International Hockey League (1992–1996)

International Hockey League
FormerlySoviet Championship League
SportIce hockey
Founded1992
Ceased1996
Replaced byRussian Superleague

The International Hockey League (MHL) (Russian: Межнациональная хоккейная лига (МХЛ), romanizedMezhnatsional'naya khokkeynaya liga) lasted from 1992 to 1996. It replaced the Soviet Union's Championship league. The last season was in 1995–96, as the league was replaced by the Russian Superleague the following season.

Unlike the Soviet championship, which was awarded to the best team through the regular season, the MHL introduced a playoff system. There were two trophies in the league: one, the MHL Cup, was awarded to the winner of the playoffs, the other, the MHL Championship, to the winner of the regular season.

The first season of the league sent its champion, HC Dynamo Moscow, to a championship series against HC CSK VVS Samara, the winner of the second-tier Championship of Russia. Dynamo won all three games and were proclaimed Absolute Champions of Russia, which earned them qualification to the IIHF European Cup.[1]

Champions

Season Champion Second place Third place Winners of the Cup
1992–93 Dynamo Moscow Lada Togliatti Traktor Chelyabinsk Dynamo Moscow
1993–94 Lada Togliatti Dynamo Moscow Traktor Chelyabinsk, SKA St. Petersburg Lada Togliatti
1994–95 Dynamo Moscow Lada Togliatti Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Salavat Yulaev Ufa Dynamo Moscow
1995–96 Lada Togliatti Dynamo Moscow Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Avangard Omsk Dynamo Moscow

See also

References

Sources