Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo explained

Current Season:2023–24 Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo season
Pixels:180px
Sport:Ice hockey
Founded:1972
Inaugural:1972–73
Teams:5
Tv:LaLigaSports
Champion:Jaca (15th title)
(2023–24)
Most Champs:Jaca (15 titles)
Founder:RFEDH
Website:fedhielo.com
Related Comps:Liga Nacional Femenina

The National Ice Hockey League (Spanish; Castilian: Liga Nacional de Hockey sobre Hielo) is the top men's professional[1] ice hockey league in Spain. Its governing body is the Royal Spanish Ice Sports Federation.

History

Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo was established in 1972 as the Superliga Española de Hockey Hielo. There were six founding teams which participated in the first season, 1972–73: Real Sociedad, CH Jaca, CH Valladolid, CG Puigcerdà, CH Madrid and CF Barcelona.[2]

In 2011, the league was composed of eight teams, but due to financial problems in almost all clubs, the league has reduced the number of participants year after year until only five of them were left. In the season 2021/2022 in order to grow ice hockey in Spain, two teams composed of non-Spanish people, and one composed of Spanish players, joined the league, bringing the number of teams back to eight, with the door open to new ones in the future.

Competition

Format

The regular season of Liga Nacional de Hockey Hielo takes place between September and February, with every team playing each other three times (two in home and one away or one home and two away) for a total of 21 matches. Points are awarded according to the following:

Playoffs

Upon completion of the regular season, the top four teams play in the championship playoffs. The playoffs are a best of three series, in the semifinals (where 4th plays against 1st, and 3rd plays against 2nd), and a best of five in the final.

Champions by season

(1) Under 20 category

(2) Under 21 category

Titles by team

ClubTitlesYear
Jaca151984, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024
CHH Txuri Urdin121976, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2017, 2018, 2019
FC Barcelona71987, 1988, 1997, 2002, 2009, 2021, 2022
CH Casco Viejo Bilbao (CH Vizcaya)61977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983.
61986, 1989, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2020
Real Sociedad31973, 1974, 1975
CD Hielo Bipolo22013, 2014
Majadahonda HC11998

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TOP Salaries of the Best PRO Hockey Leagues in the World . .
  2. http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com./EMD01/HEM/1972/12/30/MD19721230-030.pdf 1972–73 season schedule