The France women's ice hockey league () or the FFHG Féminin Élite ('FFHG Elite Women') is the top level of women's ice hockey in France. The league is organized by the Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace (FFHG). The competition began in 1987. In some years, a second-level competition, the Excellence Division, has been held.
Format The twelve teams in the league are divided into two divisions, North and South. During the regular season, each team plays each of the others in their division twice (once at home and once away), with 3 points being awarded for a win in regulation time, 2 points for a win in overtime or shootouts, 1 point for an overtime/shootout loss, and 0 points for a regulation time loss. The overtime period lasts 5 minutes, and is played 3 vs. 3 sudden-death. The regular season usually takes place from September to March.
The top two teams from each division then go on to play in a three-game playoff tournament (facing each other team once) in a pre-selected host city. The team that finishes with the most points in the playoff tournament is crowned league champions. The playoff tournament usually takes place at the end of March.
Current clubs (2021–22) +Poule Nord Team City Arena Capacity Gothiques d'Amiens Amiens Coliséum 2882 HC Cergy-Pontoise Cergy-Pontoise Aren'ice 4500 Jets d’Évry-Viry Essonne Patinoire des Lacs 900 Bisonnes de Neuilly-sur-Marne Neuilly-sur-Marne Patinoire municipale de Neuilly-sur-Marne 500 Griz'Louves de Saint-Ouen/Garges Saint Ouen Patinoire de Saint Ouen 700 Remparts de Tours Tours Patinoire de Tours 2316
+Poule Sud Team City Arena Capacity Aigles de Besançon Besançon Patinoire La Fayette 1300 Déferlantes de Bordeaux/Anglet Bordeaux Patinoire de Bordeaux Mériadeck 3312 Brûleurs de Loups Grenoble Patinoire Polesud 3496 Hockey Féminin 74 Chamonix Patinoire Richard-Bozon 1700 Rafales d'Occitanie Castres Patinoire de l'Archipel Amazones de Marseille-PACA Marseille
Champions
1986–87 : CSG Grenoble 1987–88 : CSG Grenoble 1988–89 : Gap HC 1989–90 : CSG Saint-Ouen 1990–91 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1991–92 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1992–93 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1993–94 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1994–95 : Club des Patineurs Lyonnais 1995–96 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1996–97 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1997–98 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 1998–99 : Lyon Hockey Club 1999–2000 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2000–01 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2001–02 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2002–03 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2003–04 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2004–05 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2005–06 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2006–07 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2007–08 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2008–09 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2009–10 : Grenoble Métropole Hockey 38 2010–11 : Grenoble Métropole Hockey 38 2011–12 : Grenoble Métropole Hockey 38 2012–13 : Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne 2013–14 : Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne 2014–15 : Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne 2015–16 : Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne 2016–17 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2017–18 : Aigles de Besançon 2018–19 : Remparts de Tours 2019–20 : Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic in France 2020–21 : Not awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic in France 2021–22 : Remparts de Tours 2022–23 : Remparts de Tours
Sources: FFHG, Hockey Archives
Excellence Division Champions 1999–2000 : HC Caen 2000–01 : HC Amiens Somme 2008–09 : Bretagne 2009–10 : Bretagne 2010–11 : Gap Hockey Club 2011–12 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2012–13 : HC Cergy-Pontoise 2013–14 : HC Cergy-Pontoise
References
External links List of champions on hockeyfrance.com