Latvian Hockey Higher League Explained

Optibet Hockey League
Upcoming Season:2024–25 Latvian Hockey League season
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:1931
Teams:7
Countries:Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Champion:HK Mogo (3rd title)
Champ Season:2023–24
Most Champs:HK Liepājas Metalurgs
(7 titles)

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. The league is competed by nine teams from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.[1] [2] 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.

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.

A number of players who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) have played in the league, including Latvians Kaspars Astašenko, Uvis Balinskis, Helmuts Balderis, Oskars Bārtulis, Kaspars Daugaviņš, Kristers Gudļevskis, Viktors Ignatjevs, Artūrs Irbe, Raitis Ivanāns, Mārtiņš Karsums, Aleksandrs Kerčs, Matīss Kivlenieks, Artūrs Kulda, Kārlis Skrastiņš, Pēteris Skudra, Jānis Sprukts, Artūrs Šilovs, as well as imports Darby Hendrickson, Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.

Teams

Teams in 2024–25

TeamCityArenaCapacityAffiliate(s)FoundedJoined
7bet-Hockey Punks VilniusPramogų Arena2,50020102022
Airwell EnergijaElektrėnai Ice Palace2,00019772022
HS Rīga RigaRiga Hockey Hall300HS Riga 17 (JAHL)19992015
Mogo/LSPA RigaMogo Ice Hall600HK Mārupe (JAHL)2014
Panter TallinnŠkoda Ice Hall50020012023
Prizma RigaVolvo Sports Centre1,000HK Prizma Riga-2 (JAHL)1996
Zemgale/LBTU JelgavaJelgava Ice Hall2,360HK Zemgale Juniors (JAHL)2001

Former teams

TeamCityJoinedLeftLeague titles
ASK RīgaRiga193119405
LSB RīgaRiga193119400
RFK RīgaRiga193119360
Unions RīgaRiga193119392
US RīgaRiga193119423
Dinamo Rīga (original)Riga194019411
Sāga ĶekavaĶekava199119961
Pārdaugava RīgaRiga199119952
Essamika OgreOgre199220001
Juniors RīgaRiga199220000
Nik's Brih RīgaRiga199220003
Alianse RīgaRiga199419961
Lido/Nafta RīgaRiga199420010
HK Liepājas MetalurgsLiepāja199920137
HK Rīga 2000Riga200020095
Vilki/OP RīgaRiga200020060
ASK/OgreOgre200320110
DHK LatgaleDaugavpils200520120
HK Ozolnieki/MonarhsOzolnieki200820140
Dinamo Juniors RīgaRiga201020141
HK SMScredit.lvRiga201220131
HK DinaburgaDaugavpils2013
2019
2014
2023
0
KurbadsRiga2013
2023
2020
2024
2
HK LiepājaLiepāja201420221
HK LidoRiga201720190
HK Olimp/Venta 2002Riga201920221
Dinamo RigaRiga202220230
Kaunas CityKaunas202220240

League champions

Titles by team

TitlesClubYears
7Liepājas Metalurgs2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
5ASK Rīga1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939
5HK Riga 20002001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
3US Rīga1937, 1940, 1942
3HK Nik's Brih Riga1995, 1998, 1999
3HK Mogo2015, 2019, 2024
2Unions Rīga1932, 1933
2HK Pardaugava Riga1993, 1994
2HK Kurbads2017, 2018
2HK Zemgale/LLU2022, 2023
1Dinamo Riga1941
1HK Sāga Ķekava Riga1992
1Alianse Riga1996
1LB/Essamika1997
1Dinamo-Juniors Riga2010
1SMScredit.lv Riga2013
1HS Rīga/Prizma2014
1HK Liepāja2016
1HK Olimp/Venta 20022021

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Optibet Hokeja Līgā sacentīsies visu trīs Baltijas valstu komandas . LHF.lv . 11 September 2023 . lv-LV . 11 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Suveizda . Agris . "Kurbads" atgriežas, klāt arī igauņi – OHL apstiprina deviņu komandu dalību . Sportacentrs.com . 11 September 2023 . lv-LV . 11 July 2023.