Polska Hokej Liga


The Polska Hokej Liga is the premier ice hockey league in Poland. The highest professional level of ice hockey in Poland is the Polish Hockey League ; 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, competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe. 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
Comarch CracoviaKrakówLodowisko im. Adama "Rocha" Kowalskiego2,5141923
Energa ToruńToruńTor-Tor4,5001922 2010
GKS KatowiceKatowiceLodowisko Spodek Satelita1,5001964
GKS TychyTychyStadion Zimowy w Tychach2,5351971
JKH GKS JastrzębieJastrzębie-ZdrójJastor1,9861963
Podhale Nowy TargNowy TargMiejska Hala Lodowa3,5001932 2015
STS SanokSanokArena Sanok3,0001958 2020
Unia OświęcimOświęcimHala Lodowa MOSiR2,6861958
Zagłębie SosnowiecSosnowiecStadion Zimowy2,1251933 1998

Medalists

SeasonWinner2nd place3rd placeRegular season
2013–14KH SanokGKS TychyGKS JastrzębieGKS Tychy
2014–15GKS TychyGKS JastrzębiePodhale Nowy TargGKS Jastrzębie
2015–16CracoviaGKS TychyPodhale Nowy TargCracovia
2016–17CracoviaGKS TychyPolonia BytomGKS Tychy
2017–18GKS TychyGKS KatowicePodhale Nowy TargGKS Tychy
2018–19GKS TychyCracoviaGKS KatowiceGKS Katowice
2019–20GKS TychyUnia OświęcimGKS JastrzębieGKS Tychy
2020–21GKS JastrzębieCracoviaGKS TychyGKS Katowice
2021–22GKS KatowiceUnia OświęcimGKS JastrzębieGKS Tychy
2022–23GKS KatowiceGKS TychyUnia OświęcimCracovia
2023–24Unia OświęcimGKS KatowiceGKS TychyGKS Katowice
2024–25GKS TychyGKS KatowiceGKS JastrzębieGKS Tychy