Russian Major League

Russian Major League
Current season or competition:
2011–12 VHL season
Founded 1992
2010 (new name, new governing body)
No. of teams 23
Country(ies)  Kazakhstan (1 team)
 Russia (21 teams)
 Ukraine (1 team)
Ceased 2010 (old league under FHR)
Last champion(s) Rubin Tyumen
Most titles Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (3)
Related competitions Kontinental Hockey League
Minor Hockey League
Official website vhlru.ru

The Major Hockey League (Russian: Высшая хоккейная лига (ВХЛ), Vysshaya hokkeinaya liga (VHL)),[1] also known as the Supreme Hockey League[2] and Higher Hockey League (HHL)[3], and until 2010 simply the Major League, is a professional ice hockey league in Eurasia, and the second highest level of Russian hockey. Though currently acting independently, plans were in place to convert it to a farm system for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)'s 2010–11 season.[4] Prior to the KHL's creation, it held a relegation role for the Russian Superleague and Soviet League (where it was classified Class-A 2nd division). As of 2011–12 season some VHL teams are affiliated with a KHL team (e.g. HC Sarov is affiliated with KHL's Torpedo), while other teams of the VHL are not affiliated with a KHL team.

In 2010 the league's ownership was transferred from the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia to a separate body. The name of the league also changed from Vysshaya liga to Vysshaya Hokkeinaya Liga.

Contents

[hide]

Transition to KHL

It is believed that the league will become more of a developmental league. Only seven players over the age of 29 will be allowed onto each team's roster. With no promotion/relegation system set in place with the new Kontinental Hockey League, it has been speculated that most teams in the league will eventually become farm teams of the KHL teams.

Teams in 2011–12

Russian Major League
Western Conference
Team City Arena Capacity KHL Affiliate Team(s) MHL Affiliate Team(s) Founded Joined league
Ariada-Akpars Volzhsk Volzhsk Ariada Ice Palace 2,250 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2003
Dynamo Tver Tver[5] Yubileyny Sport Palace Tver[5] 2,000 UHC Dynamo Sherif 2010
Dizel Penza Penza Ice Sports Palace Penza 5,200 Severstal Cherepovets 1955 2004
HC Donbass Donetsk Arena-Druzhba Donetsk 4,130 2005 2011
HC Ryazan Ryazan Ryazan Olympic Sports Palace 2,700 Atlant Moscow Oblast Mytischenskie Atlanty 1955 2007
HC VMF St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg Yubileyny Sports Palace 7,000 SKA Saint Petersburg SKA-1946 2008
HC Sarov Sarov Sarov Ice Palace 1,200 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Chaika 2002 2009
Kristall Saratov Saratov Ice Sports Palace Saratov 5,000 1948 1998
Lada Togliatti Tolyatti Volgar Sports Palace 2,900 Ladia 1976 2010
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl[note] Yaroslavl Arena 2000 9,070 N/A Loko 1959 2011
Neftyanik Almetyevsk Almetyevsk Yubileinyi Sports Palace 2,200 Ak Bars Kazan Bars 1965 2001
PHC Krylya Sovetov Moscow Soviet Wings Sport Palace 5,500 HC Spartak Moscow Krylya Sovetov 1947 2007
Titan Klin Klin 2011
Eastern Conference
Team City Arena Capacity KHL Affiliate Team(s) MHL Affiliate Team(s) Founded Joined league
Ermak Angarsk Angarsk Ermak Stadium 6,900 Metallurg Novokuznetsk 1958 2007
Izhstal Izhevsk Izhevsk Sports Palace Izhstal 3,900 1949 2006
Kazzinc-Torpedo Oskemen, East Kaz. Commercial Center of Sport 4,400 1955 2001
Molot-Prikamye Perm Perm Universal Sports Palace 7,000 1948 2006
Mechel Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk Mechel Sport Palace 2,800 Traktor Chelyabinsk Belye Medvedi 1948 2003
Rubin Tyumen Tyumen Sports Palace Tyumen 3,300 MHC Gazovik 1995 2000
Sokol Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk 2011
Sputnik Nizhny Tagil Nizhny Tagil V.K. of Sotnikova Vmest 4,200 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 1948 2002
Toros Neftekamsk Neftekamsk Ice Palace Neftekamsk 2,000 Salavat Yulaev Ufa Tolpar 1998 2006
Zauralie Kurgan Kurgan Mostovik 2,500 Sibir Novosibirsk Sibirskie Snaypery 1994 2003
Yuzhny Ural Orsk Orsk Ice Palace Rostoshi 4,600 Metallurg Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy 1996 2006

Vysshaya Liga (FHR) Champions

Vysshaya hokkeinaya liga Champions

See also

References

External links