Russian Superleague facts for kids
| Countries |  Russia |
|---|---|
| Federation(s) | IIHF (1996–2006) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Folded | 2008 (reorganized as KHL) |
| No. of teams | 20 |
| Relegation to | Major League |
| Championship | Russian Championship |
| Associated Title(s) | Cup of Russia |
| Recent Champions | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (2007–08) |
| Most successful club | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (3) |
The Russian Superleague (often called RSL) was a top professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was the highest level of ice hockey in the country. Many people thought it was the second best hockey league in the world. Only the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America was considered better.
The RSL was part of a bigger system called the Russian Pro Hockey League. This system had three different levels. The Superleague was the top level. Below it were the Major League (Vysshaya Liga) and the First League (Pervaya Liga).
What Was the Russian Superleague?
The Russian Superleague was a very important ice hockey competition. It brought together the best hockey teams from across Russia. Players from the RSL were known for their skill and speed. Many went on to play in the NHL.
The league was created in 1999. It quickly became a major part of the international hockey scene. Teams played many games during the regular season. After that, the best teams competed in playoffs. The winner of the playoffs became the Russian champion.
From RSL to KHL
The Russian Superleague existed for almost ten years. After the 2007-2008 hockey season, it changed. The league was reorganized and given a new name. It became the KHL.
When the KHL started, it took all 20 teams from the RSL. It also added four more teams. This made the KHL a bigger league with 24 teams in its first year. The KHL continued the tradition of high-level hockey in Russia.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Location of the league teams (click to enlarge).
