TheBelarusian Extraleague,abbreviatedBHL,also known as theBETERA Extraleaguefor sponsorship reasons, or known as theBelarusian Open Championship,(Belarusian:Экстраліга,romanized:Ekstraliha), officially formed in 2006, is the topice hockeyleague inBelarus.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, theBelarusian Ice Hockey Associationdecided to open the Belarusian Extraleague, theBelarusian Premier Leagueand the Belarusian junior leagues.
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Belarusian Ice Hockey Association |
| First season | 1992–93 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country |  Belarus
 Russia |
| Most recent champion(s) | Metallurg Zhlobin(3rd title) (2022–23) |
| Most titles | Yunost Minsk(9 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | Belarus 5,Fanseat |
| Related competitions | Vysshaya Liga |
| Official website | hockey.by |
Before the season 2018-2019 theBelarusian Extraleaguewas divided in two leagues:Extraleague Awith 8 teams andExtraleague Bwith 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 the2016-2017 seasonand2017-2018 seasonwere won byHC 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 theIIHF's annualChampions Hockey League(CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/AsianKontinental Hockey League). Going into the2022–23 CHL season,the BHL wasranked the No. 7 leaguein Europe, allowing them to send their top team to compete in the CHL.
Current teams
edit2024–25 season
editFormer teams
edit| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belarus U20 | Minsk |
Čyžoŭka-ArenaPractice ice rink | 473 |
| Belarus U18 | Raǔbičy |
Indoor ice rink of sport complexRaǔbičy | 300 |
| Yastreby Pinsk | Pinsk |
Ice arena of the Universal sports complex Volna | 598 |
| HC Babruysk | Babruysk |
Babruysk Arena | 7,191 |
| Dinamo U20 Bobruisk | Babruysk |
Babruysk Arena | 7,151 |
| Dinamo Minsk | Minsk |
Minsk Sports Palace | 3,311 |
| Keramin Minsk | Minsk |
Minsk Ice Palace | 1,823 |
| Shinnik Bobruisk | Babruysk |
Babruysk Arena | 7,151 |
| Sokil Kyiv |  BrovaryKyiv |
Ice Arena TEC Terminal Kyiv Palace of Sports |
1,500 7,200 |
| Tivali Minsk | Minsk |
Minsk Sports Palace | 3,311 |
| Torpedo Minsk | Minsk |
Unknown | - |
| Triumph Minsk | Minsk |
Unknown | - |
| Yunior Minsk | Minsk |
Ice Palace Yunost Minsk | 767 |
| HK Liepājas Metalurgs |  Liepāja |
Ice Arena Liepājas Metalurgs | 1,700 |
| HK Riga 2000 | Riga |
Inbox.lv ledus halle | 2,000 |
| ASK/Ogre | Ogre |
Vidzemes Ledus Halle | 1,880 |
| DHK Latgale | Daugavpils |
Daugavpils Ice Arena | 1,234 |
Champions by season
editExtraleague/Extraleague A
edit- 1992–93:Tivali Minsk
- 1993–94:Tivali Minsk
- 1994–95:Tivali Minsk
- 1995–96:Polimir Novopolotsk
- 1996–97:Polimir Novopolotsk
- 1997–98:Neman Grodno
- 1998–99:Neman Grodno
- 1999–2000:Tivali Minsk
- 2000–01:Neman Grodno
- 2001–02:Keramin Minsk
- 2002–03:HK Gomel
- 2003–04:Yunost Minsk
- 2004–05:Yunost Minsk
- 2005–06:Yunost Minsk
- 2006–07:Dinamo Minsk
- 2007–08:Keramin Minsk
- 2008–09:Yunost Minsk
- 2009–10:Yunost Minsk
- 2010–11:Yunost Minsk
- 2011–12:Metallurg Zhlobin
- 2012–13:Neman Grodno
- 2013–14:Neman Grodno
- 2014–15:HC Shakhtyor Soligorsk
- 2015–16:Yunost Minsk
- 2016–17:Neman Grodno
- 2017–18:Neman Grodno
- 2018–19:Yunost Minsk
- 2019–20:Yunost Minsk[3]
- 2020–21:Yunost Minsk
- 2021–22:Metallurg Zhlobin
- 2022–23:Metallurg Zhlobin
Extraleague B
editTitles by team
editExtraleague/Extraleague A
edit| 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 Novopolotsk | 1996, 1997 |
| 2 | Keramin Minsk | 2002, 2008 |
| 1 | HK Gomel | 2003 |
| 1 | HC Shakhtyor Soligorsk | 2015 |
Extraleague B
edit| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HK Lokomotiv Orsha | 2019, 2020 |
| 1 | Khimik Novopolotsk | 2021 |
References
edit- ^"В Экстралиге в сезоне-2021/2022 сыграют 12 команд"(in Russian). belarushockey. 7 June 2021.Retrieved14 September2021.
- ^""Юность" стала чемпионом Беларуси по хоккею, ряд игроков отправится в КХЛ ".Prosports.kz(in Russian).Retrieved2022-09-25.
- ^"IIHF - Europe's only champion".