The defending champions were Slovenian team HK Olimpija that participate in ICE Hockey League beginning from the 2021–22 season.

The number of participating teams has risen to seventeen from the previous season: Vienna Capitals Silver, reserve team of the Vienna Capitals (which in the previous season had decided not to participate due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic[1]) and the EK Zeller Eisbären (which was instead excluded due to the resignation of the board of directors of the company[1]); HC Merano requested and obtained from the Italian Ice Sports Federation a wild-card that allowed him to enroll in the AHL and return to play the Italian top flight after seventeen years;[2] the reigning champions HK Olimpija and HC Pustertal Wölfe from South Tyrol have instead moved to the ICE Hockey League.

[3] The formula has changed again: the seventeen teams will meet in a regular season, for a total of 32 games each.

[8] Teams finished 7th, 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th in the regular season are qualified for Qualification Group A, with the first three receiving bonus equal to 6, 3 and 2 points respectively.

[8] Teams finished 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th in the regular season are qualified for Qualification Group B, with the first three receiving bonus equal to 5, 4 and 1 point respectively.