The Latvian Hockey Higher League ( lv, Latvijas Virslīgas hokeja čempionāts), also known as the Optibet Hockey League ( lv, Optibet hokeja līga) since 2017 due to sponsorship by Optibet, is the top tier

league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

currently comprising seven teams. Previously it was also known as the Latvian Open Hockey Championships (''Latvijas atklātais čempionāts hokejā'') and the

Samsung The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...

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 The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

players have played in the league, including Latvians Kaspars Astašenko,

Helmuts Balderis Helmuts Balderis-Sildedzis (born 31 July 1952) is a Soviet former ice hockey player. He played right wing, participated in the Soviet team's losing effort in the Miracle on Ice, and played part of a single season in the NHL after being drafted in ...

Oskars Bārtulis Oskars Bārtulis (russian: Оскарс Бартулис; born January 21, 1987) is a retired Latvian professional ice hockey defenceman. He has previously played parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Philadelphia Flye ...

, Viktors Ignatjevs,

Artūrs Irbe Artūrs Irbe (born 2 February 1967) is a Latvian professional ice hockey coach and former goaltender. Born during the Soviet era, Irbe played for various Soviet league teams and the Soviet Union national team before moving to North America in ...

, Aleksandrs Kerčs,

Jānis Sprukts Jānis Sprukts (born January 31, 1982) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward. Biography As a youth, Sprukts played in the 1996 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Riga. He was drafted by Panthers as their eigh ...

as well as imports Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.

Teams

Teams in 2022–23

Notable previous teams

Previous teams that have won a title or played at least five seasons in the competition, winning at least one medal.

League champions

* 2021–22 – HK Zemgale/LLU * 2020–21 – HK Olimp/Venta 2002 * 2019–20 – ''not finished'' * 2018–19 – HK Mogo * 2017–18 –

HK Kurbads HK Kurbads is an ice hockey team based in Riga, Latvia. It is a member of the Latvian Hockey Higher League and also compete for the Latvian Cup, winning Latvian Hockey League in 2016–17 and 2017–18 season. The team played its home games at ...

* 2016–17 –

* 2015–16 –

HK Liepāja HK Liepāja are a Latvian professional ice hockey team that plays in the Optibet Hockey League, the top tier of the sport in Latvia. The team is based in Liepāja and play their home games at the Liepājas Olimpiskā Centra ice hall. History ...

* 2014–15 – HK Mogo * 2013–14 – HS Rīga/Prizma * 2012–13 – HK SMScredit.lv * 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 HK Riga 2000 was an ice hockey team based in Riga, Latvia. The team had played in the LHL since it was founded. In 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons the club also iced a team in the Belarusian Hockey League, and in 2005-06 finished 3rd. HK Riga 200 ...

* 2005–06 –

* 2004–05 –

* 2003–04 –

* 2002–03 – Liepājas Metalurgs * 2001–02 – Liepājas Metalurgs * 2000–01 –

* 1999–2000 – Liepājas Metalurgs * 1998–99 – HK Nik's Brih Riga * 1997–98 – HK Nik's Brih Riga * 1996–97 – LB/Essamika * 1995–96 – Alianse Riga * 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 – US Rīga * 1940–41 –

Dinamo Rīga Dinamo Riga ( lv, Rīgas Dinamo) is a professional ice hockey team based in Riga, Latvia. It is a member of the Latvian Hockey Higher League. The club is affiliated with HK Zemgale/LLU. The club was re-founded on 7 April 2008 as a successor of ...

* 1939–40 – US Rīga * 1938–39 – ASK Rīga * 1937–38 – ASK Rīga * 1936–37 – US Rīga * 1935–36 – ASK Rīga * 1934–35 – ASK Rīga * 1933–34 – ASK Rīga * 1932–33 – Unions Rīga * 1931–32 – Unions Rīga

Titles by team

References

External links

Official league homepageLatvian league stats from Elite Prospects
{{Latvian Hockey League Top tier ice hockey leagues in Europe 1