List of ice hockey leagues

This is a list of ice hockey leagues, both professional and amateur, from around the world; parentheses denote year of establishment and, where applicable, year of disestablishment.

World

* International Ice Hockey Federation (1908)

North America

Major professional

* National Hockey League (1917) (Canada & United States)

Minor professional

:"Note: There is no official classification system for minor professional hockey leagues, and appellations such as "AAA," "AA" or "A" leagues are not generally acknowledged by hockey authorities. The AHL is the most highly-ranked minor league. The ECHL, IHL and CHL are on the next tier below and act as feeders to the AHL, with the ECHL being the greatest of the three "equals" due to its more official ties to the NHL. The IHL would be considered second to the ECHL and slightly above the CHL due to higher allowance of veteran players and a higher salary cap. The SPHL in turn is a feeder to the ECHL, IHL and CHL. This tier is followed by several lower-grade and semi-pro leagues.

* American Hockey League (1936)
* ECHL (1988 as East Coast Hockey League)
* International Hockey League (1991 at Colonial Hockey League)
* Central Hockey League (1992)
* Southern Professional Hockey League (2004)
* Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008)
* Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (2004)
* All American Hockey Association (2008)
* Midwest Hockey League (2008)
* Continental Elite Hockey League (2001)

emi-Pro

* Ligue Centrale de Hockey (LCH)

* Professional Development Hockey League (PDHL)

Amateur

Junior

Major junior

Note that the Major Junior level is considered professional by some authorities, including the NCAA, as its players earn a small stipend.
*Canadian Hockey League (governing authority)
**Ontario Hockey League (1980)
**Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (1969)
**Western Hockey League (1966)

Junior A

Canadian Junior A Leagues

*Canadian Junior A Hockey League (governing authority)
*Alberta Junior Hockey League
*British Columbia Hockey League
*Central Junior A Hockey League
*Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League *
*Manitoba Junior Hockey League
*Maritime Junior A Hockey League (1967 as Metro Valley Junior Hockey League, became a junior A league in 1977)
*Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
*Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OHA)
*Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1956)
*Superior International Junior Hockey League

"(*) Quebec Junior "AAA" is equal to Ontario Junior "A"

American Junior A Leagues

*United States Hockey League (1979) "Tier I"
*North American Hockey League (2003) "Tier II"
*Eastern Junior Hockey League "Tier III"
*Central States Hockey League "Tier III"
*Minnesota Junior Hockey League "Tier III"
*Northern Pacific Hockey League (2000) "Tier III"
*Western States Hockey League "Tier III"
*Atlantic Junior Hockey League "Tier III"

Independent Junior A Leagues

*America East Hockey League (2005)
*Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League(2006)
*United Junior Hockey League (2008)
*WHA Junior West Hockey League (2006)
*Wisconsin Junior Hockey League (2008)
*International Junior Hockey League(2006)

Junior B

Canadian Junior B Leagues

*Calgary Junior Hockey League
*Capital Junior Hockey League
*Central/West Junior Hockey League
*Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League
*Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League (OHA)
*Heritage Junior B Hockey League
*Island Junior Hockey League
*Keystone Junior Hockey League formerly Manitoba Junior B Hockey League
*Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
*Ligue de Hockey de La Capitale *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior de Montréal *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Bas St-Laurent *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Beauce-Frontenac * (ET NON BEAUCE-APPALACHES)
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Estrie-Mauricie *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Lac St-Louis *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière * (ET NON LAURENTIDES-LANAUDIÈRE)
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Richelieu *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior AA Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean *
*Midwestern Junior B Hockey League (OHA)
*North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League
*North Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
*Northwest Junior Hockey League (Alberta)
*Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League
*Pacific International Junior Hockey League
*Prairie Junior Hockey League formerly South Saskatchewan Junior B Hockey League
*St. John's Junior B Hockey League
*Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League
*Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League
*Western Junior B Hockey League (OHA)

"(*) Quebec Junior "AA" is equal to Ontario Junior "B"

American Junior B Leagues

*Metropolitan Junior Hockey League
*Continental Hockey Association - Premier
*Empire Junior B Hockey League

Canadian Junior C

*Calgary Junior C Hockey League
*Central Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
*Eastern Ontario Junior C Hockey League
*Empire Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
*Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
*Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
*Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League
*Ligue de Hockey Junior A Bois Francs *
*Ligue de Hockey Junior A Rive-Sud *
*Ligue Interzone de hockey mineur BC Rive Nord (Junior A) *
*Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League
*New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
*Niagara Junior C Hockey League (OHA)
*Noralta Junior Hockey League
*Nova Scotia Junior C Hockey League
*Prince Edward Island Minor Junior Hockey League
*Saskatchewan Junior C Hockey League
*Western Junior C Hockey League (OHA)

"(*) Quebec Junior "A" is equal to Ontario Junior "C"

American Junior C

*Continental Hockey Association - Selects
*Continental Hockey Association - Development
*Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
*Southeastern Junior Hockey League

Junior D

*Ligue Interzone de hockey mineur BC Rive Nord (Junior B) (Canada) *

"(*) Quebec Junior "B" is equal to Ontario Junior "D"

Junior Development

*Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHA)

College

Varsity Hockey

*Canadian Interuniversity Sport (Canada, varsity)
*Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
*British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (B.C. Canada)
*National Collegiate Athletic Association (United States)
**Atlantic Hockey (Division I)
**Central Collegiate Hockey Association (Division I)
**College Hockey America (Division I)
**ECAC Hockey League (Division I)
**Hockey East (Division I)
**Western Collegiate Hockey Association (Division I)

**Eastern College Athletic Conference East (Division III)
**Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast (Division III)
**Eastern College Athletic Conference West (Division III)
**Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (Division III)
**Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III)
**Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (Division III)
**New England Small College Athletic Conference (Division III)
**State University of New York Athletic Conference (Division III)

Club Hockey

*American Collegiate Hockey Association (United States, club)
**Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL) Division I
**College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA) Division I
**Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) Division I
**Eastern Collegiate Hockey League (ECHL) Division I
**Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL) Division I
**Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL) Division I

**Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League (ACCHL) Division II
**Great Lakes Intercollegiate Hockey Association (GLIHA) Division II
**Great Midwest Hockey League (GMHL) Division II
**Great Northeast Collegiate Hockey Conference (GNCHC) Division II
**Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Division II
**Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Division II
**Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA) Division II
**Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (PAC-8) Division II
**Super East Collegiate Hockey League (SECHL) Division II
**Western Collegiate Club Hockey Association (WCCHA) Division II

**Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) Division III
**College Hockey Association (CHA) Division III
**College Hockey East (CHE) Division III
**Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division III
**Mason-Dixon Collegiate Hockey Association (MDCHA) Division III
**Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) Division III
**Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) Division III
**South Eastern Conference Hockey Conference(SECHC) Division III
**Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association (PCHA) Division III

Junior College

*National Junior College Athletic Association (United States)

Youth

*Alliance Hockey Ontario "AAA"
*Atlantic Youth Hockey League "AAA"
*Capital Beltway Hockey League (CBHL) (1981)
*Carolina Hockey League (CHL)
*Central States Developmental Hockey League [http://www.csdhl.com] Midwest "AA"
*Cleveland Suburban Hockey League
*Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC)
*Delaware Valley Hockey League Eastern Pennsylvania Tier II "AA", "A" & "B"
*Eastern AAA Hockey League Ontario "AAA"
*Greater Toronto Hockey League (1911)
*Metropolitan Boston Hockey League
*Midwest Elite Hockey League
*Minnesota Hockey
*Missouri Youth Hockey League
*New Jersey Youth Hockey League New Jersey Tier II "AA", "A" & "B"
*Northern Illinois Hockey League [http://www.nihl.info] Illinois "AA", "A", "B"
*Ontario Minor Hockey Association Ontario "AAA" through "D"
*Ottawa District Hockey Association Ontario "AAA" through "D"
* [http://www.pcaha.bc.ca/ Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association] Lower Mainland BC
*South-Central Triple A Hockey League Ontario "AAA"
*Western Ontario Athletic Association Ontario "BB" through "D"
*Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association

Women

*National Women's Hockey League (1999)
*Western Women's Hockey League (2004–06; merged with NWHL)

enior

anctioned by Hockey Canada or USA Hockey

Canada

*North Central Hockey League (Alberta Sr. A)
*Battle River Hockey League (Alberta Sr. A)
*Big 6 Hockey League (Saskatchewan Sr. AAA)
*Chinook Hockey League (Alberta Sr. AAA)
*Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (Ontario Sr. AAA)
*Highway Hockey League (Saskatchewan Sr. AAA)
*Ligue Centrale de Hockey (LCH) (Quebec Sr. AAA/semi-pro) (1990)
*Ligue de hockey senior Promutuel (LHSP) (Quebec Sr. AA/semi-pro)
*Ligue de hockey senior de l’Est du Québec (LHSEQ) (Quebec Sr. AA/semi-pro)
*Ligue de hockey senior Nord-Est du Québec (LHSNEQ) (Quebec Sr. AA/semi-pro)
*Ligue de hockey Beauce-Bellechasse-Frontenac (LHBBF) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior du Richelieu (LHSR) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior Montreal Metropolitain (LHSMM) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior de la Mauricie (LHSM) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior Inter-Rives (LHSIR) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior de la Cote Nord du Québec (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey les Cotiers de la Gaspesie (Quebec Sr. A)
*Ligue de hockey senior des Îles de la Madeleine (LHSIM) (Quebec Sr. A)
*Major League Hockey (Ontario Sr. AAA) (1953)
*North Peace Hockey League (Alberta Sr. AAA)
*Ottawa Travellers Hockey League (Ontario Sr. AA and A)
*Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey League (Ontario Sr. AA and A) (1948)

United States

*Great Lakes Hockey League (1937)

Unsanctioned

*Hockey North America (1980)

Defunct leagues

*All-American Hockey League (1987–1988)
*Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (1893–1898)
*American Hockey Association (1926–1942)
*Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1981–1987, 2002–2003)
*California Hockey League (1928–1933)
*Canadian Amateur Hockey League (1899–1905)
*Canadian-American Hockey League (1926–1936)
*Canadian Elite Hockey League (2005–2006)
*Canadian Hockey Association (1909–1910)
*Canadian Professional Hockey League (1926–1930)
*Central Hockey League (1963–1984)
*Central Ontario Hockey League (Unknown-1980)
*Coloured Hockey League (1895–1925)
*Continental Elite Hockey League (2001–2004)
*Continental Hockey League (1972–1987)-became All-American Hockey League
*Continental Senior A Hockey League (1972–1980)
*Eastern Amateur Hockey League (1933–1934, 1935–1948, 1949–1953)
*Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (1905–1909)
*Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey League (1906–1909)
*Eastern Hockey League (1934–1935, 1954–1973, 1979–1981)
*Eastern Junior B Hockey League (1951-1972)
*Eastern Professional Hockey League (1914–1915, 1959–1963)
*Federal Amateur Hockey League (1904–1906)
*Gulf Coast Hockey League (2001–2002)
*International-American Hockey League (1936–1941)-became American Hockey League
*International Independent Hockey League (2003)
*International Hockey League (1929–36)
*International Hockey League (1945–2001)
*International Professional Hockey League (1904–1907)
*Interprovincial Professional Hockey League (1910–1911)
*Major Intermediate A Hockey League (1978–1983)
*Manitoba Professional Hockey League (1907–1909)
*Maritime Major Hockey League (1950–1954)
*Maritime Professional Hockey League (1911–1914)
*Metro Junior A Hockey League (1991–1998) -merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
*Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (2007-2008)
*National Hockey Association (1909–1917)
*North American Hockey League (1973–1977)
*North Eastern Hockey League (2003–2008)
*North of Superior Junior B Hockey League (Canada)
*North West Hockey League (1933–1936)
*Northwest Junior Hockey League (Manitoba) (Canada)
*Okanagan Junior Hockey League (Canada)
*Ontario Professional Hockey League (1907–1911, 1930–1931)
*Original Stars Hockey League (2004)
*Pacific Coast Hockey Association (1911–1924)
*Pacific Coast Hockey League (1928–1931, 1936–1941, 1945–1952)
*Pacific Coast Junior Hockey League (Canada)
*Pacific Hockey League (1977–1979)
*Prairie Hockey League (1926–1928)
*Quebec Hockey League (1952–1959)
*Quebec Senior Hockey League (1945–1952)
*Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League aka Peace Cariboo Junior Hockey League (British Columbia, Canada)
*South East Hockey League (2003–2004)
*Southern Elite Hockey League (1998–2000)
*Southern Hockey League (1973–1977)
*Southern Hockey League (1995–1996)
*Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League (1972–1976) -merged with Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
*Southwest Hockey League (1975–1977)
*St. John Valley Hockey League (1977–1978)
*Sunshine Hockey League (1992–1995)
*Team Chicago Semi-Pro Independent (1972–1976)
*Tri-State Hockey League (1932–1933)
*Tropical Hockey League (1938–1939)
*United States Hockey League (1945–1951)
*Western Canada Hockey League (professional) (1921–1925)
*Western Canada Hockey League (minor pro) (1932–1933)
*Western Canada Senior Hockey League (1945–1951)
*West Coast Hockey League (1995–2003)
*Western Hockey League (professional) (1925–1926)
*Western Hockey League (minor pro) (1952–1975)
*Western International Hockey League (1946–1962, 1963–1988)
*Western Professional Hockey League (1996–2001)
*World Hockey Association (1972–1979)
*World Hockey Association 2 (2003–2004)

Disabled Hockey Leagues

Leagues for Disabled Hockey Players
* [http://www.usahockey.com/aaha/ Amputee Hockey]
**American Amputee Hockey Association (AAHA)
*American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association
*Sledge hockey
** [http://www.usahockey.com/ussha/ United States Sled Hockey Association] (USSHA)
* [http://www.dsusa.org/ Special Hockey]

List of leagues and teams

outh America

* Asociación Argentina de Hockey sobre Hielo y En Línea (Argentina)
* Confederacao Brasileira de Hoquei no Gelo (Brazil)
* Asociación Nacional de Hockey en Hielo y en Línea (Chile)

Eurasia

*Kontinental Hockey League (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia)
*Vysshaya Liga (Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine)

Asia

*Asia League Ice Hockey (Japan, South Korea, China)

Kazakhstan

*Kazakhstani Championship (league in both Europe and Asia)

ingapore

*Amateur Ice Hockey Association of Singapore

Turkey

(Leagues involve teams from both Europe and Asia)
*Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (1993)
*Turkish Ice Hockey First League
*Turkish Ice Hockey Women's League (2007)

Europe

*Alpenliga (1991–1999) - multinational league with teams from Austria, Italy and Slovenia. Replaced by the International Ice Hockey League (1999–2000)
*Eastern European Hockey League (1995–2005) - multinational league with teams from Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia and Poland.
*European Hockey League (1996–2000)

Austria

*Austrian Hockey League

Belarus

*Belarusian Hockey League

Belgium

*RBIHF - Royal Belgian League http://www.kbijf.be/teams.php

Croatia

*Croatian Ice Hockey Championship

Czech Republic

*Czech Extraliga (1993)
*Czech 1.liga
*Czech 2.liga

Denmark

*Oddset Ligaen

Estonia

*Eesti Jäähoki Liit

Finland

*SM-liiga (1975)
*Mestis (renamed in 2000)
*Suomi-sarja

France

*Ligue Magnus

Germany

*German Ice Hockey League (DEL) (1994-)
*2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
*Oberliga (Ice Hockey)

*1st Bundesliga (ice hockey) (1958–1994, replaced by DEL)

Hungary

*OB I. Bajnokság

Iceland

*Icelandic Ice Hockey League

Ireland

*Irish Ice Hockey League

Italy

*Serie A

Kazakhstan

*Kazakhstani Championship (league in both Europe and Asia)

Latvia

*Latvian Hockey League
*Latvian amateur hockey league ("Latvijas Amatieru Hokeja līga/AHL")
*Riga Open Championship ("Rīgas Atklātais Čempionāts")
*Independent Amateur hockey league ("Neatkarīgā Amatieru hokeja līga/NAHL")

Mexico

Mexican Hockey League (2010)

The Netherlands

*Eredivisie

Norway

*GET-ligaen

Poland

*Polska Liga Hokejowa

Romania

*Liga Naţională de hochei

lovakia

*Slovak Extraliga

lovenia

*Slovenian Hockey League

pain

*Superliga Española de Hockey Hielo

weden

*Elitserien (1975)
*HockeyAllsvenskan
*J20 SuperElit (junior league)

witzerland

*National League A (1908)
*National League B
*1. Liga

Turkey

(Leagues involve teams from both Europe and Asia)
*Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (1993)
*Turkish Ice Hockey First League
*Turkish Ice Hockey Women's League (2007)

Ukraine

*Ukrainian Supreme League

United Kingdom

*Elite Ice Hockey League (2003-)
*English Premier Ice Hockey League (1997-)
*English National Hockey League (1996-)
*Scottish National League
*British University Ice Hockey Association Cup (2000-)

Defunct Leagues
*British National League (1954–1960)
*British National League (1996–2005)
*Ice Hockey Superleague (1996–2003)
*British Hockey League (1982–1996)

English Ice Hockey Association Women's Leagues

*Women's Premier League
*Women's Division 1 North
*Women's Division 1 South

Oceania

*Australian Ice Hockey League
*New Zealand Ice Hockey League