Swiss fans during the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia ©Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images

Ice hockey attendance figures "roared" in most European countries this season before venues had to shut to help prevent coronavirus from spreading, the sport’s world governing body has claimed.

The top 11 nations in terms of attendance in their top league all saw numbers increase, according to the annual European study carried out by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Switzerland’s National League had the highest attendance, with its average growing by 1.8 per cent to 7,074 fans, with the same 12 teams as last season.

The Lausanne Hockey Club was the biggest growth contributor as it opened its new arena, which is also a venue for the 2020 IIHF World Championship, and with the higher capacity increased its average to 8,548 fans.

Lausanne had the third-highest average in Switzerland, behind first-placed Schlittschuh Club Bern and ninth-placed Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions, and moved from 27th to 13th place in Europe.

Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) occupies second place in Europe with a five per cent increase and 6,523 fans on average.

Eleven of the DEL's 14 teams had increasing numbers, including Kolner Haie, which took first place in the country with 13,333 fans on average.

Switzerland's National League had the highest average attendance ©IIHF
Switzerland's National League had the highest average attendance ©IIHF

The Russian-based, cross-border Kontinental Hockey League dropped to third place, despite an increase of 1.4 per cent to 6,486 spectators on average.

Behind the top three, the ranking remains mostly the same, with the Swedish Hockey League up 3.9 per cent to 6,056 fans, the Czech Extraliga up six per cent to 5,724 fans, the Finnish Liiga up 0.1 per cent to 4,236 fans, the Austria-based, cross-border Erste Bank Eishockey Liga up 6.5 per cent to 3,163 fans, and the Elite Ice Hockey League in Britain up 6.8 per cent to 3,043 fans.

The Elite Ice Hockey League also saw its numbers go up significantly in the season after Britain’s successful stay in the IIHF World Championship.

The biggest increase was seen in Slovakia's Extraliga in the season after hosting the 2019 IIHF World Championship. 

The average attendance went up by 43.1 per cent to 2,379 fans.

The top 10 ends with France's Ligue Magnus, which saw its numbers rise by 13.1 per cent to 1,940 fans.

Denmark's Metal Ligaen had its numbers go up after staging the IIHF World Championship for the first time in 2018 and this season they increased again by seven per cent to 1,632 fans on average, moving up to 11th place.