 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992; 33 years ago (1992) |
| Founder | Belarusian Ice Hockey Association |
| First season | 1992–93 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country |  Belarus (13 teams) Russia (1 team) |
| Most recent champion | Metallurg Zhlobin (4th title) (2023–24) |
| Most titles | Yunost Minsk (9 titles) |
| Broadcaster | Belarus 5,Fanseat |
| Related competitions | Vysshaya Liga |
| Official website | extra |
TheBelarusian Extraleague, abbreviatedBHL, also known as theBETERA Extraleague for sponsorship reasons, or known as theBelarusian Open Championship, (Belarusian:Экстраліга,romanized: Ekstraliha), officially formed in 2006, is the topice hockey league inBelarus. In its past, it has switched several times between being and not being an open league (in reference to allowing foreign teams), but for the 2008–2009 season, theBelarusian Ice Hockey Association decided to open the Belarusian Extraleague, theBelarusian Premier League and the Belarusian junior leagues.
Before the season 2018-2019 theBelarusian Extraleague was divided in two leagues:Extraleague A with 8 teams andExtraleague B with 9 teams. For the 2021-2022 season, this division into Extraleague A and Extraleague B was canceled, with 12 teams taking part in the single championship.[1]
The Extraleague championships for the2016-2017 season and2017-2018 season were won byHC Neman Grodno
The 2019/2020 Belarusian ice hockey championship was the only championship in the world that was not interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]
Teams from the BHL can participate in theIIHF's annualChampions Hockey League (CHL), competing for the European Trophy. Participation is based on the strength of the various leagues in Europe (excluding the European/AsianKontinental Hockey League). Going into the2022–23 CHL season, the BHL wasranked the No. 7 league in Europe, allowing them to send their top team to compete in the CHL.
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Yunost Minsk | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| 7 | HC Neman Grodno | 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 |
| 5 | Tivali Minsk/HC Dinamo-Minsk* | 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2007* |
| 3 | Metallurg Zhlobin | 2012, 2022, 2023 |
| 2 | Polimir Novopolotsk | 1996, 1997 |
| 2 | Keramin Minsk | 2002, 2008 |
| 1 | HK Gomel | 2003 |
| 1 | HC Shakhtyor Soligorsk | 2015 |
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HK Lokomotiv Orsha | 2019, 2020 |
| 1 | Khimik Novopolotsk | 2021 |
