Narvik crushed Grüner 7-2 away and thereby secured promotion to the elite series in ice hockey. Comet Halden kept their place with a 5-3 win over Ringerike.
Thursday 28 March at 19:19
The short version
- Narvik secured promotion to the ice hockey elite series after beating Grüner 7-2 away
- Comet Halden retains its place in the elite series with a 5-3 victory over Ringerike
- Grüner was relegated before the current season and must endure a new season in the 1st division
- Next season, a new qualification model for promotion and relegation will be introduced
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Before the last round on Thursday, it was completely open for the top two places in the qualification, which would give a place in the elite series next season. Narvik was on top with nine points, while Comet had eight, Grüner seven and Ringerike six.
In the away match against Grüner, Narvik took control of the game and led 5-1 midway through the second period. The Norwegians never gave up that advantage on their way to victory and promotion.
Comet and Ringerike both played in the elite series last season, but only one of them could keep their place before the fateful meeting on Thursday. In the end, Comet was strongest on the road in Hønefoss and gets a new season at the top level.
In 2019, Narvik became the first team from Northern Norway to play in the elite series. They were relegated in 2021 and have since been working to get back into the top flight. Grüner was relegated before the current season and must endure a new season in the 1st division.
Comet moved up to the elite series last year. Østfolding got a place in the top division after Manglerud Star lost its licence.
Next season there will be a new qualification model which ensures that one team moves up from the 1st division to the elite series.
The new model means that the bottom two teams in the elite series base game meet in a pure relegation qualification in the best of seven games where the loser is relegated.
In the 1st division, the top four teams in the basic series will meet in the semi-finals and then the final for one place in the elite series the following year. These matches are played over best of five.
