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)	Toros Neftekamsk
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.

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) will take place on 17 February 2012 at the Central Stadium in Krasnoyarsk. The game will feature Sokol Krasnoyarsk against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

Teams in 2011–12

Russian Major League Western Conference Team Translation City Arena Capacity KHL Affiliate Team(s) MHL Affiliate Team(s) Founded Joined league Ariada-Akpars Volzhsk Ariada-Akpars Volzhsk Ariada Ice Palace 2,250 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk 2003 Dynamo Tver Dynamo Tver[5] Yubileyny Sport Palace Tver[5] 2,000 UHC Dynamo Sherif 2010 Dizel Penza Diesel Penza Ice Sports Palace Penza 5,200 Severstal Cherepovets 1955 2004 HC Donbass HC Donets Basin Donetsk Arena-Druzhba Donetsk 4,130 2005 2011 HC Ryazan HC Ryazan Ryazan Ryazan Olympic Sports Palace 2,700 Atlant Moscow Oblast Mytischenskie Atlanty 1955 2007 HC VMF St. Petersburg HC Naval Fleet Saint Petersburg Yubileyny Sports Palace 7,000 SKA Saint Petersburg SKA-1946 2008 HC Sarov HC Sarov Sarov Sarov Ice Palace 1,200 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Chaika 2002 2009 Kristall Saratov Crystal Saratov Ice Sports Palace Saratov 5,000 1948 1998 Lada Togliatti HC Lada Tolyatti Volgar Sports Palace 2,900 Ladia 1976 2010 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl[note] Locomotive Yaroslavl Arena 2000 9,070 N/A Loko 1959 2011 Neftyanik Almetyevsk Oiler Almetyevsk Yubileinyi Sports Palace 2,200 Ak Bars Kazan Bars 1965 2001 Titan Klin Titanum Klin Metallurg Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy 2011 Eastern Conference Team Translation City Arena Capacity KHL Affiliate Team(s) MHL Affiliate Team(s) Founded Joined league Ermak Angarsk Ermak Angarsk Ermak Stadium 6,900 Metallurg Novokuznetsk 1958 2007 Izhstal Izhevsk Izhstal (Izhevsk Steel) Izhevsk Sports Palace Izhstal 3,900 1949 2006 Kazzinc-Torpedo Kazzinc-Torpedo Oskemen, East Kaz. Commercial Center of Sport 4,400 1955 2001 Molot-Prikamye Perm Hammer-Prikamye Perm Universal Sports Palace 7,000 1948 2006 Mechel Chelyabinsk Mechel Chelyabinsk Mechel Sport Palace 2,800 Traktor Chelyabinsk Belye Medvedi 1948 2003 Rubin Tyumen Ruby Tyumen Sports Palace Tyumen 3,300 MHC Gazovik 1995 2000 Sokol Krasnoyarsk Falcon Krasnoyarsk Arena. Sever 2,600 1977 2011 Sputnik Nizhny Tagil Satellite Nizhny Tagil V.K. of Sotnikova Vmest 4,200 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 1948 2002 Toros Neftekamsk Ice Hummock Neftekamsk Ice Palace Neftekamsk 2,000 Salavat Yulaev Ufa Tolpar 1998 2006 Zauralie Kurgan Trans-Ural Kurgan Mostovik 2,500 Sibir Novosibirsk Sibirskie Snaypery 1994 2003 Yuzhny Ural Orsk The Southern Ural Orsk Ice Palace Rostoshi 4,600 1996 2006

• 1.^ Lokomotiv, normally a KHL team, will play in the VHL for the 2011–12 season only, due to ramifications from the loss of the team's roster in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl air disaster.
• Although HC Lipetsk were admitted into the league for the 2010–11 season, the team withdrew from the league before the start of the season due to financial difficulties.

Vysshaya Liga (FHR) Champions

• 1992–93 – CSK VVS Samara
• 1993–94 – CSK VVS Samara
• 1994–95 – Neftekhimik Nijnekamsk
• 1995–96 – Amur Khabarovsk
• 1996–97 – (West) HC CSKA Moscow / (East) HC Mechel
• 1997–98 – (West) HK Lipetsk / (East) Neftyanik Almetievsk
• 1998–99 – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
• 1999–00 – Neftyanik Almetievsk
• 2000–01 – HC Spartak Moscow
• 2001–02 – HC Sibir Novosibirsk
• 2002–03 – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
• 2003–04 – Molot-Prikamye Perm
• 2004–05 – HC MVD
• 2005–06 – Traktor Chelyabinsk
• 2006–07 – Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
• 2007–08 – Khimik Voskresensk
• 2008–09 – Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk
• 2009–10 – Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk

Vysshaya hokkeinaya liga Champions

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

See also

• Kontinental Hockey League

References

External links

• Vysshaya Liga Official Page (Russian)
• VHL Official Page (Russian)
• AllHockey.Ru (Russian)
• Vysshaya Liga schedule and standings
• Euro Hockey