Belarusian Extraleague

The Belarusian Extraleague (abbreviated BHL, also known as the Belarusian Open Championship, Belarusian: Экстраліга, romanized: Ekstraliha), officially formed in 2006, is the top ice hockey league in Belarus. In its past, it has switched several times between being and not being an open league (in reference to allowing foreign teams), but for the 2008–2009 season, the Belarus Ice Hockey Federation decided to open the Belarusian Extraleague, the Belarusian Premier League and the Belarusian junior leagues.

Belarusian Extraleague
Экстраліга
SportIce hockey
Founded1992 (1992)
FounderBelarus Ice Hockey Federation
Inaugural season1992–93
No. of teams12
CountryBelarus
Most recent
champion(s)		Metallurg Zhlobin (3rd title)
(2022–23)
Most titlesYunost Minsk (9 titles)
TV partner(s)Belarus 5, Fanseat
Related
competitions		Vysshaya Liga
Official websitehockey.by

Before the season 2018-2019 the Belarusian Extraleague was divided in two leagues: Extraleague A with 8 teams and Extraleague B with 9 teams. For the 2021-2022 season, this division into Extraleague A and Extraleague B was canceled, with 12 teams taking part in the single championship.[1]

The Extraleague championships for the 2016-2017 season and 2017-2018 season were won by HC Neman Grodno

The 2019/2020 Belarusian ice hockey championship was the only championship in the world that was not interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Teams from the BHL can participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League). Going into the 2022–23 CHL season, the BHL was ranked the No. 7 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top team to compete in the CHL.

Current teams

2022–23 season
Team City Arena Capacity Ice rink size Affiliate Team
HK Brest Belarus Brest Ice Sports Palace 2,000 60x30 HC Brest-2 (Belarus2)
HC Viciebsk Belarus Viciebsk Vitebsk Ice Sports Palace/Ice Sports Palace 1,900 61x30 HC Viciebsk-2 (Belarus2)
HC Dynama-Maladzechna Belarus Maladzyechna Ice Sports Palace 2,197
HC Homel' Belarus Homel' Homel' Ice Sports Palace 2,760 61х30 HC Homel'-2 (Belarus2)
HK Lida Belarus Lida Lida Ice Palace 1,000 60х30 HC Lida-2 Lida (Belarus2)
HC Lakamatyŭ Belarus Orsha Ice Sports Palace 3,500
HC Metalurh Zhlobin Belarus Zhlobin Ice Palace Metalurh 2,018 60x30 HC Metalurh-2 Zhlobin (Belarus2)
HC Mahilyoŭ Belarus Mahilyoŭ Sports Palace Mahilyoŭ 3,048 60х30 HC Mahilyoŭ-2 (Belarus2)
HC Nyoman Hrodna Belarus Hrodna Hrodna Ice Sports Palace 2,550 60x30 HC Nyoman-2 Hrodna (Belarus2)
Khimik Navapolatsk Belarus Navapolatsk Palace of Sports and Culture 1,200 HC Khimik-2 Navapolatsk (Belarus2)
HC Shakhtsyor Salihorsk Belarus Salihorsk Sports and Entertainment Complex 1,759 60х29 HC Dynama-Minsk (KHL)
HC Shakhtyor-2 Soligorsk (Belarus2)
HC Yunatstva-Minsk Belarus Minsk Čyžoŭka-Arena 8,807 61x30 HC Dynama-Minsk (KHL)
Yunior Minsk (Belarus2)

Former teams
Team City Arena Capacity
Belarus U20Belarus MinskČyžoŭka-Arena Practice ice rink473
Belarus U18Belarus RaǔbičyIndoor ice rink of sport complex Raǔbičy300
HC Pinskiya YastrabyBelarus PinskIce arena of the Universal sports complex Volna598
HK AviatorBelarus BaranavichyIce Sports Palace2,158
HC BabruyskBelarus BabruyskBabruysk Arena7,191
Dinamo U20 BobruiskBelarus BabruyskBabruysk Arena7,151
Dinamo MinskBelarus MinskMinsk Sports Palace3,311
Keramin MinskBelarus MinskMinsk Ice Palace1,823
Shinnik BobruiskBelarus BabruyskBabruysk Arena7,151
Sokil KyivUkraine Brovary
Ukraine Kyiv		Ice Arena TEC Terminal
Kyiv Palace of Sports		1,500
7,200
Tivali MinskBelarus MinskMinsk Sports Palace3,311
Torpedo MinskBelarus MinskUnknown-
Triumph MinskBelarus MinskUnknown-
Yunior MinskBelarus MinskIce Palace Yunost Minsk767
HK Liepājas MetalurgsLatvia LiepājaIce Arena Liepājas Metalurgs1,700
HK Riga 2000Latvia RigaInbox.lv ledus halle2,000
ASK/OgreLatvia OgreVidzemes Ledus Halle1,880
DHK LatgaleLatvia DaugavpilsDaugavpils Ice Arena1,234

Champions by season

Extraleague/Extraleague A

Extraleague B

Titles by team

Extraleague/Extraleague A
Titles Club Years
10 Yunost Minsk 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
7 HC Neman Grodno 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018
5 Tivali Minsk/HC Dinamo-Minsk* 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2007*
3 Metallurg Zhlobin 2012, 2022, 2023
2 Polimir Novopolock 1996, 1997
2 Keramin Minsk 2002, 2008
1 HK Gomel 2003
1 HC Shakhtyor Soligorsk 2015

Extraleague B
Titles Club Years
2 HC Lakamatyŭ 2019, 2020
1 Khimik Navapolatsk 2021

References
  1. "В Экстралиге в сезоне-2021/2022 сыграют 12 команд" (in Russian). belarushockey.com. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. "«Юность» стала чемпионом Беларуси по хоккею, ряд игроков отправится в КХЛ". Prosports.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. "IIHF - Europe's only champion".
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