The Polska Hokej Liga (PHL) is the premier ice hockey league in Poland. The highest professional level of ice hockey in Poland is the Polish Hockey League (PHL); also referred to as the Polska Hokej Liga. Previously, it was known as the I Liga or Ekstraklasa from 1926 to 1999, and the Polska Liga Hokejowa from 1999 to 2013. In 2013, it was reorganized as a limited liability company and renamed the Polska Hokej Liga. It follows a system of relegation to and promotion to/from the Polish 1. Liga.
In the 2021–22 season, nine hockey clubs spread across Poland made up the league. Teams from the PHL can participate in the IIHF's annual Champions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/Asian Kontinental Hockey League). Going into the 2022–23 CHL season, the PHL was ranked the No. 12 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top team to compete in the CHL.
History The championship started with the 1925–26 season. At first, it was a non-league system composed of regional tournaments. The tournaments had two stages. The best teams qualified to the final tournament, of which the winner was declared champion. In 1938, the Polish Ice Hockey Federation decided to reorganize the championship, by creating a league system. Those plans were abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.
The current structure of the league began in 1955.
Teams
TeamCityArenaCapacityFounded Cracovia Kraków Sztuczne Lodowiski A. R. Kowalskiego 4,500 1923 GKS Katowice Katowice Satelita Spodek 1,500 1964 GKS Tychy Tychy Stadion Zimowy MOSiR 5,000 1971 JKH GKS Jastrzębie Jastrzebie Zdroj Jastor 1,580 1963 KH Energa Toruń Toruń Tor-Tor 3,500 1924 KH Zagłębie Sosnowiec Sosnowiec Nowy Stadion Zimowy 2,545 1933 (Original) 1998 (Current) STS Sanok Sanok Arena Sanok 3,100 1958 (Original) 2020 (Current) TH Unia Oświęcim Oświęcim Hala Lodowa 3,500 1958 TMH Polonia Bytom Bytom Lodowisko im. Braci Nikodemowiczów OSiR Bytom 1,500 1946
Medalists
SeasonWinner2nd place3rd placeRegular season 2013–14 KH Sanok GKS Tychy GKS Jastrzębie GKS Tychy 2014–15 GKS Tychy GKS Jastrzębie Podhale Nowy Targ GKS Jastrzębie 2015–16 Cracovia GKS Tychy Podhale Nowy Targ Cracovia 2016–17 Cracovia GKS Tychy Polonia Bytom GKS Tychy 2017–18 GKS Tychy GKS Katowice Podhale Nowy Targ GKS Tychy 2018–19 GKS Tychy Cracovia GKS Katowice GKS Katowice 2019–20 GKS Tychy Unia Oświęcim GKS Jastrzębie GKS Tychy 2020–21 GKS Jastrzębie Cracovia GKS Tychy GKS Katowice 2021–22 GKS Katowice Unia Oświęcim GKS Jastrzębie GKS Tychy 2022–23 GKS Katowice GKS Tychy Unia Oświęcim Cracovia 2023–24 Unia Oświęcim GKS Katowice GKS Tychy GKS Katowice 2024–25 GKS Tychy GKS Katowice GKS Jastrzębie GKS Tychy 2025–26 GKS Tychy GKS Katowice GKS Sosnowiec GKS Katowice
See also Polish Cup (ice hockey)
References
External links
hokej.net planetofhockey.com