Latvian Hockey Higher League

The Latvian Hockey Higher League (), also known as the Optibet Hockey League () since 2017 due to sponsorship by Optibet, is the top tier league of ice hockey in Latvia. The league is competed by nine teams from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Ukraine. 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.

A number of players who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) have played in the league, including Latvians Rodrigo Ābols, Kaspars Astašenko, Uvis Balinskis, Helmuts Balderis, Oskars Bārtulis, Kaspars Daugaviņš, Kristers Gudļevskis, Viktors Ignatjevs, Artūrs Irbe, Raitis Ivanāns, Mārtiņš Karsums, Ronalds Ķēniņš, Aleksandrs Kerčs, Matīss Kivlenieks, Artūrs Kulda, Kārlis Skrastiņš, Pēteris Skudra, Jānis Sprukts, Artūrs Šilovs, as well as imports Darby Hendrickson, Konstantin Pushkaryov, Rob Schremp.

Teams

Teams in 2025–26

Former teams

League champions

• 1931–32 – Unions RÄ«ga
• 1932–33 – Unions RÄ«ga
• 1933–34 – ASK RÄ«ga
• 1934–35 – ASK RÄ«ga
• 1935–36 – ASK RÄ«ga
• 1936–37 – US RÄ«ga
• 1937–38 – ASK RÄ«ga
• 1938–39 – ASK RÄ«ga
• 1939–40 – US RÄ«ga
• 1940–41 – Dinamo RÄ«ga
• 1941–42 – US RÄ«ga
• 1942–43 – not finished
• 1943–1991 – not played
• 1991–92 – HK Sāga Ķekava Riga
• 1992–93 – HK Pārdaugava RÄ«ga
• 1993–94 – HK Pārdaugava RÄ«ga
• 1994–95 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
• 1995–96 – Alianse Riga
• 1996–97 – LB/Essamika
• 1997–98 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
• 1998–99 – HK Nik's Brih Riga
• 1999–2000 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2000–01 – HK Riga 2000
• 2001–02 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2002–03 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2003–04 – HK Riga 2000
• 2004–05 – HK Riga 2000
• 2005–06 – HK Riga 2000
• 2006–07 – HK Riga 2000
• 2007–08 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2008–09 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2009–10 – Dinamo-Juniors Riga
• 2010–11 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2011–12 – Liepājas Metalurgs
• 2012–13 – HK SMScredit.lv
• 2013–14 – HS RÄ«ga/Prizma
• 2014–15 – HK Mogo
• 2015–16 – HK Liepāja
• 2016–17 – HK Kurbads
• 2017–18 – HK Kurbads
• 2018–19 – HK Mogo
• 2019–20 – not finished
• 2020–21 – HK Olimp/Venta 2002
• 2021–22 – HK Zemgale/LLU
• 2022–23 – HK Zemgale/LLU
• 2023–24 – HK Mogo
• 2024–25 – HK Mogo

Titles by team

References

External links

• Latvian league news and stats from Eurohockey
• Latvian league stats from Elite Prospects