List of ice hockey leagues explained
This is a list of ice hockey leagues, both professional and amateur, from around the world; parentheses denote year of establishment and, where applicable, year of disestablishment.
North America
Men
Major professional
Minor professional
Semi-professional
Junior
See main article: article and Junior ice hockey.
Major junior
Note: that the major junior level is considered professional by some authorities, including the NCAA, as its players earn a small stipend.
=Hockey Canada junior A leagues
=
Tier 2
=USA Hockey junior leagues
=
- Tier I
- Tier II
- Tier III
=Independent junior leagues
=
=Hockey Canada junior B leagues
=
(*) Quebec Junior "AA" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "B"
=Hockey Canada junior C leagues
=
(*) Quebec Junior "A" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "C"
Junior D
(*) Quebec Junior "B" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "D"
Collegiate
See main article: article and College ice hockey.
U Sports hockey (Canada)
See main article: U Sports men's ice hockey.
NCAA hockey (United States)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (United States, varsity)
- Notes
- Two all-sports conferences, the Division I Ivy League and Division III Middle Atlantic Conference, officially sponsor ice hockey for both men and women, but neither hold conference tournaments nor compete for their own automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. All of the hockey-sponsoring schools in both leagues are members of hockey-only leagues and compete for those leagues' automatic bids, with Ivy League members competing in ECAC Hockey and MAC members competing in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Ivies and MAC both extrapolate their own conference champions from results of regular-season games between their own members.
- The Northeast-10 sponsors a championship for its members that play men's ice hockey, but the NCAA doesn't currently sponsor a national championship at Division II level for either sex. All members of that conference with women's teams participate in the NEWHA.
NAIA hockey (United States)
Note: there are also independent teams outside of the WHAC.
ACHA and AAU College Hockey hockey (United States and Canada)
Women
Professional
Amateur
Junior and youth
Collegiate
NCAA (United States)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Notes
- Two all-sports conferences, the Ivy League (Division I) and Middle Atlantic Conference (Division III), officially sponsor women's ice hockey, but neither hold conference tournaments nor compete for their own automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. All of the ice hockey-sponsoring schools in both leagues are members of hockey-only leagues and compete for those leagues' automatic bids, with Ivy League members competing in ECAC Hockey and MAC members competing in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Ivies and MAC both extrapolate their own conference champions from results of regular-season games between their own members.
- The NCAA doesn't currently sponsor a national championship at Division II level for either sex. All members of the Northeast-10 conference with women's teams participate in the NEWHA.
NAIA hockey
Note: there are also independent teams outside of the WHAC.
U Sports (Canada)
See main article: U Sports women's ice hockey.
ACHA and AAU
- American Collegiate Hockey Association (Canada, United States)
- Notes
- There are also many independent teams in both ACHA divisions in addition to the many within the hockey conferences and leagues
- The CCWHA includes both a Division 1 and a Division 2 conference, with separate groups of teams as members
Senior
Canada
- Alberta
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Ligue Centrale de Hockey (Quebec Sr. AAA/semi-pro) (1990)
- Ligue de hockey senior AAA du Québec (Quebec Sr. AAA/semi-pro)
- Saskatchewan
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Southern Senior Hockey League[2]
- Beausejour Senior Hockey League[3]
United States
School and youth
High school
Defunct leagues
- All-American Hockey League (1987–1988)
- All American Hockey League (2008–2011)
- America East Hockey League (2005–2008)
- Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (1886–1898)
- American Amateur Hockey League (1896–1917)
- American Hockey Association (1926–1942)
- Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981–1987)
- Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–2003)
- California Hockey League (1928–1933)
- California Hockey League (1957–1963)
- Canadian Amateur Hockey League (1899–1905)
- Canadian–American Hockey League (1926–1936)
- Canadian Elite Hockey League (2005–2006)
- Canadian Hockey Association (1909–1910)
- Canadian International Hockey League (2014) - played one season
- Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League (2016-2022)
- Canadian Women's Hockey League (2007–2019)
- Central Ontario Junior C Hockey League (1970–2016) – became Orr Division of the PJHL
- Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926–1930)
- Central Hockey League (1963–1984)
- Central Hockey League (1992–2014)
- Central Ontario Hockey League (Unknown–1980)
- Central Ontario Women's Hockey League (1992–1998)
- Central West Junior Hockey League (relegated from Jr B in 2014 and became inactive)
- College Hockey America men's division (NCAA Division I, 1999–2010; remains in operation as a women's only conference)
- Colonial Hockey Conference (2015–2020; all programs in conference moved to Commonwealth Coast Conference)
- Colored Hockey League (1895–1925)
- Continental Elite Hockey League (2001–2004)
- Continental Hockey League (1972–1987) – became All-American Hockey League
- Eastern Amateur Hockey League (1933–1934, 1935–1948, 1949–1953)
- Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (1905–1909)
- Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey League (1923–?)
- Eastern Hockey League (1934–1935, 1954–1973, 1978–1981)
- Eastern Junior Hockey League (1993–2013) – some teams split from the league to form the United States Premier Hockey League and the remaining teams joined the Eastern Hockey League
- Eastern Junior B Hockey League (1951–1972)
- Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (2003–2008)
- Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008–2009)
- Eastern Professional Hockey League (1914–1915, 1959–1963)
- Eastern States Hockey League (2003–2013) formerly the Continental Hockey Association 2003–2011
- EJHL South (2006–2013; formerly the Southeastern Junior Hockey League) – affiliated with the Eastern Junior Hockey League from 2011–2013 before merging with the United States Premier Hockey League as the Elite Division
- Empire Junior Hockey League (–2013) – merged with the United States Premier Hockey League as the Empire Division
- Empire B Junior C Hockey League (1989–2016) – became Tod Division of the PJHL
- Federal Amateur Hockey League (1904–1909)
- Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League (19??-2016) – became Carruthers Division of the PJHL
- Global Hockey League (proposed league in 1990; did not play)
- Great Lakes Junior Hockey League (2008–2012)
- Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League (1968–2016) – became Bill Stobbs Division of the PJHL
- Great West Hockey Conference (NCAA Division I, 1985–1988)
- Gulf Coast Hockey League (2001–2002)
- International-American Hockey League (1936–1941) - became American Hockey League
- International Independent Hockey League (2003)
- International Hockey League (1929–1936)
- International Hockey League (1945–2001)
- International Professional Hockey League (1904–1907)
- Interprovincial Amateur Hockey Union (1908–1914)
- Interprovincial Professional Hockey League (1910–1911)
- Ligue Centrale de Hockey (1978–2008)
- Ligue de Hockey Junior de Montréal (1976–
- Major Intermediate A Hockey League (1978–1983)
- Manitoba Hockey Association (1907–1909; formerly Manitoba Professional Hockey League and the Manitoba Hockey League)
- Maritime Major Hockey League (1950–1954)
- Maritime Professional Hockey League (1911–1914)
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (NCAA Division I, 1997–2003; conference remains in operation as an all-sports league without ice hockey)
- Metro Junior A Hockey League (1991–1998) – merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
- Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (1966–2017) – played last season as the North American 3 Atlantic Hockey League (2016–17) and the remaining teams joined the Eastern Hockey League
- Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (2007–2008)
- Midwest Junior Hockey League (2012–2015) – merged with United States Premier Hockey League
- Midwestern Junior C Hockey League (2013–2016) – became Pat Doherty Division of the PJHL
- Minnesota Junior Hockey League (1974-2015) – merged with United States Premier Hockey League
- National College Prospects Hockey League (2016–2017) – folded after one season and was AAU sanctioned
- National Hockey Association (1909–1917)
- National Women's Hockey League (1999-2007)
- Niagara & District Junior C Hockey League (1974–2016) – became Bloomfield Division of the PJHL
- North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (2012–2016; formerly the Northern States Hockey League, 2012–2014) - merged with North American 3 Hockey League
- North American Hockey League (1973–1977)
- Northeast Women's Hockey League (NCAA Division III, 2017–2023) – conference was absorbed by SUNYAC in 2023
- North Eastern Hockey League (2003–2008)
- North of Superior Junior B Hockey League (1996–2004)
- North West Hockey League (1933–1936)
- Northern Junior Hockey League (2008–2010; formerly United Junior Hockey League)
- Northern Pacific Hockey League (2000–2016) – folded and remaining teams joined the United States Premier Hockey League
- Northern States Junior Hockey League (2012–2014) - became the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League
- Northwest Junior Hockey League (1992–2004)
- Ontario Professional Hockey League (1907–1911, 1930–1931)
- Original Stars Hockey League (2004)
- Ottawa City Hockey League (1890–1957)
- Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1911–1924)
- Pacific Coast Hockey League (1928–1931, 1936–1941, 1945–1952)
- Pacific Junior A Hockey League (1971–1979)
- Pacific Hockey League (1977–1979)
- Pacific Hockey League (1994–1995)
- Prairie Hockey League (1926–1928)
- Premier Hockey Federation (2015–2023; formerly National Women's Hockey League, 2015–2021)
- Quebec Hockey League (1952–1959)
- Quebec Senior Hockey League (1945–1952)
- Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (1975-1999; also known as Peace Junior B Hockey League and Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League, 1975–1991)
- Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (2015–2018)
- South East Hockey League (2003–2004)
- Southern Elite Hockey League (1998–2000)
- Southern Hockey League (1973–1977)
- Southern Hockey League (1995–1996)
- Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League (1972–1976) – merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
- Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (1960–2016) – became Yeck Division of the PJHL
- Southwest Hockey League (1975–1977)
- Sunshine Hockey League (1992–1995)
- Tri-State Hockey League (1932–1933)
- Tri-State League (NCAA Division I, 1950–1972)
- Tropical Hockey League (1938–1939)
- United Hockey League (1991–2010; formerly Colonial Hockey League, 1991–1997, and International Hockey League, 2007–2010)
- United States Hockey League (1945–1951)
- USA Central Hockey League (2018)
- Western Canada Hockey League (professional) (1921–1925)
- Western Canada Hockey League (minor pro) (1932–1933)
- Western Canada Senior Hockey League (1945–1951)
- Western Ontario Junior C Hockey League (1966-2016; formerly Western Junior C Hockey League, 1966–1970; Central Junior C Hockey League, 1970–1980; and the Grey-Bruce Junior C Hockey League, 1980–1988) – became Pollock Division of the PJHL
- West Coast Hockey League (1995–2003)
- Western Canada Hockey League (1921–1926; known as Western Hockey League, 1925–1926)
- Western Hockey League (1952–1974)
- Western International Hockey League (1946–1962, 1963–1988)
- Western Professional Hockey League (1996–2001)
- Western States Hockey League (1994-2022)
- Western Women's Hockey League (2004–2011)
- World Hockey Association (1972–1979)
- World Hockey Association 2 (2003–2004)
- World United Hockey League (2014–2015)
- WHA Junior Hockey League (2006–2008)
South America
Africa
- South Africa
- Gauteng Premier Hockey League [4]
- Western Province Ice Hockey League
Asia
Multinational
- Armenian Hockey League (2008–2009,) – multinational league with teams from Armenia and Georgia
- Asia League Ice Hockey (AL) (2003) – multinational professional league with teams from Japan and South Korea; teams from China and Russia have previously participated
- European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) (2004) – multinational semi-pro league with teams from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Slovakia; teams from Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have previously participated
- Kuwait Ice Hockey League (KIHL) – multinational league with teams from Bahrain and Kuwait
Armenia
China
Men
Women
Taiwan
Hong Kong
India
Israel
Japan
Men
Women
Defunct
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Malaysia
Mongolia
North Korea
Philippines
Qatar
Singapore
Thailand
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Eurasia
- European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) (2004) – multinational semi-pro league with teams from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Slovakia; teams from Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have previously participated
- Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) (2008) - multinational professional league with teams from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia; teams from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Ukraine have previously participated
- Supreme Hockey League – multinational league with teams from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan
Europe
Multinational
- Alps Hockey League (2016) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Italy, and Slovenia
- Baltic Hockey League (2018) – multinational professional league with teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
- BeNe League (2015) – multinational professional league with teams from Belgium and the Netherlands
- Champions Hockey League (2013) – multinational tournament featuring top teams from first-tier leagues across Europe, organized by the IIHF
- Erste Liga (2008; formerly MOL Liga) – multinational league with teams from Hungary and Romania; teams from Serbia and Slovakia have previously participated
- European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) (2004) – multinational semi-pro league with teams from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Slovakia; teams from Belarus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have previously participated
- German Women's Ice Hockey League (DFEL) (1988) – multinational league with teams from Germany and the Netherlands
- ICE Hockey League (2005) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia
- International Hockey League (IntHL) (2020) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia
- Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) (2008) – multinational professional league with teams from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia; teams from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Ukraine have previously participated
Defunct
- Alpenliga (1991–1999) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Italy and Slovenia
- Balkan League (1994–1997) – multinational league with teams from Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro
- Baltic League (2000–01) – single-season multinational league with teams from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
- Carpathian League (1997–98) – single-season multinational league with teams from Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and Slovakia
- Champions Hockey League (2008–09) – single-instance, multinational tournament featuring top teams from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland, organized by the IIHF
- Eastern European Hockey League (1995–2005) – multinational league with teams from Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine
- Interliga (1999–2007) – multinational professional league with teams from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia; also known as the International Ice Hockey League
- Inter-National League (2012–2016) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Italy, and Slovenia
- North Sea Cup (2010–2012) – multinational professional league with teams from Belgium and the Netherlands; temporary successor of the Eredivisie
- Panonian League (2002–2004, 2007–2009) – multinational league with teams from Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia
- Slohokej League (2009–2012) – multinational league with teams from Austria, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia
Austria
Men
Women
Defunct
Belarus
Belgium
Men
- BeNe League (2015) – multinational professional league with teams from the Netherlands and Belgium
Defunct
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Men
Women
Croatia
Czech Republic
Men
Women
Denmark
Men
Women
Estonia
Finland
Men
- Defunct
Women
France
Men
Women
Georgia
Germany
Men
Professional
Minor professional
Semi-pro
Amateur
Women
Defunct
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Men
Women
Ireland
Defunct
Italy
Men
Semi-pro
Amateur
Women
Latvia
Men
Amateur
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Defunct
The Netherlands
Men
Professional
- BeNe League (2015) - multinational professional league with teams from the Netherlands and Belgium
Semi-pro
Defunct
- Eredivisie (1945–2015) – merged with Belgian Hockey League to form the BeNe League
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Men
Major professional
- Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) (2008) – multinational professional league with teams from Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia; teams from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Ukraine have previously participated
Minor professional
Semi-pro
Junior
Youth
- Moscow Region
- Ural Region
Women
Defunct
Serbia
Slovakia
Men
Women
- Slovak Women's Extraliga (1991)
Slovenia
Spain
Men
Women
Sweden
Men
Major professional
Minor professional
Semi-pro
Amateur
Junior and youth
Women
Switzerland
Men
Professional
Amateur
- Regio League (1999; formerly Swiss Ice Hockey Amateur League)
- MyHockey League (2017; formerly MySports League, 2017–2022)
- 1. Liga (1937)
- 2. Liga
Women
- Women's League (SWHL A) (1986; formerly (LKA), 1986–2014, and Swiss Women's Hockey League A, 2014–2019)
Turkey
Note: Leagues involve teams from both Asia and Europe
Men
Women
Ukraine
Defunct
United Kingdom
Men
Professional
Semi-pro and amateur
Women
- WNIHL Elite Division (2015)
- WNIHL 1 (1989)
- WNIHL 2 (1992)
- WNIHL U16 (2007)
[6]
University
Defunct leagues
Former nations
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Soviet Union
West Germany
Yugoslavia
Oceania
Australia
Men
Professional
Minor professional
Semi-pro and amateur
Junior
Women
New Zealand
Men
Women
Disabled hockey leagues
Leagues for disabled hockey players:
Bibliography
References
Notes and References
- https://www.woshl.com/
- https://southernseniorhockeyleague.ca/
- https://www.beausejourseniorhockeyleague.ca/
- Web site: Potts . Andy . 2022-03-19 . South Africa emerges . 2023-12-06 . . en.
- Web site: About the China Ice Hockey League . 2023-12-06 . CIHL.com . en-US.
- Web site: Women's National Ice Hockey League (WNIHL) . . 2023-12-05 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405145406/https://eiha.co.uk/womens/ . 2023-04-05.
