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.

Optibet Hockey League
Current season or competition:
2020–21 Latvian Hockey League season
Countries Latvia
Founded1931
No. of teams7
Recent ChampionsHK Mogo (2018–19)
Most successful clubHK Liepājas Metalurgs (7)
Websitehttps://www.optibethokejaliga.com/

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, Jānis Sprukts as well as imports Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.

Teams

Teams in 2020–21
HS Rīga
HK Zemgale/JLSS
HK Dinaburga
HK Olimp
Latvian hockey League teams for the 2020–21 season.
Latvian Hockey Higher League
Team City Arena Cap. Affiliate Team Found.
HK Liepāja Liepāja LOC ledus halle 1,143 HK Liepāja Juniors (JAHL) 2014
HK Mogo Riga Mogo ledus halle
Inbox.lv ledus halle		 600
1,000		 HK Mārupe (JAHL) 2014
HK Prizma Riga Riga Volvo sporta centra 1,000 HK Prizma Riga-2 (JAHL) 1996
HS Rīga Riga Hokeja halle Rīga 300 HS Riga 2002 (JAHL) 1999
HK Zemgale Jelgava Jelgavas ledus halle 2,360 JLSS Zemgale B (JAHL) 2001
HK Olimp Riga Inbox.lv ledus halle 1,000 2019
HK Dinaburga Daugavpils Daugavpils ledus halle 1,984 HK Dinaburga Daugavpils-2 (JAHL) 2013

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 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 Riga 2000 Riga 2000 2009 5
Vilki/OP Riga Riga 2000 2006 0
Lido/Nafta Riga Riga 1994 2001 0
Nik's Brih Riga Riga 1992 2000 3
Essamika Ogre Ogre 1992 2000 1
Juniors Riga Riga 1992 2000 0
Sāga Ķekava Ķekava 1991 1996 1
Alianse Riga Riga 1994 1996 1
Pardaugava Riga Riga 1991 1995 2
US Riga Riga 1931 1942 3
Dinamo Riga 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

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
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
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