After the qualifying round of two double rounds of 18 games each, in which ten teams take part, the best eight teams play the Swiss championship in the play-offs . The teams in positions 9 and 10 of the qualifying round play the relegation round together with the best four teams in National League B.
qualification
The NLA qualification was mainly dominated by SC Bern and HC Lugano , both of which achieved 22 wins in 36 games and only left the ice as losers eight times. HC Lugano secured first place in the table against SC Bern thanks to the better goal difference. In contrast, HC Ajoie lost 25 of its 36 league games and therefore had to compete in the relegation round.
In the relegation round, Zürcher SC was able to secure a non- relegation place , while HC Ajoie was relegated to the National League B with just three wins from ten relegation games . From this, the HC Sierre made it to the NLA with six wins from ten games.