The Belarusian Extraleague, abbreviated BHL, also known as the BETERA Extraleague for sponsorship reasons, or 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 Belarusian Ice Hockey Association decided to open the Belarusian Extraleague, the Belarusian Premier League and the Belarusian junior leagues.
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Belarusian Ice Hockey Association |
| First season | 1992–93 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country |  Belarus |
| 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 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 edit
2022–23 season edit
Former teams edit
| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belarus U20 | Minsk |
Čyžoŭka-Arena Practice ice rink | 473 |
| Belarus U18 | Raǔbičy |
Indoor ice rink of sport complex Raǔbičy | 300 |
| Yastreby Pinsk | Pinsk |
Ice arena of the Universal sports complex Volna | 598 |
| Aviator Baranovichi | Baranovichi |
Baranovichi Ice Sports Palace | 2,158 |
| 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 |  Brovary Kyiv |
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 edit
Extraleague/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 edit
Titles by team edit
Extraleague/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.com. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ ""Юность" стала чемпионом Беларуси по хоккею, ряд игроков отправится в КХЛ". Prosports.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
- ^ "IIHF - Europe's only champion".