List of ice hockey leagues
This is a list of ice hockey leagues, both professional and amateur, from around the world; parentheses denote year of establishment and, where applicable, year of disestablishment.
World
North America
Major professional
- National Hockey League (1917) (Canada; United States)
Minor professional
- American Hockey League (1936) (United States; Canada)
- ECHL (1988 as East Coast Hockey League) (United States)
- Southern Professional Hockey League (2004) (United States)
- Federal Hockey League (2010) (United States)
Semi-Pro
- Liga Mexicana Élite (Mexico)
- Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (2004) (Canada)
Junior
Major junior
- Note: that the Major Junior level is considered professional by some authorities, including the NCAA, as its players earn a small stipend.
- Canadian Hockey League (governing authority)
- Ontario Hockey League (1980) (Canada; United States)
- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (1969) (Canada)
- Western Hockey League (1966) (Canada; United States)
Junior A
Canadian Junior A Leagues
- Canadian Junior Hockey League (governing authority)
- Alberta Junior Hockey League
- British Columbia Hockey League
- Central Canada Hockey League
- Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
- Manitoba Junior Hockey League
- Maritime Junior Hockey League (1967 as Metro Valley Junior Hockey League; became a junior A league in 1977)
- Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- Ontario Junior Hockey League
- Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
- Superior International Junior Hockey League
American Junior A Leagues
Tier I
- United States Hockey League (1979)
Tier II
- North American Hockey League (2003)
Tier III
- Eastern Hockey League (2013) formerly the Atlantic Junior Hockey League (2003)
- Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (1966)
- North American 3 Hockey League (1970)
- North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (2012) formerly the Northern States Hockey League
- Northern Pacific Hockey League (2000)
- Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (2015)
- United States Premier Hockey League (Empire, Elite, Premier) (2013)
United Hockey Union (AAU) Junior Leagues
- Western States Hockey League (1994)
- World United Hockey League (2014)
Independent Junior Leagues
Junior B
Canadian Junior B Leagues
- Calgary Junior Hockey League
- Capital Junior Hockey League
- Central Canada Hockey League Tier 2 formerly Eastern Ontario Jr B hockey League
- Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHA)
- Heritage Junior B Hockey League
- Island Junior Hockey League
- Keystone Junior Hockey League formerly Manitoba Junior B Hockey League
- Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
- Ligue de Hockey de La Capitale *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior de Montréal *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Beauce-Frontenac *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Estrie-Mauricie *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Richelieu *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean *
- New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League
- North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
- North West Junior Hockey League
- Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League
- Pacific Junior Hockey League
- Prairie Junior Hockey League formerly South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League, merged with North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
- St. John's Junior B Hockey League
- Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
- Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
(*) Quebec Junior "AA" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "B"
Junior C
Canadian Junior C Leagues
- Calgary Junior C Hockey League
- Central Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
- Central/West Junior Hockey League (relegated from Jr B 2014)
- Empire Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
- Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
- Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
- Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League
- Ligue de Hockey Junior A Bois Francs *
- Ligue de Hockey Junior A Rive-Sud *
- Ligue Interzone de hockey mineur BC Rive Nord (Junior A)
- Midwestern Junior C Hockey League (OHA) (2013-14)
- National Capital Junior Hockey League
- New Brunswick Junior B Hockey League
- Niagara Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
- Noralta Junior Hockey League
- Nova Scotia Junior C Hockey League
- Prince Edward Island Minor Junior Hockey League
- Saskatchewan Junior C Hockey League
- Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHA) (From Jr D 2013-14)
- Western Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
(*) Quebec Junior "A" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "C"
Junior D
(*) Quebec Junior "B" is roughly equal to Ontario Junior "D"
College
CIS Hockey (Canada)
- Canadian Interuniversity Sport (Canada, varsity)
- Atlantic University Sport
- Canada West Universities Athletic Association
- Ontario University Athletics
- Quebec Student Sports Federation
- Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
- British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League
NCAA Hockey (United States)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (United States, varsity)
- Atlantic Hockey (Division I, men only)
- Big Ten (Division I, men only)
- College Hockey America (Division I, women only)
- ECAC Hockey (Division I, both sexes)
- Hockey East (Division I, both sexes)
- National Collegiate Hockey Conference (Division I, men only)
- Western Collegiate Hockey Association (Division I, both sexes)
- Northeast-10 Conference (Division II)
- Eastern College Athletic Conference East (Division III)
- Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast (Division III)
- Eastern College Athletic Conference West (Division III)
- Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (Division III)
- Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (Division III)
- Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III)
- Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (Division III)
- New England Small College Athletic Conference (Division III)
- State University of New York Athletic Conference (Division III)
- Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III)
Note: The Northeast-10 sponsors a championship for its members that play ice hockey, but the NCAA doesn't currently sponsor a national championship at the Division II level.
Club Hockey
- American Collegiate Hockey Association (United States, club)
- Men's Division 1
- Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL)
- College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA)
- Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA)
- Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL)
- Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL)
- Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL)
- Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHL) (2013-14)
- Men's Division 2
- Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL)
- Great Midwest Hockey League (GMHL)
- Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference (GNCHC)
- Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) (Gold division)
- Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA)
- Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League (MWCHL)
- Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA)
- Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (PAC-8)
- Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL)
- Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL)
- West Coast Hockey Conference (WCHC)
- Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA)
- Men's Division 3
- Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC)
- College Hockey Association (CHA) (Contains Non-ACHA members)
- College Hockey East (CHE)
- Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC)
- Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference (ECHC)
- Mason-Dixon Collegiate Hockey Association (MDCHA)
- Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) (Contains Non-ACHA members)
- Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC)
- Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) (Silver division)
- Indiana Collegiate Hockey Conference (ICHC)
- North Central Collegiate Hockey Association (NCCHA)
- Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC)
- Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association (PCHA)
- Women's Division 1
- Men's Division 1
- Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC Women's)
- National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA)
- Upstate New York Club Hockey League (UNYCHL) (CIHA-affiliate)
Note: there are also many independent teams in all three ACHA divisions in addition to the many within the hockey conferences and leagues.
Junior College
- National Junior College Athletic Association (United States)
Women's
- Canadian Women's Hockey League (2007)
- Western Women's Hockey League (2004)
- National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship (2000)
- NCAA Division III women's ice hockey
- Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's ice hockey championship (1998)
- Junior Women's Hockey League (2007)
- Hockey collégial féminin RSEQ (1999)
- Livonia League
- Mid-Atlantic Women's Hockey League (1975)
- Provincial Women's Hockey League (2004)
Senior
Sanctioned by Hockey Canada or USA Hockey
Canada
- Big 6 Hockey League (Saskatchewan Sr. AAA)
- Chinook Hockey League (Alberta Sr. AAA)
- Highway Hockey League (Saskatchewan Sr. AAA)
- Ligue Centrale de Hockey (LCH) (Quebec Sr. AAA/semi-pro) (1990)
- Major League Hockey (Ontario Sr. AAA) (1953)
- North Peace Hockey League (Alberta Sr. AAA)
- Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League (Ontario Sr. AA and A) (1948)
United States
- Great Lakes Hockey League (1937)
Unsanctioned
- Hockey North America (1980)
School and youth
High School
- Delaware Scholastic Hockey Association
- Interscholastic Hockey League
- Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA)
- Midwest Prep Hockey League
- Minnesota State High School League boy's hockey
- Missouri high school hockey
- Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA)
- Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL)
- New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
- New York high school hockey
- New York State Public High School Athletic Association (varsity)
- New York State Amateur Hockey Association (non varsity)
- North Dakota High School Activities Association
- Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League
- Pennsylvania high school hockey
- Washington high school hockey
- Western Washington High School Hockey League
- Tri-Cities Amateur Hockey Association
- West Virginia high school hockey (Penguins Cup)
- Wisconsin high school hockey
Defunct leagues
- All-American Hockey League (1987–1988)
- All American Hockey League (2008-2011)
- America East Hockey League (2005–2008)
- Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (1886–1898)
- American Amateur Hockey League (1896–?)
- American Hockey Association (1926–1942)
- Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981–1987)
- Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–2003)
- California Hockey League (1928–1933)
- California Hockey League (1957–1963)
- Canadian Amateur Hockey League (1899–1905)
- Canadian-American Hockey League (1926–1936)
- Canadian Elite Hockey League (2005–2006)
- Canadian Hockey Association (1909–1910)
- Canadian Independent Junior Hockey League (2014)(folded prior to playing any games)
- Canadian International Hockey League (2014) - played one season
- Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926–1930)
- Central Collegiate Hockey Association (NCAA Division I, 1971–2013)
- Central Hockey League (1963–1984)
- Central Hockey League (1992-2014) (United States; Canada)
- Central Ontario Hockey League (Unknown-1980)
- Central Ontario Women's Hockey League (1992-1998)
- College Hockey America men's division (NCAA Division I, 1999–2010; conference remains in operation as a women's hockey league)
- Coloured Hockey League (1895–1925)
- Continental Elite Hockey League (2001–2004)
- Continental Hockey League (1972–1987)-became All-American Hockey League
- Eastern Amateur Hockey League (1933–1934, 1935–1948, 1949–1953)
- Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (1905–1909)
- Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey League (1923–?)
- Eastern Hockey League (1934–1935, 1954–1973, 1979–1981)
- Eastern Junior B Hockey League (1951–1972)
- Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (2003–2008)
- Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008–2009)
- Eastern Professional Hockey League (1914–1915, 1959–1963)
- Federal Amateur Hockey League (1904–1909)
- Great Lakes Junior Hockey League (2008-2012)
- Great West Hockey Conference (NCAA Division I, 1985–1988)
- Gulf Coast Hockey League (2001–2002)
- International-American Hockey League (1936–1941)-became American Hockey League
- International Independent Hockey League (2003)
- International Hockey League (1929–36)
- International Hockey League (1945–2001)
- International Professional Hockey League (1904–1907)
- Inter-Provincial Amateur Hockey Union (1908-?)
- Interprovincial Professional Hockey League (1910–1911)
- Ligue Centrale de Hockey (1978–2008)
- Major Intermediate A Hockey League (1978–1983)
- Manitoba Professional Hockey League (1907–1909)
- Maritime Major Hockey League (1950–1954)
- Maritime Professional Hockey League (1911–1914)
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (NCAA Division I, 1997–2003; conference remains in operation as an all-sports league without ice hockey)
- Metro Junior A Hockey League (1991–1998) merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
- Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (2007–2008)
- Midwest Junior Hockey League (2012-2015) merged with United States Premier Hockey League
- Minnesota Junior Hockey League (1974-2015) merged with United States Premier Hockey League
- National Hockey Association (1909–1917)
- National Women's Hockey League (1999-2007)
- North American Hockey League (1973–1977)
- North Eastern Hockey League (2003–2008)
- North of Superior Junior B Hockey League (Canada)
- North West Hockey League (1933–1936)
- Northern Junior Hockey League (2008-2010) (2008 as United Junior Hockey League)
- Northern States Junior Hockey League (2012) - became the NA3EHL
- Northwest Junior Hockey League (Manitoba) (Canada)
- Ontario Professional Hockey League (1907–1911, 1930–1931)
- Original Stars Hockey League (2004)
- Ottawa City Hockey League (1890–1957)
- Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1911–1924)
- Pacific Coast Hockey League (1928–1931, 1936–1941, 1945–1952)
- Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League (Canada)
- Pacific Hockey League (1977–1979)
- Prairie Hockey League (1926–1928)
- Quebec Hockey League (1952–1959)
- Quebec Senior Hockey League (1945–1952)
- Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League aka Peace Cariboo Junior Hockey League (British Columbia, Canada)
- South East Hockey League (2003–2004)
- Southeast Junior Hockey League - (2006-2013)
- Southern Elite Hockey League (1998–2000)
- Southern Hockey League (1973–1977)
- Southern Hockey League (1995–1996)
- Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League (1972–1976) -merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
- Southwest Hockey League (1975–1977)
- Sunshine Hockey League (1992–1995)
- Tri-State Hockey League (1932–1933)
- Tri-State League (NCAA Division I, 1950–1972)
- Tropical Hockey League (1938–1939)
- United Hockey League (1991 as Colonial Hockey League, also known as International Hockey League) (1991-2010)
- United States Hockey League (1945–1951)
- Western Canada Hockey League (professional) (1921–1925)
- Western Canada Hockey League (minor pro) (1932–1933)
- Western Canada Senior Hockey League (1945–1951)
- West Coast Hockey League (1995–2003)
- Western Hockey League (professional) (1925–1926)
- Western Hockey League (minor pro) (1952–1975)
- Western International Hockey League (1946–1962, 1963–1988)
- Western Professional Hockey League (1996–2001)
- World Hockey Association (1972–1979)
- World Hockey Association 2 (2003–2004)
- WHA Junior Hockey League (2006-2008)
Disabled hockey leagues
Leagues for disabled hockey players
- Amputee Hockey
- American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association
- Sledge hockey
- Special Hockey
- Special Hockey International – Representing hockey programs for developmentally challenged athletes from around the word, SHI stages an annual tournament that is the largest of its kind in the world.
Eurasia
- Kontinental Hockey League (Belarus, Croatia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine)
- Higher Hockey League (Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus)
Asia and Africa
- Asia League Ice Hockey (Japan, South Korea, China, Russia)
China
Republic of China
Georgia
Hong Kong
- Hockey Night in Asia
- Hong Kong Ice Hockey Championship
India
Israel
Japan
- All-Japan Championship (cup tournament)
Defunct Japan Ice Hockey League
Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan Hockey Championship (league in both Europe and Asia)
Kyrgyzstan
Malaysia
- Subang Jaya Ice Hockey League
Mongolia
North Korea
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
- South African Interprovincial Ice Hockey Championship
South Korea
Thailand
Turkey
(Leagues involve teams from both Europe and Asia)
- Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (1993)
- Turkish Ice Hockey First League
- Turkish Ice Hockey Women's League (2007)
Turkmenistan
Qatar
- Qatar Ice Hockey League
United Arab Emirates
Europe
- Alpenliga (1991–1999) - multinational league with teams from Austria, Italy and Slovenia. Replaced by the International Ice Hockey League (1999–2007)
- Eastern European Hockey League (1995–2005) - multinational league with teams from Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia and Poland.
- North Sea Cup - multinational league with teams in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Panonian League
- EUHL - international university league
Armenia
Austria
Women
Belarus
- Belarusian Hockey League
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
- Croatian Ice Hockey Championship
Czech Republic
- Czech Extraliga (1993)
- Czech 1.liga
- Czech 2.liga
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
- AL-Bank Ligaen
East Germany
Estonia
Finland
- SM-liiga (1975)
- Mestis (renamed in 2000)
- Suomi-sarja
- 2. Divisioona
Defunct
Women
- Jääkiekon naisten SM-sarja
France
Germany
Men
- German Ice Hockey League (DEL) (1994-)
- Ice hockey Bundesliga (1958–1994, replaced by DEL)
- DEL2 (2013-)
- 2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey) (1973-2013, replaced by DEL2)
- Oberliga (Ice Hockey) (1948-)
- Bavarian ice hockey leagues (1976-)
- Regionalliga
Women
Greece
Hungary
- MOL Liga
- OB I. Bajnokság
- Beno Fodor
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Semi-pro
- Serie A (former Elite.A and Serie A1)
- Serie B (former Seconda Divisione and Serie A2)
Amateur
- Serie C
Junior and youth
- Under 20 (2 national divisions)
- Under 18 (2 national divisions)
- Under 16 (many regional divisions)
- Under 14 (many regional divisions)
- Under 12 (many regional divisions)
- Under 10 (many regional divisions)
- Under 8 (many regional divisions)
Women
Kazakhstan
Latvia
- Latvian Hockey League
- Independent Amateur hockey league (Neatkarīgā Amatieru hokeja līga/NAHL)
Lithuania
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
- Eredivisie
- Eerste Divisie
- U17
- U14
- U12
Norway
Poland
- Polska Liga Hokejowa
- Polish 1. Liga
Portugal
Romania
- Liga Naţională de hochei
Russia
Major professional
Minor professional
- Russian Major League
Semi-pro
- Russian Hockey League
Junior
- Minor Hockey League (Molodezhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga)
Youth
- Moscow Region
- Northwest Region Hockey
- Ural Region
Defunct
- Russian Superleague (1996-2008)
- International Hockey League (1992-1996)
- Russian Second League
Serbia
Slovakia
Men
- Slovak Extraliga (1993–present after dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League (1931–1993))
- Slovak 1.Liga (12 teams, first 8 participate in play-offs and the winner plays with the worst team from Extraliga, last four teams participate in a play-out and 4th team after play-out plays a relegation game with the best team in 2.Liga)
- Slovak 2.Liga
Slovenia
Soviet Union
- Soviet Hockey League
Spain
- Superliga Española de Hockey Hielo
Sweden
Men
- Swedish Hockey League (New name for the top league in 2013. The national championship has been played since 1922 in other forms. 14 teams)
- HockeyAllsvenskan (The Swedish second league. The four best teams compete in the end of the season with the two worst placed team in SHL. 14 teams.)
- Hockeyettan (Divided into 4 regions: North, East, West, and South. The four best teams in each region make 2 new series called Allettan at the conclusion of the regions. The two Allettan winners, and the two teams that survive a three-round playoff, compete with the last two teams in HockeyAllsvenskan for their spots in the higher league. 47 teams at present.)
- Division 2 (Divided into 11 regions.)
- Division 3 (Divided into 13 regions.)
- Division 4 (Divided into 6 regions. In Stockholm called the "Swedish Iron League". The league does not cover all of Sweden.)
- J20 SuperElit (Under 20, junior league.)
- J20 Elit (Under 20, junior second league. Divided into 4 regions: North, East, West, and South.)
- J18 Elit (Under 18, divided into 4 regions.)
Women
Riksserien (Highest league, 8 teams.)
Switzerland
Ukraine
Professional
- Professional Hockey League (2011)
Junior
- Youth Hockey League (2012)
Defunct
- Major League (1992-2011)
- First League
United Kingdom
- Elite Ice Hockey League (2003-)
- English Premier Ice Hockey League (1997-)
- English National Hockey League (1996-)
- Scottish National League
- British Universities Ice Hockey Association Cup Competition (2004-)
Defunct Leagues
- British National League (1954–1960)
- British National League (1996–2005)
- Ice Hockey Superleague (1996–2003)
- British Hockey League (1982–1996)
English Ice Hockey Association Women's Leagues
- Women's Premier League
- Women's Division 1 North
- Women's Division 1 South
Yugoslavia
Oceania
- Australian Ice Hockey League
- East Coast Super League
- New Zealand Ice Hockey League
- Trans-Tasman Champions League