The Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (Turkish: Türkiye Buz Hokeyi Süper Ligi, abbreviated TBHSL) is the highest level of professional ice hockey in Turkey. It is operated under the jurisdiction of the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Unlike the National Hockey League, the Super League is not divided into conferences; teams compete in a single division. The league currently consists of six teams, from two cities.
The champion of the league qualifies for the first round of the IIHF Continental Cup.
The rising interest in ice hockey effected the increasing number of players and then the teams. The Turkish Ice Hockey Federation was founded in 1991. Rino Ouellette, a Canadian diplomat in Ankara, who coached two teams consecutively, contributed much to the development of ice hockey sport in Turkey. A tournament, organized in 1992, laid the ground stone for the establishment of Turkey's first ice hockey league in 1993.
TBHSL seasons
2016–17 season
The 2016–17 league season was sponsored again by "Didi".
Standings
The 2016–17 league ended with Zeytinburnu SK leading. The first four leading teams were promoted to play semi-finals.[1]
League leader played against the 4th ranked team, the runner-up against the third ranked. Zeytinburnu SK became 2016–17 league champion defeating Erzurum BB GSK by 2–0 in five final matches.[1]
The 2015–16 league season was sponsored by the iced tea brand "Didi" of the state-owned Turkish Tea Producers Corporation Çaykur, and named so Didi TBHSL.[2]
Teams
The clubs played in the 2015–16 season are listed below, alongside their home towns. The leagues matches were played in two groups, the East Division and the West Divisionp.[3]
League leader played against the 4th ranked team, the runner-up against the third ranked. Zeytinburnu SK became 2015–16 league champion defeating İzmir BB GSK by 3–2 in five final matches.[1]
Kocaeli BB had to surrender three of its wins when it was discovered that a player was playing with an illegal transfer card. Therefore, for playoff standings, Kocaeli BB would take the 4th seed and Polis would take the 3rd seed.[4]
On March 13, 2010 the Super League All-Star Game will be held in Ankara at the Bel-Pa arena. The game will be televised on TRT and there will be a special guest appearance by Turkish Pop Star Nil Karaibrahimgil. After the game Nil Karaibrahimgil will be performing at a club in Ankara for the players and fans who attend the All-Star Game.
2008–09 season
Teams
The clubs played in the 2008–2009 season are listed below, alongside their home towns.[5]
In the 2008–09 regular season, each team played 10 games. The four best teams at the conclusion of regular season proceed to the play-offs where semifinals and the final are all played. Games are played over 3 rounds. Higher-ranking teams play the first match at home. Teams are paired up for each round according to regular season results. The highest-ranking team will play against the lowest-ranking and second highest against the second lowest. Team which finishes the league in last position relegates to the Turkish Ice Hockey First League.
League starts at the end of December and finishes in early May. Games are mostly played on Saturday or Sunday.
The TBHSL's points system is different from the ice hockey leagues in Europe. 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 points for tie and 0 points for a loss.
Ice hockey rinks in Turkey follow the IIHF specifications for ice surface dimensions of 60 m × 30 m (197 ft × 98 ft), and a corner radius of 8.50 m (27.9 ft).
Champions
Since 1992–93, a regular Turkish national league is staged. In the first ever edition, six teams competed and B.B. Ankara crowned themselves the champion, by winning all five games. This team has earned the most titles – seven in all. They battled out their last championship in the 2002–03 season. Polis Akademisi ve Koleji (Police Academy) won five championships and has been the most successful team in recent years. Kocaeli B.B. Kağıt S.K. from İzmit was stopped after reigning from 2004.[12] Since the beginning of the Turkish Ice Hockey Super League, Ankara teams have earned the most titles. Apart from the teams based in Ankara, only Istanbul Paten Kulübü and Kocaeli B.B. Kağıt have won the championship.