Supreme Hockey League

Supreme Hockey League

Current season or competition: 2012–13 VHL season
Founded	2010
No. of teams	26
Countries	Russia (24 teams)  Kazakhstan (2 teams)
Most recent champion(s)	Toros Neftekamsk
Most titles	Toros Neftekamsk (2)
Related competitions	Kontinental Hockey League Minor Hockey League
Official website	vhlru.ru

The Supreme Hockey League^[1][2] (Russian: Высшая хоккейная лига (ВХЛ), Vysshaya hokkeinaya liga (VHL)), also known as the Major Hockey League^[3][4] or Higher Hockey League (HHL),^[5] 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.^[6] It was preceded by the Major League of the Russian Championship that formerly held a relegation role for the Russian Superleague, and was governed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. 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.

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.

Russian Classic

An outdoor ice hockey game named the Russian Classic (Russian: Русская классика, Russkaya klassika) took place on February 17, 2012 at the Central Stadium in Krasnoyarsk. The game featured Sokol Krasnoyarsk against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. The second Russian Classic is set for January 19, 2014 at the Central Stadium of Chelyabinsk, where Chelmet Chelyabinsk is going to host Lada Togliatti.^[7]

Teams in 2013–14

Team City Arena Capacity KHL Affiliate Team(s) MHL Affiliate Team(s) Founded Joined league Ariada Volzhsk Volzhsk Ariada Ice Palace 2,250 Metallurg Novokuznetsk Kuznetskie Medvedi 1996 2010 Buran Voronezh Voronezh LDS Jubileiny 3,040 Atlant Moscow Oblast Atlanty Rossosh 1977 2012 Chelmet Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk Sport Palace Yunost 3,650 Traktor Chelyabinsk Belye Medvedi 1948 2012 Dizel Penza Penza Dizel Arena 5,500 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Loko Dizelist 1956 2010 Dynamo Balashikha Balashikha Balashikha Arena 6,500 Dynamo Moscow HC MVD 2010 2010 Ermak Angarsk Angarsk Arena Ermak 6,900 Avangard Omsk Omskie Yatreby Angarsky Ermak 1958 2010 Izhstal Izhevsk Izhevsk Sports Palace Izhstal 3,900 Severstal Cherepovets Almaz Izhevskaya Stal 1958 2010 Kazzinc-Torpedo Oskemen Boris Alexandrov Sport Palace 4,400 Independent Independent 1956 2010 Kristall Saratov Saratov Ice Sports Palace Saratov 5,000 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk MHC Reaktor Kristall-Yunior 1955 2010 Kuban Krasnodar Krasnodar Ice Palace 3,100 CSKA Moscow Krasnaya Armiya Berkuty Kubani 2012 2012 Lada Togliatti Tolyatti Lada Arena 6,100 HC Yugra Mamonty Yugry Ladia 1976 2010 HC Lipetsk Lipetsk Zvezdny Ice Palace 2,100 Independent Elta 1979 2013 Molot-Prikamye Perm Perm Universal Sports Palace Molot 6,000 Independent Molot 1949 2010 Neftyanik Almetyevsk Almetyevsk Yubileinyi Sports Palace 2,200 Ak Bars Kazan Bars Sputnik 1965 2010 Rubin Tyumen Tyumen Sports Palace Tyumen 3,300 Admiral Vladivostok Tyumensky Legion 1972 2010 HC Ryazan Ryazan Ryazan Olympic Sports Palace 2,700 Independent Molnia 1999 2010 HC Sarov Sarov Sarov Ice Palace 1,200 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Chaika Raketa 2002 2010 Saryarka Karagandy Karagandy Karagandy Arena 5,500 Independent Kazakhmys 2006 2012 Sokol Krasnoyarsk Krasnoyarsk Arena Sever 2,600 Spartak Moscow MHC Spartak Krasnoyarskie Rysi 2008 2011 Sputnik Nizhny Tagil Nizhny Tagil Sotnikov Ice Sports Palace 4,200 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Avto Yunior-Sputnik 1948 2010 THK Tver Tver Ice Palace Yubileyny 1,980 Independent Tverichi 1949 2012 Titan Klin Klin Valeri Kharlamov Ice Palace 1,500 Vityaz Podolsk Russkie Vityazi MHC Klin 1953 2011 Toros Neftekamsk Neftekamsk Ice Palace Neftekamsk 1,900 Salavat Yulaev Ufa Tolpar Batyr 1998 2010 VMF Karelia Kondopoga Ice Palace Kondopoga 1,850 SKA Saint Petersburg SKA-1946 2008 2010 Yuzhny Ural Orsk Orsk Ice Palace Yubileyny 4,500 Metallurg Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy Metallurg Mednogorsk 1958 2010 Zauralie Kurgan Kurgan Ice Sports Palace Mostovik 2,500 Sibir Novosibirsk Sibirskie Snaipery Yunior 1993 2010

Champions

• 2010–11 - Rubin Tyumen
• 2011–12 - Toros Neftekamsk
• 2012–13 - Toros Neftekamsk

See also

• Kontinental Hockey League

References

External links

• VHL Official
• AllHockey.Ru
• Euro Hockey