2015–16 Polska Hokej Liga season
The 2015–16 Polska Hokej Liga season was the 81st season of the Polska Hokej Liga, the top level of ice hockey in Poland. Twelve teams participated in the league. GKS Katowice (ice hockey) did not return to the league, as they suspended operations due to financial constraints. Three teams joined the league from the Polish 1. Liga: Nesta Mires Toruń, KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec, and SMS I Sosnowiec (a youth team).
| 2015–16 Polska Hokej Liga season | |
|---|---|
| League | Polska Hokej Liga |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | Sept. 2015 - Apr. 2016 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Regular season | |
| Regular-season winner | KS Cracovia |
| Top scorer | Martin Przygodzki (TMH Polonia Bytom) (35) |
| Relegated to 1. Liga | Nesta Mires Toruń |
| Playoffs | |
| Champions | KS Cracovia |
The regular season format remained the same as the previous season, but with 12 teams rather than only 10. The First Round had teams playing 22 matches, after which KS Cracovia led the league with 54 points.
The league was then divided into two groups for the Second Round: Group A, consisting of the top 6 teams, and Group B, consisting of the bottom 6 teams. KS Cracovia stayed in first place, finishing the season with 101 points. Their success continued into the playoffs, which they ended up winning after beating GKS Tychy in the finals. Podhale Nowy Targ won the bronze medal match.
KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Naprzód Janów were relegated to the Polish 1. Liga.
Teams
| Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| ComArch Cracovia | Kraków | Lodowisko im. Adama "Rocha" Kowalskiego | 2,514 |
| GKS Tychy | Tychy | Stadion Zimowy w Tychach | 2,535 |
| JKH GKS Jastrzębie | Jastrzębie-Zdrój | Jastor | 1,986 |
| Naprzód Janów | Katowice | Jantor Janów | 1,417 |
| Orlik Opole | Opole | Toropol | 3,000 |
| Podhale Nowy Targ | Nowy Targ | Miejska Hala Lodowa w Nowym Targu | 5,000 |
| Polonia Bytom | Bytom | OSiR w Bytomiu | 3,000 |
| Ciarko PBS Bank STS Sanok | Sanok | Arena Sanok | 3,000 |
| SMS I Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec | Stadion Zimowy w Sosnowcu | 3,500 |
| Nesta Mires Toruń | Toruń | Tor-Tor | 5,250 |
| Unia Oświęcim | Oświęcim | Hala Lodowa MOSiR Oświęcim | 5,000 |
| Zagłębie Sosnowiec | Sosnowiec | Stadion Zimowy w Sosnowcu | 3,500 |
Regular season (First Round)
After 22 matches, the top 6 teams advanced to the stronger group (Group A) to determine standings before playoffs.
The bottom 6 teams advanced to the weaker group (Group B) to determine the two teams that would also advance to the playoffs, and the team that would be relegated.
| Club | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF:GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | KS Cracovia | 22 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 116:38 | 54 |
| 2. | Podhale Nowy Targ | 22 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 116:43 | 53 |
| 3. | GKS Tychy | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 119:49 | 51 |
| 4. | GKS Jastrzębie | 22 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 74:41 | 48 |
| 5. | Unia Oświęcim | 22 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 79:66 | 38 |
| 6. | STS Sanok | 22 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 69:50 | 37 |
| 7. | Orlik Opole | 22 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 80:62 | 36 |
| 8. | Polonia Bytom | 22 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 84:71 | 33 |
| 9. | Zagłębie Sosnowiec | 22 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 49:94 | 19 |
| 10. | TKH Toruń | 22 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 61:109 | 13 |
| 11. | Naprzód Janów | 22 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 45:118 | 11 |
| 12. | SMS I Sosnowiec | 22 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 26:177 | 3 |
Regular season (Second Round, Group A)
The top 6 teams from the First Round were put in this group to determine the standings before the playoffs. Results from the Second Round are added to results from the First Round.
| Club | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF:GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | KS Cracovia | 42 | 31 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 190:85 | 101 |
| 2. | GKS Tychy | 42 | 29 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 183:89 | 93 |
| 3. | Podhale Nowy Targ | 42 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 176:104 | 79 |
| 4. | GKS Jastrzębie | 42 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 126:108 | 68 |
| 5. | STS Sanok | 42 | 17 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 123:108 | 63 |
| 6. | Unia Oświęcim | 42 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 129:147 | 57 |
Regular season (Second Round, Group B)
The bottom 6 teams from the First Round were put in this group to determine the standings before the playoffs. Results from the Second Round are added to results from the First Round.
The top two teams advanced to the Playoffs. The remaining teams, excluding SMS I Sosnowiec, were moved to the relegation round. SMS I Sosnowiec, an under-20 team, is not eligible to be relegated.
| Club | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF:GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | Polonia Bytom | 42 | 25 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 194:124 | 80 |
| 8. | Orlik Opole | 42 | 25 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 192:135 | 79 |
| 9. | Naprzód Janów | 42 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 129:182 | 54 |
| 10. | Zagłębie Sosnowiec | 42 | 12 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 126:876 | 40 |
| 11. | TKH Toruń | 42 | 9 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 147:212 | 35 |
| 12. | SMS I Sosnowiec | 42 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 2 | 69:304 | 7 |
Relegation Round
The top two teams remain in the PHL, while the last place team is relegated to the Polish 1. Liga.
| Club | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | GF:GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Naprzód Janów | 50 | 17 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 159:220 | 63 |
| 2. | Zagłębie Sosnowiec | 50 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 156:217 | 52 |
| 3. | TKH Toruń | 50 | 14 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 186:242 | 50 |
Playoffs
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 1. KS Cracovia | 3 | |||||||||
| 8. Orlik Opole | 0 | |||||||||
| 1. KS Cracovia | 4 | |||||||||
| 5. STS Sanok | 3 | |||||||||
| 4. GKS Jastrzębie | 0 | |||||||||
| 5. STS Sanok | 3 | |||||||||
| 1. KS Cracovia | 4 | |||||||||
| 2. GKS Tychy | 3 | |||||||||
| 3. Podhale Nowy Targ | 3 | |||||||||
| 6. Unia Oświęcim | 1 | |||||||||
| 3. Podhale Nowy Targ | 0 | |||||||||
| 2. GKS Tychy | 4 | Third place | ||||||||
| 2. GKS Tychy | 3 | |||||||||
| 7. Polonia Bytom | 0 | |||||||||
| 3. Podhale Nowy Targ | 2 | |||||||||
| 5. STS Sanok | 1 | |||||||||