List of ice hockey clubs playing in the league of another country
There are a number of ice hockey clubs around the world that are based in one country/territory but play in another's league. Conditions for competing in a "foreign" league, as well as in a continental/confederational competition, are set case-by-case by the international ice hockey federation as well as the respective confederation and national ice hockey associations involved.
For the purposes of this article, Russia is not considered European, and all sections other than "women's hockey" are referring to men's hockey.
Clubs which are located in defunct nations that merged with others, new nations separated from others, or which stopped competing in a nation's league system because their locale was transferred to another nation, are not included in this article.
North American Major Leagues[edit]
NHL[edit]
The National Hockey League was organized on November 26, 1917, in Montreal, Quebec, after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association (NHA), which had been founded in 1909 in Renfrew, Ontario.[1] The NHL immediately took the NHA's place as one of the leagues that contested for the Stanley Cup in an annual interleague competition before a series of league mergers and folds left the NHL as the only league left competing for the Stanley Cup in 1926. At its inception, the NHL had four teams—all in Canada, thus the adjective "National" in the league's name. The league expanded to the United States in 1924, when the Boston Bruins joined, and has since consisted of American and Canadian teams. However the league is now currently based in New York City, New York in the United States and US teams make up the majority of the league. The league is still sometimes considered to be that of a Canadian league, especially with regard to its player pool; even today, a slight majority of the league's players are Canadians.
→ 
: Canadian in the United States
Current teams:
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Vancouver Canucks
- Winnipeg Jets
Former teams:
- Montreal Wanderers (1917-1918)
- Ottawa Senators (original) (1917–1934)
- Quebec Bulldogs (1919-1920)
- Hamilton Tigers (1920-1925)
- Montreal Maroons (1924-1938)
- Quebec Nordiques (1979-1995)
- Winnipeg Jets (original) (1979-1996)
AHL[edit]
The American Hockey League is a feeder league to the NHL. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and historically has been a U.S. league.
→ : Canadian in the United States
Current teams, as of the league's ongoing 2017–18 season:
Former teams:
- Nova Scotia Oilers (1984–1988)
- Cape Breton Oilers (1988–1996)
- Hamilton Bulldogs (1996–2003)
- Toronto Roadrunners (2003–2004)
- Edmonton Road Runners (2004–2005)
- Montreal Voyageurs (1969–1971)
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971–1984)
- Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984–1990)
- Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999)
- Quebec Citadelles (1999–2002)
- St. John's IceCaps
- First version: 2011–2015
- Second version: 2015–2017
Minor US Leagues[edit]
ECHL[edit]
The ECHL, originally known as the East Coast Hockey League, is an effective feeder league for the AHL and NHL. Also historically a U.S. league, its offices are in Princeton, New Jersey. Only two Canadian teams have been members.
- The Victoria Salmon Kings played in the league from 2004–2011. The team folded once the Western Hockey League added a franchise in Victoria for the 2011–12 season.
- The Brampton Beast joined the league in 2014 from the Central Hockey League.
North American Hockey League[edit]
→ : Canadian in the United States
The North American Hockey League is a junior hockey league in the United States. Although no foreign teams are currently in the league, several Canadian teams used to be part of the competition, all from the province of British Columbia:
- Dawson Creek Rage (2010–12)
- Fernie Ghostriders (2003–04)
United States Hockey League[edit]
→ : Canadian in the United States
The United States Hockey League is a currently a junior hockey league in the midwestern United States. It currently has no foreign teams but has had one team from Canada.
- Thunder Bay Flyers from Thunder Bay, Ontario, played in the league from 1984 to 2000.
The league was formerly a semi-professional league until 1979 and has two teams in Canada.[2]
- Sault Ste. Marie Canadians/Greyhounds, played in the league from 1968 to 1973.
- Thunder Bay Twins from Thunder Bay, Ontario, played in the league from 1970 to 1975 before transferring to the Ontario Hockey Association.
Federal Hockey League[edit]
→ : Canadian in the United States
The Federal Hockey League is a minor hockey league whose teams are mostly in the northeastern United States. Three Canadian teams have competed in the league, with two still being active members.
- Akwesasne Warriors (2010–12)
- Cornwall Nationals (2016–present)
- North Shore Knights (2017–present)
EJHL[edit]
→ : Canadian in the United States
The Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) was an USA Hockey-sanctioned junior ice hockey league.
- Niagara Scenic (1994–1995)
Minor Canadian Leagues[edit]
CJHL[edit]
The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), an association of Canadian junior ice hockey leagues and teams.
OJHL[edit]
The Ontario Junior Hockey League has one team not from Ontario, Buffalo Jr. Sabres from Buffalo, New York. Between 1998 and 2005 Syracuse Jr. Crunch from Syracuse, New York, were part of the league before leaving to join the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
BCHL[edit]
The British Columbia Hockey League has one team outside of British Columbia, the Wenatchee Wild from Washington.
NOJHL[edit]
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) is a Canadian junior ice hockey league with one U.S. team, the Soo Eagles from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, who rejoined in 2015.
CHL[edit]
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. It is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. For the 2017–18 season, its three leagues and 60 teams represent nine Canadian provinces (52 teams) as well as four American states (8 teams).
OHL[edit]
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has consisted almost exclusively of teams from Ontario, but currently hosts three teams from the U.S.: two from Michigan and one from Pennsylvania.
The Flint Firebirds franchise relocated several times within the state of Michigan; previous identities of that team are:
- Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (1990-1992)
- Detroit Junior Red Wings (1992–1995)
- Detroit Whalers (1995–1997)
- Plymouth Whalers (1997–2015)
WHL[edit]
The Western Hockey League (WHL) has a U.S. Division in its Western Conference with 5 teams:
QMJHL[edit]
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is composed of teams mostly from Quebec, and a few teams from The Maritimes. However, in the past a few short-lived U.S. teams have played:
- Plattsburgh Pioneers, from Plattsburgh, New York, existed for one season in 1984.
- Lewiston Maineiacs, from Lewiston, Maine, existed from 2003-2011, before relocating to Sherbrooke, Quebec in 2012 to be the Sherbrooke Phoenix[3][4]
Women's hockey[edit]
Canadian Women's Hockey League[edit]
The Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) is the top women's league in Canada. It launched in 2007 with four teams, all in the province of Ontario, but has since expanded to include teams from other parts of Canada, the U.S., and most recently China.
- The Boston Blades have played in the league since the 2010–11 season.
- Kunlun Red Star WIH, operated by Kunlun Red Star, a Chinese men's team competing in the Eurasian KHL, started CWHL play in the 2017–18 season.
- Vanke Rays, operated directly by China's hockey federation, also started play in 2017–18.
European National Leagues[edit]
Austria[edit]
The Austrian Hockey League has several foreign teams playing in its league, and has a history of foreign team playing at various points in its history:
- Medveščak Zagreb played between 2009 and 2013 before moving to the Kontinental Hockey League, and returned to the Austrian League in 2017–18.
- Olimpija Ljubljana played between 2007 and 2017, after which the club folded. (The Olimpija side that now competes in the multi-national Alps Hockey League was the farm team for the 2007–2017 version of Olimpija.)
- HK Jesenice played between 2006 and 2012, after which the club folded. (The city's current club, which competes in the Alps League, is a totally separate entity.)
Belarus[edit]
Belarusian Extraleague[edit]
The Belarusian Extraleague has had two foreign teams in its league in the past:
- HK Liepājas Metalurgs
- DHK Latgale (2008-2009 season only)
- ASK/Ogre (2008-2009 season only)
Vysshaya Liga[edit]
The Vysshaya Liga is second tier of Belorussian ice hockey.
→ 
: Lithuanian in Belarus
- SC Energija left the Lithuanian Hockey League after entirely dominating the competition since its creation, and after a previous spell in the Latvian Hockey League, decided to join the second tier of Belorussian hockey in 2013.
- HK Kremenchuk initially competed in Ukrainian amateur championships before joining the Belarusian Vysshaya Liga for 2013–14 season. After finishing the regular 2013–14 season Kremenchuk was forced to withdraw from the league prior to the playoffs due to the political situation in Ukraine.
Croatia[edit]
- HDK Maribor from Maribor used to play in the league before moving back to the Slovenian Ice Hockey League.
Netherlands[edit]
In the Eredivisie one foreign team participates in the league:
→ 
: Belgian in the Netherlands
- HYC Herentals from Herentals, switched in 2010 from the Belgian Hockey League to the North Sea Cup, a combined Belgian-Dutch elite league. When the North Sea Cup disbanded only two years later in 2012, it joined the Eredivisie, however continues to participate in the Belgian league too.
France[edit]
The FFHG Division 3 is the lowest (fourth) division of professional ice hockey in France.
→ 
: Luxembourger in France
- Tornado Luxembourg from Luxembourg City joined in 2003, however, they are not eligible for the championship because they are a foreign team.
Finland[edit]
- Tallinn HC Panter apart from competing in the domestic competition the Meistriliiga, in the 2005–2006 season they participated in the Finnish 2. Divisioona, the fourth tier level of ice hockey in Finland, finishing 4th.[5]
Latvia[edit]
→ 
: Lithuanian in Latvia
- SC Energija Elektrėnai (2003-2012)
- Tartu Big Diamonds (2007-2008)
Lithuania[edit]
Luxembourg[edit]
The Luxembourg Cup is the main and only ice hockey competition in the country, after the Luxembourg Championship was disbanded in 2003. Prior to 2003, clubs from other countries in the region were allowed to participate in the cup tournament.
→ : Belgian in Luxembourg
- IHC Louvain won the cup in the 1997-98 season
Germany[edit]
Regionalliga[edit]
→ 
: Luxembourger in Germany
- Tornado Luxembourg debuted in the 1987-88 season, and played in the Rheinland-Palatinat Liga, a German regional league, which they won. They then finished second in the qualification round for the Regionalliga Middle Group, and thus qualified for the 1988-89 season. They only played in the Regionalliga for the 1988-89 season, as they finished in eighth place in their group, and failed to qualify for the following season. They then played in the Rheinland-Palatinat Liga until 2005, when they joined the FFHG Division 3, the fourth level of French ice hockey.
Rheinland-Palatinat Liga[edit]
→ : Luxembourger in Germany
- Tornado Luxembourg debuted in the 1987-88 season, and played in the Rheinland-Palatinat Liga, a German regional league, which they won. They then finished second in the qualification round for the Regionalliga Middle Group, and thus qualified for the 1988-89 season. They only played in the Regionalliga for the 1988-89 season, as they finished in eighth place in their group, and failed to qualify for the following season. They then played in the Rheinland-Palatinat Liga until 2005, when they joined the FFHG Division 3, the fourth level of French ice hockey.
Slovakia[edit]
- KH 58 Sanok joined the Eastern division in 2017
- KMH Budapest play in the Western division
Slovenia[edit]
- KHL Medveščak Zagreb (2007–2009)
- KHL Medveščak Zagreb II (2009–2010)
- KHL Mladost Zagreb
- KHL Zagreb
- Team Zagreb, existed and played only in the 2010-2011 season
- KHK Red Star Belgrade
- HK Partizan Belgrade, winners 2011 and 2012
Britain & Ireland[edit]
Excludes British Leagues.
English National Ice Hockey League[edit]
→ 
: Welsh in England
Active teams:
- Deeside Dragons from Queensferry, Flintshire
- Cardiff Devils Reserves
- Cardiff Fire (Cardiff Devils reserve team)
Defunct teams:
Irish Hockey League[edit]
→ 
: Northern Irish in the Republic of Ireland
Scottish National League[edit]
The Scottish National League hosts one foreign team:
→ 
: Northern Irish in Scotland
Multinational European Leagues[edit]
MOL Liga[edit]
The MOL Liga is an international ice hockey league organized for clubs based in Hungary and Romania. The games played between the Hungarian teams count towards the Hungarian National Championship in the OB I bajnokság. The Romanian teams also compete in the Romanian National Championship Liga Naţională.
→ 
: Slovakian in Hungary & Romania
- HK Nové Zámky from Nové Zámky played between 2012 and 2015.
Inter-National League[edit]
The Inter-National League was an international ice hockey league formed by a partnership between the national federations of Austria and Slovenia. It was created as a solution to semi-professional hockey in both Austria and neighbouring Slovenia. However, the league welcomed guest Italian teams in the past:
→ 
: Italian in Austria & Slovenia
The league merged with Italy's Serie A after the 2015–16 season to create the Alps Hockey League, which remains in operation.
Russian Leagues[edit]
Major Russian Leagues[edit]
KHL[edit]
Originally a Russian league, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was established in 2008 to rival the NHL. Since its inception, a number of teams joined the league from post-Soviet states; however in recent years other European teams have joined, and the league expanded into China in 2016.
Currently, two foreign teams play in the Chernyshev division:
- Barys Astana from Astana joined in the league's inaugural 2008–09 season.
- Kunlun Red Star from Beijing joined in 2016.
Four foreign teams play in the Bobrov Division:
→ 
: Belarusian in Russia
- Dinamo Minsk from Minsk joined in the league's inaugural 2008–09 season.
- Dinamo Riga from Riga joined in the league's inaugural 2008–09 season.
- Jokerit from Helsinki joined in 2014 from the Finnish Premier Hockey League.
- Slovan Bratislava from Bratislava, joined in 2012.
- Lev Poprad founded in 2010, played and existed only for one season, the 2011-12 season, before relocating abroad and becoming Lev Praha.
There were three more foreign teams in the past:
- Medveščak Zagreb from Zagreb joined in 2013 after transferring from another foreign league, the Austrian Hockey League. The team returned to the Austrian league after the 2016–17 season.
- Lev Praha from Prague joined in 2012 after Lev Poprad was relocated. The team disbanded in 2014.
- HC Donbass from Donetsk joined in 2012 but had to cease operation at the end of the 2013–14 season due to the War in Donbass. The club relocated outside the war zone and resumed operations in the 2015–16 season in the Ukrainian leagues, and currently plays in the Ukrainian Hockey League.
VHL[edit]
The Supreme Hockey League (VHL or HHL for short) is a feeder league to the KHL, however not all teams are affiliated.
- Kazzinc-Torpedo from Oskemen, joined in 2010 and acts independently.
- Saryarka Karagandy from Karagandy joined in 2012 and is a feeder team to Barys Astana.
→ : Belarusian in Russia
- Yunost Minsk played in the 2012-13 season, and its place in the Belarusian Extraleague was taken by its reserve team. Since 2012 it is a feeder team of the KHL club Dinamo Minsk.
Minor Russian Leagues[edit]
MHL[edit]
The Russian Junior Hockey League (MHL)[6] is a major junior ice hockey league in Eurasia, founded in 2009. It currently consists of 39 teams from 7 countries.[7] Some of these teams are subsidiaries (feeder teams) for their respective Kontinental Hockey League professional counterparts, other teams are subsidiaries of teams of other leagues (VHL, BEL, PHL) and some teams don't have an affiliated team.
→ : Belarusian in Russia
- Dinamo-Raubichi Minsk joined in 2015 after moving from the Junior Hockey League Championships.
- HC Riga joined in 2010, and is a feeder team of Dinamo Riga.
- Snezhnye Barsy from Astana joined in 2011 and are a feeder to Barys Astana
MHL B[edit]
The Junior Hockey League Division B is the second level of the Junior Hockey League.
→ : Belarusian in Russia
- Dinamo-Raubichi Minsk played in the league between 2013 and 2015 before moving to the more senior MHL.
→ : Lithuanian in Russia
- HC Žalgiris from Vilnius played and existed only for one season, the 2014-2015 season.
- Platina Chișinău from Chișinău was founded in 2010 and continues to play to this day.
References[edit]
- ↑ The National Hockey League Official Record Book & Guide 2009 77th Edition, p. 9. New York: National Hockey League (2008)
- ↑ "United States Hockey League [1947-1979] history and statistics". HockeyDB. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ↑ http://thehockeywriters.com/lewiston-maineiacs-maines-lost-team/
- ↑ http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40565-QMJHLs-Lewiston-Maineiacs-fold-will-relocate-to-Sherbrooke-for-201213-season.html
- ↑ "HC Panter lõpetas Soome liigas neljanda kohaga" (in Estonian). Postimees.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-04.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ О Лиге (in Russian). mhl.khl.ru. Retrieved 2012-05-16.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
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