Erste Liga (ice hockey)


The Erste Liga is an international ice hockey league organized for clubs based in Hungary, Romania and Austria. It is sponsored by the Erste Bank Hungary.
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.

History

In the first season, the league comprised six Hungarian teams and four Romanian teams. HC Csíkszereda went undefeated in the post-season to win the first MOL Liga title.
In 2009–10, the number of teams went down to five Hungarian and two Romanian teams. Following the regular season, they decided the winner in a final four system. The Budapest Stars met Újpesti TE in the final, after they beat SC Csíkszereda and DAB-Docler, respectively. Újpest started the match better, taking the lead just after one and a half minutes. However, the events took an U-turn and about two hours later, it was the Budapest Stars who lifted the trophy, after winning the match 3–1.
The 2010–11 MOL Liga season was the third edition of the international ice hockey championship for teams from Hungary and Romania. This season, nine teams participated, including defending champions Vasas Budapest Stars, the second team of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga outfit SAPA AV19 Székesfehérvár, and HSC Csíkszereda from Székely Land.
The 2011–12 MOL Liga season was the fourth edition of the international ice hockey championship for teams from Hungary and Romania. Following the withdrawal of Vasas HC, the field is composed of eight clubs this season, including five Hungarian and three Romanian. The regular season ran from 6 September 2011 to 20 January 2012. After the conclusion of the regular season, the six best ranked teams won the right to participate in the playoffs. The top two clubs had byes in the first round of the playoffs, while the remaining four teams were drawn together according to their final position in the regular season. The winners of the match-ups advanced to the semifinals, where they met DAB-Docler and HSC Csíkszereda, respectively. Eventually, Miskolci JJSE beat HSC Csíkszereda and thus secured their spot in the finals, where they faced Dunaújváros, which won their duel in straight matches against Corona Fenestela Braşov. Dunaújváros enjoyed the home ice advantage in the best-of-seven series final, where they swept away Miskolc 4–0 and took the 2011–12 MOL Liga title, the first ever of its kind in the history of the club.
The 2012–13 MOL Liga season was the fifth season of the MOL Liga, a multi-national ice hockey league consisting of teams from Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Seven teams participated in the league, and DAB-Docler won the championship. The league also served as the Hungarian Championship for 2012-13. DAB-Docler, the MOL Liga champion, was also the Hungarian national champion.
The 2013–14 MOL Liga season was the sixth season of the MOL Liga, and HC Nové Zámky won the title. The league is a multi-national ice hockey league consisting of teams from Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Balázs Ladányi from DAB-Docler was the season's leading scorer with 63 points.
The 2014–15 MOL Liga season was the seventh season of the MOL Liga. The league is a multi-national ice hockey league consisting of teams from Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. HC Nové Zámky were the defending Champions after defeating ASC Corona Braşov in the 2014 Championship, but they lost their championship to Miskolci Jegesmedvék in a 4–0 sweep against them.
The 2015–16 MOL Liga season was the 8th season of the MOL Liga. DVTK Jegesmedvék was the defending champion after defeating HC Nové Zámky in the 2014-2015 season. They successfully defended their title after sweeping MAC Budapest in the finals. The league is a multi-national ice hockey league consisting of teams from Hungary and Romania. A new team, Budapest based MAC Budapest, joined the league while Slovakian based, and previous season's finalist, HC Nové Zámky left.
The 2016–17 MOL Liga season was the 9th season of the MOL Liga. DVTK Jegesmedvék was the two-time defending champion after defeating MAC Budapest in the 2015-2016 season. They once again successfully defended their title after beating MAC Budapest in the finals, this time in 5 games. A new team from Serbia, the Belgrade based HK Beograd, joined the league.
In July 2017, MOL, who was formerly the league's naming sponsor, decided against renewing their sponsorship. From the 2017-18 season onwards, the league will be known as the Erste Liga. DVTK Jegesmedvék is the three-time defending champion after defeating MAC Budapest in the 2016-2017 season. A new team from Austria, the second team of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga outfit Vienna Capitals, joined the league while three clubs, Hungarian based Debreceni HK, Romanian based Dunărea Galați and Serbian based HK Beograd, all left the league.

Teams

Champions

SeasonWinnerFinal Runner-up
2008–09 HC Csíkszereda3-0 SC Csíkszereda
2009–10 Budapest Stars3-1 Újpesti TE
2010–11 HSC Csíkszereda4-1 DAB-Docler
2011–12 DAB-Docler4-0 Miskolci JJSE
2012–13 DAB-Docler4-2 HSC Csíkszereda
2013–14 HC Mikron Nové Zámky4-2 Corona Wolves Braşov
2014–15 Miskolci Jegesmedvék4-0 HC Mikron Nové Zámky
2015–16 DVTK Jegesmedvék4-0 MAC Budapest
2016–17 DVTK Jegesmedvék4-1 MAC Budapest
2017–18 MAC Budapest4-1 DVTK Jegesmedvék

All-time standings

ClubNo.09101112131415161718
DVTK Jegesmedvék199632341112
MAC Budapest2221
Fehérvári Titánok25107738-
Debreceni HK3544
Újpesti TE9328877653-
Ferencvárosi TC9755566767-
HSC Csíkszereda392413258711-
Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák49532113386-
Corona Brașov5876452495-
Dunărea Galați19
HK Beograd110
HC Nové Zámky63412
Steaua Rangers73696
Budapest Stars83414
HC Csíkszereda11
Progym Gheorgheni18
Vienna Capitals 1

Color codeResult
GoldChampion
SilverFinalist
GreenSemi-finalist
PurpleQuarter-finalist
BluePre-qualifying
Whitenot qualified for play-offs
RedFolded during regular season
No.Number of seasons in league

ClubTitlesYears Won
Ferencvárosi TC
26
1951, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2019
Újpesti TE
13
1958, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
Alba Volán SC Székesfehérvár
13
1981, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Budapesti Korcsolyázó Egylet
7
1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946
Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák
6
1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2013, 2014
Budapesti Vörös Meteor
4
1952, 1957, 1959, 1963
Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre
3
1947, 1948, 1949
DVTK Jegesmedvék
3
2015, 2016, 2017
Budapesti Budai TE
2
1941, 1943
Budapesti Postás
2
1953, 1954
Jászberényi Lehel HC
1
1990
Meteor Mallerd
1
1950
MAC Budapest
1
2018