Current season or competition: 2020–21 Latvian Hockey League season | |
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| Countries |  Latvia |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| No. of teams | 7 |
| Recent Champions | HK Mogo (2018–19) |
| Most successful club | HK Liepājas Metalurgs (7) |
| Website | https://www.optibethokejaliga.com/ |
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.
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
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| 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/LLU | 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
- 2019–20 – not finished
- 2018–19 – HK Mogo
- 2017–18 – HK Kurbads
- 2016–17 – HK Kurbads
- 2015–16 – HK Liepāja
- 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
- 2005–06 – HK Riga 2000
- 2004–05 – HK Riga 2000
- 2003–04 – HK Riga 2000
- 2002–03 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2001–02 – Liepājas Metalurgs
- 2000–01 – HK Riga 2000
- 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
- 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
| 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 |