Latvian Hockey Higher League
The Latvian Hockey Higher League (Latvian: Latvijas Virslīgas hokeja čempionāts), also known as the Optibet Hockey League (Latvian: Optibet hokeja līga) since 2017 due to sponsorship by Optibet, is the top tier league of ice hockey in Latvia currently comprising seven teams. Previously it was also known as the Latvian Open Hockey Championships (Latvijas atklātais čempionāts hokejā) and the Samsung Premier League (Samsung Premjerlīga) from 2006 to 2008. The league was established in 1931.
| Current season or competition: 2022–23 Latvian Hockey League season | |
| Countries | Latvia, Lithuania |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Recent Champions | HK Zemgale/LLU (1st title) (2021–22) |
| Most successful club | HK Liepājas Metalurgs (7) |
| Website | optibethokejaliga.com |
HK Liepājas Metalurgs, which played in the league between 1999 and 2013, has been the most successful team of the tournament, having won seven titles.
Several former National Hockey League players have played in the league, including Latvians Kaspars Astašenko, Helmuts Balderis, Oskars Bārtulis, Viktors Ignatjevs, Artūrs Irbe, Aleksandrs Kerčs, Jānis Sprukts as well as imports Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.
Teams
Teams in 2022–23
| Latvian Hockey Higher League | ||||||
| Team | City | Arena | Cap. | Affiliate Team | Found. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK Dinaburga | Daugavpils | Daugavpils ledus halle | 1,984 | HK Dinaburga-2 (JAHL) | 2013 | |
| Dinamo Riga | Riga | Inbox.lv ledus halle | 1,000 | 2008 | ||
| Energija Elektrėnai | Elektrėnai | Elektrėnai Ice Palace | 2,000 | 1977 | ||
| Hockey Punks Vilnius | Vilnius | Pramogų Arena | 2,500 | 2010 | ||
| Kaunas City | Kaunas | Ledo Arena Kaunas | 2021 | |||
| HK Mogo | Riga | Mogo ledus halle Inbox.lv ledus halle | 600 1,000 | HK Mārupe (JAHL) | 2014 | |
| HK Prizma Rīga | Riga | Volvo sporta centra | 1,000 | HK Prizma Riga-2 (JAHL) | 1996 | |
| HS Rīga | Riga | Hokeja halle Rīga | 300 | HS Riga 17 (JAHL) | 1999 | |
| HK Zemgale/LLU | Jelgava | Jelgavas ledus halle | 2,360 | HK Zemgale Juniors (JAHL) | 2001 | |
Notable previous teams
Previous teams that have won a title or played at least five seasons in the competition, winning at least one medal.
| Team | City | Joined league | Left league | League titles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | Riga | 2019 | 2022 | 1 | ||
| HK Liepāja | Liepāja | 2014 | 2022 | 1 | ||
| HK Kurbads | Riga | 2014 | 2020 | 2 | ||
| Dinamo Juniors Rīga | Riga | 2010 | 2014 | 1 | ||
| HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs | Ozolnieki | 2008 | 2014 | 0 | ||
| HK SMScredit.lv | Riga | 2012 | 2013 | 1 | ||
| HK Liepājas Metalurgs | Liepāja | 1999 | 2013 | 7 | ||
| DHK Latgale | Daugavpils | 2005 | 2012 | 0 | ||
| ASK/Ogre | Ogre | 2003 | 2011 | 0 | ||
| HK Rīga 2000 | Riga | 2000 | 2009 | 5 | ||
| Vilki/OP Rīga | Riga | 2000 | 2006 | 0 | ||
| Lido/Nafta Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 2001 | 0 | ||
| Nik's Brih Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 3 | ||
| Essamika Ogre | Ogre | 1992 | 2000 | 1 | ||
| Juniors Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 0 | ||
| Sāga Ķekava | Ķekava | 1991 | 1996 | 1 | ||
| Alianse Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 1996 | 1 | ||
| Pārdaugava Rīga | Riga | 1991 | 1995 | 2 | ||
| US Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1942 | 3 | ||
| Dinamo Rīga | Riga | 1940 | 1941 | 1 | ||
| ASK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 5 | ||
| LSB Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 0 | ||
| Unions Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1939 | 2 | ||
| RFK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1936 | 0 | ||
League champions
- 2021–22 – HK Zemgale/LLU
- 2020–21 – HK Olimp/Venta 2002
- 2019–20 – not finished
- 2018–19 – HK Mogo
- 2017–18 – HK Kurbads
- 2016–17 – HK Kurbads
- 2015–16 – HK Liepāja
- 2014–15 – HK Mogo
- 2013–14 – HS Rīga/Prizma
- 2012–13 – HK SMScredit.lv
- 2011–12 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2010–11 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2009–10 – Dinamo-Juniors Riga
- 2008–09 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2007–08 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2006–07 – HK Riga 2000
- 2005–06 – HK Riga 2000
- 2004–05 – HK Riga 2000
- 2003–04 – HK Riga 2000
- 2002–03 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2001–02 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2000–01 – HK Riga 2000
- 1999–2000 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 1998–99 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1997–98 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1996–97 – LB/Essamika
- 1995–96 – Alianse Riga
- 1994–95 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1993–94 – HK Pārdaugava Rīga
- 1992–93 – HK Pārdaugava Rīga
- 1991–92 – HK Sāga Ķekava Riga
- 1943–91 – not played
- 1942–43 – not finished
- 1941–42 – US Rīga
- 1940–41 – Dinamo Rīga
- 1939–40 – US Rīga
- 1938–39 – ASK Rīga
- 1937–38 – ASK Rīga
- 1936–37 – US Rīga
- 1935–36 – ASK Rīga
- 1934–35 – ASK Rīga
- 1933–34 – ASK Rīga
- 1932–33 – Unions Rīga
- 1931–32 – Unions Rīga
Titles by team
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| 5 | ASK Rīga | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 |
| 5 | HK Riga 2000 | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| 3 | US Rīga | 1937, 1940, 1942 |
| 3 | HK Nik's Brih Riga | 1995, 1998, 1999 |
| 2 | Unions Rīga | 1932, 1933 |
| 2 | HK Pardaugava Riga | 1993, 1994 |
| 2 | HK Kurbads | 2017, 2018 |
| 2 | HK Mogo | 2015, 2019 |
| 1 | Dinamo Riga | 1941 |
| 1 | HK Sāga Ķekava Riga | 1992 |
| 1 | Alianse Riga | 1996 |
| 1 | LB/Essamika | 1997 |
| 1 | Dinamo-Juniors Riga | 2010 |
| 1 | SMScredit.lv Riga | 2013 |
| 1 | HS Rīga/Prizma | 2014 |
| 1 | HK Liepāja | 2016 |
| 1 | HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | 2021 |
| 1 | HK Zemgale/LLU | 2022 |
References
External links
- Official league homepage
- Latvian league news and stats from Eurohockey
- Latvian league stats from Elite Prospects