Latvian Hockey Higher League
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.
Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Latvian Hockey League season | |
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Countries | Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania |
| Most recent champion(s) | HK Zemgale/LLU (2nd title) (2022–23) |
| Most titles | HK Liepājas Metalurgs (7 titles) |
| Official website | lhf |
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 2023–24
| Team | City | Arena | Capacity | Affiliate(s) | Founded | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7bet-Hockey Punks |  Vilnius |
Pramogų Arena | 2,500 | 2010 | 2022 | |
| Airwell Energija | Elektrėnai |
Elektrėnai Ice Palace | 2,000 | 1977 | 2022 | |
| HS Rīga |  Riga |
Riga Hockey Hall | 300 | HS Riga 17 (JAHL) | 1999 | 2015 |
| Kaunas City | Kaunas |
Kaunas Ice Arena | 2021 | 2022 | ||
| Kurbads | Riga |
Kurbads Ice Hall | 1996 | 2013 | ||
| Mogo/LSPA | Riga |
Mogo Ice Hall | 600 | HK Mārupe (JAHL) | 2014 | |
| Panter |  Tallinn |
Škoda Ice Hall | 500 | 2001 | 2023 | |
| Prizma | Riga |
Volvo Sports Centre | 1,000 | HK Prizma Riga-2 (JAHL) | 1996 | |
| Zemgale/LBTU | Jelgava |
Jelgava Ice Hall | 2,360 | HK Zemgale Juniors (JAHL) | 2001 | |
Former teams
| Team | City | Joined | Left | League titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 5 |
| LSB Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 0 |
| RFK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1936 | 0 |
| Unions Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1939 | 2 |
| US Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1942 | 3 |
| Dinamo Rīga (original) | Riga | 1940 | 1941 | 1 |
| Sāga Ķekava | Ķekava | 1991 | 1996 | 1 |
| Pārdaugava Rīga | Riga | 1991 | 1995 | 2 |
| Essamika Ogre | Ogre | 1992 | 2000 | 1 |
| Juniors Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 0 |
| Nik's Brih Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 3 |
| Alianse Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 1996 | 1 |
| Lido/Nafta Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 2001 | 0 |
| HK Liepājas Metalurgs | Liepāja | 1999 | 2013 | 7 |
| HK Rīga 2000 | Riga | 2000 | 2009 | 5 |
| Vilki/OP Rīga | Riga | 2000 | 2006 | 0 |
| ASK/Ogre | Ogre | 2003 | 2011 | 0 |
| DHK Latgale | Daugavpils | 2005 | 2012 | 0 |
| HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs | Ozolnieki | 2008 | 2014 | 0 |
| Dinamo Juniors Rīga | Riga | 2010 | 2014 | 1 |
| HK SMScredit.lv | Riga | 2012 | 2013 | 1 |
| HK Dinaburga | Daugavpils | 2013 2019 |
2014 2023 |
0 |
| HK Liepāja | Liepāja | 2014 | 2022 | 1 |
| HK Lido | Riga | 2017 | 2019 | 0 |
| HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | Riga | 2019 | 2022 | 1 |
| Dinamo Riga | Riga | 2022 | 2023 | 0 |
League champions
- 1931–32 – Unions Rīga
- 1932–33 – Unions Rīga
- 1933–34 – ASK Rīga
- 1934–35 – ASK Rīga
- 1935–36 – ASK Rīga
- 1936–37 – US Rīga
- 1937–38 – ASK Rīga
- 1938–39 – ASK Rīga
- 1939–40 – US Rīga
- 1940–41 – Dinamo Rīga
- 1941–42 – US Rīga
- 1942–43 – not finished
- 1943–1991 – not played
- 1991–92 – HK Sāga Ķekava Riga
- 1992–93 – HK Pārdaugava Rīga
- 1993–94 – HK Pārdaugava Rīga
- 1994–95 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1995–96 – Alianse Riga
- 1996–97 – LB/Essamika
- 1997–98 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1998–99 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
- 1999–2000 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2000–01 – HK Riga 2000
- 2001–02 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2002–03 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2003–04 – HK Riga 2000
- 2004–05 – HK Riga 2000
- 2005–06 – HK Riga 2000
- 2006–07 – HK Riga 2000
- 2007–08 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2008–09 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2009–10 – Dinamo-Juniors Riga
- 2010–11 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2011–12 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2012–13 – HK SMScredit.lv
- 2013–14 – HS Rīga/Prizma
- 2014–15 – HK Mogo
- 2015–16 – HK Liepāja
- 2016–17 – HK Kurbads
- 2017–18 – HK Kurbads
- 2018–19 – HK Mogo
- 2019–20 – not finished
- 2020–21 – HK Olimp/Venta 2002
- 2021–22 – HK Zemgale/LLU
- 2022–23 – HK Zemgale/LLU
Titles by team
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 |
| 5 | ASK Rīga | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939 |
| 5 | HK Riga 2000 | 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| 3 | US Rīga | 1937, 1940, 1942 |
| 3 | HK Nik's Brih Riga | 1995, 1998, 1999 |
| 2 | Unions Rīga | 1932, 1933 |
| 2 | HK Pardaugava Riga | 1993, 1994 |
| 2 | HK Kurbads | 2017, 2018 |
| 2 | HK Mogo | 2015, 2019 |
| 2 | HK Zemgale/LLU | 2022, 2023 |
| 1 | Dinamo Riga | 1941 |
| 1 | HK Sāga Ķekava Riga | 1992 |
| 1 | Alianse Riga | 1996 |
| 1 | LB/Essamika | 1997 |
| 1 | Dinamo-Juniors Riga | 2010 |
| 1 | SMScredit.lv Riga | 2013 |
| 1 | HS Rīga/Prizma | 2014 |
| 1 | HK Liepāja | 2016 |
| 1 | HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | 2021 |
References
- "Optibet Hokeja Līgā sacentīsies visu trīs Baltijas valstu komandas". LHF.lv (in Latvian). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- Suveizda, Agris (11 July 2023). ""Kurbads" atgriežas, klāt arī igauņi – OHL apstiprina deviņu komandu dalību". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 11 September 2023.