The GDR ice hockey championship in 1965/66 marked the end of a 15-year streak of success for the SG Dynamo Weißwasser series champions with the first title win by SC Dynamo Berlin . Little changed in the balance of power in the league, with only a single point separating the two Dynamo teams from each other in the last three seasons. The ASK forward Crimmitschau confirmed its position as the third force in the upper league with his fourth bronze medal in a row.
In favor of a targeted increase in performance, the old mode of preliminary and final round was returned to this season. As an innovation, the top three from the previous year were already set for the finals, while the other top division teams previously played out fourth place on the grid. This measure gave the three teams from Berlin, Weißwasser and Crimmitschau a more demanding and above all shortened schedule, which in turn meant that the GDR selected players - with a few exceptions concentrated on these three teams - were available to the national team for longer in their preparation for the annual highlights of the season .
With the elimination of the league , the group league was the second highest division in GDR ice hockey for the first time and was able to record a new participation record with a total of 29 entries. The overall victory was secured by ASG Vorwärts Crimmitschau , which - unequaled for future seasons - should also have the upper hand in relegation.
Although the ASG Vorwärts Crimmitschau fought for the right to a top division starting place with this victory, they then moved back to the group league. The inferior SC unit Dresden thus remained in the top division.
Group league
Group league championship
final
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ASG Forward Crimmitschau
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The ASG Vorwärts Crimmitschau represented the group league in the relegation against the last place in the upper league.
The ASG Vorwärts Crimmitschau won the duel between the group winners for victory in the South Season.
Qualification for the group league 1966/67
There are no known promotion games.
For the new season, a separate relay was set up in the group league for the north German teams, which allowed three representatives from the Neubrandenburg district to rise. All in all, the following district leagues have entered the group league for the coming season: