Baltic Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Founded2018
FounderEstonian Ice Hockey Association,
Latvian Ice Hockey Federation &
Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation
No. of teams6
CountryEstonia (2 teams)
Latvia (2 teams)
Lithuania (2 teams)
ContinentEurope
Related
competitions

The Baltic Hockey League (Estonian: Balti Hokiliiga; Latvian: Baltijas hokeja līga; Lithuanian: Baltijos lygos) is a professional ice hockey competition based in the Baltic states featuring club teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The competition was founded in 2018,[1] and the first edition of the competition began in November, 2020.

History

In the early 2000s the Baltic League was formed and featured teams from the three Baltic states. The inaugural competition was won by Latvian side HK Liepājas Metalurgs, following which the competition was not held again. The Baltic Cup was held during the 2004–05 season, and also introduced a team from neighbouring Poland, this competition also only lasted one season, and marked the end of regional club competition in the Baltic states.

On November 9, 2018, the Baltic Hockey League was first announced to the public via a press conference from the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian ice hockey governing bodies.[1] The first edition of the tournament was scheduled to begin in October 2019 with the final round being held in December 2019, featuring 8 clubs split into two conferences.[1] The conferences were named after two successful players from the Baltic states, namely Darius Kasparaitis and Sandis Ozoliņš. The Lithuanian delegation confirmed that the two highest placed teams in the previous seasons Lithuania Hockey League would qualify for the tournament.[1] Despite the initial plan for the competition to start in 2019, it wasn't until the following year that the league played its inaugural season, with 6 teams taking part.[2]

Format

Location of teams of the 2020 Baltic Hockey League.

Teams competing in the Ozoliņš group.

Teams competing in the Kasparaitis group.

The maiden edition of the competition was separated into two rounds. The six participants were initially split into two groups of three teams. The Ozoliņš group was made up of HK Mogo, Kaunas Hockey and Tartu Välk 494 with games being played at the Astri Arena in Tartu, Estonia. The Kasparaitis group consisted of Hockey Punks Vilnius, HK Liepāja and HC Everest with the games being held at Utenos pramogų Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania. Games in both groups took place between 27 and 29 November 2020.[2] The two best teams from each group qualifies for the final round, a round-robin competition with the team with the best record being crowned champion. Final round games were originally scheduled to take place between 18 and 20 December 2020 in Olimpiskais centrs in Rēzekne, Latvia[2] however, on 15 December it was announced that the finals were postponed until 11–14 February 2021 as a result of several HK Mogo players having been exposed to COVID-19. As HK Mogo had recently played Liepāja in the Latvian Hockey Higher League, both sides were unable to field teams.[3] In early February the final round was again postponed due to the pandemic, with the date to be announced when the Covid situation improves.[4]

Teams

The 2020 edition of the Baltic Hockey League saw the following teams compete:

Estonian side Narva PSK were originally scheduled to be part of the competition, however they were unable to participate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently HC Everest took their place.[5][2]

2020 Results

First round

Group Ozoliņš

Club GP W T L GF GA Pts
1.Estonia Tartu Välk 494 (Q) 11001043
2.Latvia HK Mogo (Q) 1100723
3.Lithuania Kaunas Hockey 20026170

  Advance to Final round.[6]

Results

27 November 2020
17:00		Tartu Välk 494 Estonia10–4
(4-1, 2–1, 4-2)		Lithuania Kaunas HockeyAstri Arena, Tartu
Attendance: 275
Game reference
Referee:
Anton Semjonov
Linesmen:
Egor Loginov
Toivo Tilko
Garanin (Tsyganov, Koll) - 4:501-0
1-111:15 - Malashkevich (Reshetnikov, Chekmaryov)
Sapovalov - 13:042-1
Titarenko (Gusynin, Voytsekhovsky) - 18:023-1
Koll (Garanin, Galimulin) - 19:064-1
Akimov (Galimulin, Brakss) - 23:465-1
5-231:38 - Pravilo
Sapovalov (Gusynin, Voytsekhovsky) - 39:386-2
6-340:30 - Chekmaryov (Malashkevich, Zukauskas)
Titarenko, Voytsekhovsky, Gusynin - 43:297-3
Voytsekhovsky (Gusynin) - 45:258-3
Gusynin - 47:279-3
9-458:45 - Guoga (Starovoitov)
Akimov (Krivosheev, Garanin) - 59:0710-4
22 minPenalties20 min
48Shots34
28 November 2020
18:00		Kaunas Hockey Lithuania2–7
(0–2, 1–3, 1–2)		Latvia HK MogoAstri Arena, Tartu
Attendance: 110
Game reference
Referee:
Kriss Kupcus
Linesmen:
Anton Semjonov
Uldis Buss
0–13:11- Straupe (Rancevs)
0–213:54 - Zelubovskis (Cukste, Rēdlihs)
Jagelavicius (Reshetnikov, Lazarenovs) - 27:461-2
1-326:25 - Rancevs (Demitrs)
1-432:49 - Zelubovskis (Gricinskis), Ziemins
1-536:59 - Krastenbergs (Demitrs)
1-645:07 - Gricinskis (Cukste)
1-751:32 - Kaimins (Bazevics)
Danilenka (Pravilo, Binkulis) - 59:142-7
18 minPenalties16 min
26Shots58
29 November 2020HK Mogo LatviaCancelledEstonia Tartu Välk 494Astri Arena, Tartu
Attendance: 0
Game reference

The scheduled game between HK Mogo and Tartu Välk 494 was cancelled due to 4 Välk players testing positive for COVID-19.[7] However, the two teams had already achieved qualification for the final round.[8]

Group Kasparaitis

Club GP W T L GF GA Pts
1.Latvia HK Liepāja (Q) 22001436
2.Lithuania Hockey Punks Vilnius (Q) 2101453
3.Estonia HC Everest 20024140

  Advance to Final round.[6]

Results

27 November 2020
18:00		Hockey Punks Vilnius Lithuania3–2
(2-1, 1–0, 0-1)		Estonia HC EverestUtenos pramogų Arena, Vilnius
Attendance: 0
Game reference
Simas BaltrūnasGoaliesMaksim KlimenkoReferees:
Jakšys Benas
Rudzinskas Vladislovas
Linesmen:
Stepankevičius Laurynas
Saščenkov Aleksej
Kuveka (Bacevičius, Miliūnas) – 9:171–0
1–115:18 - Antonenko (Parshin, Len) (PP)
Verenis (Kuzminov, Markovsky) - 18:192-1
Kudrevičius - 30:223-1
3-241:21 - Bedniakov (Levanov)
43 minPenalties26 min
37Shots27
28 November 2020
18:00		Estonia HC Everest2–11
(0–4, 1–2, 1–5)		Latvia HK LiepājaUtenos pramogų Arena, Vilnius
Attendance: 0
Game reference
Anatoli SizovGoaliesMaris JučersReferees:
Rudzinskas Vladislovas
Jakolev Andrejs
Linesmen:
Saščenkov Aleksej
Bakus Simas
0–12:00 - Fomins (Miezis, Freidenfelds)
0–26:22 - Kalns (Zabis)
0-39:42 - Strauss (Petrovics)
0-414:01 - Kalns
0-523:09 - Miezis (Petrovics)
0-624:31 - Planics (Zabis, Nimanis)
Antonenko (Bedniakov, Lupanov) – 36:011-6
1-745:17 - Fomins (Freidenfelds)
1-847:30 - Kalns (Zabis, Nimanis) (PP)
Levanov (Tsaltsev) – 49:222-8
2-951:02 - Zabis (Kalns, Planics)
2-1053:24 - Freidenfelds (Miezis, Demiters)
2-1156:11 - Ozolinš (Miezis)
8 minPenalties4 min
74Shots18
29 November 2020
18:00		HK Liepāja Latvia3–1
(1–0, 1–0, 1–1)		Lithuania Hockey Punks VilniusUtenos pramogų Arena, Vilnius
Attendance: 0
Game reference
Laurynas LubysGoaliesSimas BaltrūnasReferees:
Jakovlev Andrejs
Jakšys Benas
Linesmen:
Bakus Simas
Stepankevičius Laurynas
Freidenfelds (Strauss) – 2:281–0
Fomins (Planics, Kalns) (PP) – 29:502–0
2–140:07 - Verenis (Bendžius)
Miezis (Mazurs-Mag) – 49:443-1
4 minPenalties8 min
56Shots32

Final Round

Club GP W T L GF GA Pts
1.Latvia HK Liepāja 0000000
2.Latvia HK Mogo 0000000
3.Lithuania Hockey Punks Vilnius 0000000
3.Estonia Tartu Välk 494 0000000

  Champion

Results

TBATartu Välk 494 EstoniavLatvia HK MogoOlimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne
TBAHockey Punks Vilnius LithuaniavLatvia HK LiepājaOlimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne
TBAHockey Punks Vilnius LithuaniavLatvia HK MogoOlimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne
TBAHK Liepāja LatviavEstonia Tartu Välk 494Olimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne
TBAHockey Punks Vilnius LithuaniavEstonia Tartu Välk 494Olimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne
TBAHK Mogo LatviavLatvia HK LiepājaOlimpiskais centrs, Rēzekne

The final round was originally scheduled for 15–18 December 2020, however, it was postponed until February 2021 as a result complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It was subsequently delayed a second time in early February 2021, with the date of play to be determined.[4]

Awards and statistics

Awards

  • Best players selected by the directorate:
    • Best Goalkeeper: TBA
    • Best Defenseman: TBA
    • Best Forward: TBA
    • MVP: TBA

Source: hockey.lt

Scoring leaders

List shows the top skaters sorted by points, then goals.

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM POS
Latvia Egils KalnsHK Liepāja23250F
Latvia Māris MiezisHK Liepāja22350F
Russia Fyodor GusyninTartu Välk 49411450F
Latvia Raivo FreidenfeldsHK Liepāja22240F
Ukraine Olexei VoytsekhovskyTartu Välk 49411342F

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes; POS = Position
Source: EliteProspects.com

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Kitąmet startuos bendras Baltijos šalių klubų čempionatas" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation. November 9, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Baltic Hockey League finally start". EuroHockey.com. November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "COVID-19 virusas jaukia Baltijos lygos planus: nukeliamas finalinio ketverto turnyras" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Baltijos lygos finalinis ketvertas dar kartą nukeliamas" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Narva PSK Baltimaade jäähokiturniirile ei sõida, Eestit esindab Kaunases HC Everest" (in Estonian). Delfi. November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Team Standings Baltic League". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Balti hokiliiga tegi Tartus ajalugu" (in Estonian). Postimees. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Kitą savaitgalį Latvijoje paaiškės pirmieji Baltijos ledo ritulio lygos čempionai" (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation. December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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