Wikipedia - Polska Hokej Liga

The Polska Hokej Liga (PHL) is the premier ice hockey league in Poland. 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.

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 in 1925-26. 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.

Le Championnat de Pologne de hockey sur glace, appelé Ekstraliga, est le championnat national de hockey sur glace en Pologne. Il fut créé en 1955. Il est organisé par la Fédération polonaise de hockey sur glace. L'Ekstraliga se dispute en deux phases : une saison régulière, suivie de séries éliminatoires. La saison régulière se dispute sous la forme d'un championnat à 10 équipes en matchs aller-retour. Les six premières équipes disputent ensuite les séries éliminatoires, qui se disputent au meilleur des sept matchs. Le vainqueur des séries éliminatoires est sacré champion de Pologne.