Current season, competition or edition: 2014–15 VHL season |
|
Sport | Ice Hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 2010 |
No. of teams | 26 (2015–2016 season) |
Countries |
Russia (24 teams) Kazakhstan (2 teams) |
Most recent champion(s) |
Toros Neftekamsk |
Most titles | Toros Neftekamsk (3) |
Related competitions |
Kontinental Hockey League VHL-B Junior Hockey League |
Official website | vhlru.ru |
The Supreme Hockey League (Russian: Высшая хоккейная лига (ВХЛ), Vysshaya hokkeinaya liga (VHL)), also known as the Major Hockey League or Higher Hockey League (HHL), 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. It was preceded by the Major League of the Russian Championship (Vysshaya Liga) 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.
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.
The Russian Classic (Russian: Русская классика, Russkaya klassika) is an outdoor ice hockey game during the Supreme Hockey League season.