the runner-up or another team that met the necessary criteria.

In 2013, the 2nd Bundesliga was reorganized and rebranded as DEL2 (Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2). This change involved a closer integration with the DEL and aimed to improve the overall stability and professionalism of the league. The current DEL2 continues to function as the second-highest level of ice hockey in Germany.