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 currently comprising seven teams. 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: 2022–23 Latvian Hockey League season | |
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Countries | Latvia, Lithuania |
| Most recent champion(s) | HK Zemgale/LLU (2nd title) (2022–23) |
| Most titles | HK Liepājas Metalurgs (7 titles) |
| Official website | www |
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 players have played in the league, including Latvians Kaspars Astašenko, Helmuts Balderis, Oskars Bārtulis, Viktors Ignatjevs, Artūrs Irbe, Aleksandrs Kerčs, Kārlis Skrastiņš, Jānis Sprukts as well as imports Darby Hendrickson, Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.
A number of Latvian players have played in the league before making their National Hockey League debut: Kaspars Astašenko, Oskars Bārtulis, Kaspars Daugaviņš, Kristers Gudļevskis, Raitis Ivanāns, Mārtiņš Karsums, Aleksandrs Kerčs, Matīss Kivlenieks, Artūrs Kulda, Kārlis Skrastiņš, Pēteris Skudra, Jānis Sprukts, Artūrs Šilovs
Teams
Teams in 2022–23
| Team | City | Arena | Cap. | Affiliate Team | Found. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK Dinaburga | Daugavpils | Daugavpils ledus halle | 1,984 | HK Dinaburga-2 (JAHL) | 2013 |
| Dinamo Riga | Riga | Inbox.lv ledus halle | 1,000 | 2008 | |
| Energija Elektrėnai | Elektrėnai | Elektrėnai Ice Palace | 2,000 | 1977 | |
| Hockey Punks Vilnius | Vilnius | Pramogų Arena | 2,500 | 2010 | |
| Kaunas City | Kaunas | Ledo Arena Kaunas | 2021 | ||
| HK Mogo | Riga | Mogo ledus halle Inbox.lv ledus halle |
600 1,000 |
HK Mārupe (JAHL) | 2014 |
| HK Prizma Rīga | Riga | Volvo sporta centra | 1,000 | HK Prizma Riga-2 (JAHL) | 1996 |
| HS Rīga | Riga | Hokeja halle Rīga | 300 | HS Riga 17 (JAHL) | 1999 |
| HK Zemgale/LLU | Jelgava | Jelgavas ledus halle | 2,360 | HK Zemgale Juniors (JAHL) | 2001 |
Notable previous teams
Previous teams that have won a title or played at least five seasons in the competition, winning at least one medal.
| Team | City | Joined league | Left league | League titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HK Olimp/Venta 2002 | Riga | 2019 | 2022 | 1 |
| HK Liepāja | Liepāja | 2014 | 2022 | 1 |
| HK Kurbads | Riga | 2014 | 2020 | 2 |
| Dinamo Juniors Rīga | Riga | 2010 | 2014 | 1 |
| HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs | Ozolnieki | 2008 | 2014 | 0 |
| HK SMScredit.lv | Riga | 2012 | 2013 | 1 |
| HK Liepājas Metalurgs | Liepāja | 1999 | 2013 | 7 |
| DHK Latgale | Daugavpils | 2005 | 2012 | 0 |
| ASK/Ogre | Ogre | 2003 | 2011 | 0 |
| HK Rīga 2000 | Riga | 2000 | 2009 | 5 |
| Vilki/OP Rīga | Riga | 2000 | 2006 | 0 |
| Lido/Nafta Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 2001 | 0 |
| Nik's Brih Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 3 |
| Essamika Ogre | Ogre | 1992 | 2000 | 1 |
| Juniors Rīga | Riga | 1992 | 2000 | 0 |
| Sāga Ķekava | Ķekava | 1991 | 1996 | 1 |
| Alianse Rīga | Riga | 1994 | 1996 | 1 |
| Pārdaugava Rīga | Riga | 1991 | 1995 | 2 |
| US Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1942 | 3 |
| Dinamo Rīga | Riga | 1940 | 1941 | 1 |
| ASK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 5 |
| LSB Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1940 | 0 |
| Unions Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1939 | 2 |
| RFK Rīga | Riga | 1931 | 1936 | 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 |