Latvian Hockey Higher League
Current season or competition: 2021–22 Latvian Hockey League season | |
 | |
| Countries | Latvia |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Recent Champions | HK Olimp/Venta 2002 () |
| Most successful club | HK Liepājas Metalurgs (7) |
| Website | https://www.optibethokejaliga.com/ |
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 , 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.
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 2021–22[]
| Latvian Hockey Higher League | ||||||
| Team | City | Arena | Cap. | Affiliate Team | Found. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK Liepāja | Liepāja | 1,143 | () | 2014 | ||
| HK Mogo | Riga | 600 1,000 |
() | 2014 | ||
| HK Prizma Rīga | Riga | 1,000 | () | 1996 | ||
| HS Rīga | Riga | 300 | () | 1999 | ||
| HK Zemgale/LLU | Jelgava | 2,360 | () | 2001 | ||
| HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | Riga | 1,000 | 2019 | |||
| HK Dinaburga | Daugavpils | Daugavpils ledus halle | 1,984 | () | 2013 | |
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 Kurbads | Riga | 2014 | 2020 | 2 | ||
| Dinamo Juniors Rīga | Riga | 2010 | 2014 | 1 | ||
| HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs | Ozolnieki | 2008 | 2014 | 0 | ||
| 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 | ||
| Riga | 1994 | 2001 | 0 | |||
| Nik's Brih Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 3 | ||
| Ogre | 1992 | 2000 | 1 | |||
| Juniors Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 0 | ||
| Sāga Ķekava | Ķekava | 1991 | 1996 | 1 | ||
| Riga | 1994 | 1996 | 1 | |||
| Pārdaugava Rīga | Riga | 1991 | 1995 | 2 | ||
| US Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1942 | 3 | ||
| Dinamo Rīga | Riga | 1940 | 1941 | 1 | ||
| Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 5 | |||
| Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 0 | |||
| Unions Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1939 | 2 | ||
| RFK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1936 | 0 | ||
League champions[]
- 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 –
- 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 –
- 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 –
- 1940–41 – Dinamo Rīga
- 1939–40 –
- 1938–39 –
- 1937–38 –
- 1936–37 –
- 1935–36 –
- 1934–35 –
- 1933–34 –
- 1932–33 –
- 1931–32 –
Titles by team[]
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| 5 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 | |
| 5 | HK Riga 2000 | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| 3 | 1937, 1940, 1942 | |
| 3 | HK Nik's Brih Riga | 1995, 1998, 1999 |
| 2 | 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 | 1996 | |
| 1 | LB/Essamika | 1997 |
| 1 | Dinamo-Juniors Riga | 2010 |
| 1 | 2013 | |
| 1 | HS Rīga/Prizma | 2014 |
| 1 | HK Liepāja | 2016 |
| 1 | HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | 2021 |
External links[]
- Official league homepage
- Latvian league news and stats from Eurohockey
- Latvian league stats from Elite Prospects
| Seasons | |
|---|---|
| Current teams | |
| Former teams | |
- Ice hockey leagues in Europe
- Latvian Hockey League
- Ice hockey leagues in Latvia