The
Czech Extraliga is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic
. The name of the league is leased a general
sponsor and changes frequently. In 1999-00, it was known as the
Staropramen Extraliga;
for 2001-01 and 2001-02 seasons, it was called the
Český
Telecom Extraliga; from 2003-04 to 2005-06, it was known
as the
Tipsport Extraliga; for the 2006-07 and
2007-08 seasons, it was known as the
O2 Extraliga. As of 2009, it is
ranked by the
IIHF as the third strongest
league in Europe.
The Czech Extraliga is rooted in the
Czechoslovak First Ice
Hockey League.
The Czech Extraliga was spun off in 1993
following the administrative break-up of Czechoslovakia
. A lot of Extraliga players leave every year
on transfers to the
North American
NHL and Eurasian league, the
KHL.
There are currently 57 Czech ice hockey players based in the
National Hockey League,
making Czechs the third largest nationality represented in the
league, after Canadians
and Americans.
Format
14 teams compete in the league. The top 10 teams at the end of the
regular season advance to the final play-offs. After the regular
season (52 rounds), the teams that finished 7th to 10th will play a
pre-quarter final playoff series (best-of-five) to determine who
will join the top six into the quarter finals
(best-of-seven).
Since the 2006-07 season, three points has been be awarded for a
win in regular time, and two points for an overtime victory, while
the defeated team in overtime gets one point. If necessary, penalty
shots are used to decide games after overtime.
There was also only one assist credited for each goal instead of
two since 2006-07, which affected the league statistics, so the
rule was cancelled in the 2008-2009 season. Two assists are counted
now.
The four lowest ranked teams (11 - 14) after the regular season
play in a play out group (12 rounds, all regular-season matches are
counted into the ranking). The last placed team after the play out
group plays with a winner of
1. národní hokejová
liga play off serie (best-of-seven). The winner of this serie
will play in the Extraliga next season. The loser will play
1. národní
hokejová liga.
2009-10 teams
Note: The names of most teams are leased to general sponsors and
change frequently.
2009-10 Interim positions
monthly actualized
The playoffs
The top 10 teams at the end of the regular season play in the final
play-offs.
Starting from the 2003-04 season, the play-offs has its own general
sponsor, with the play-offs' official name being
Česká
pojišťovna play-off Tipsport extraligy. The play-offs
determine the league championship.
Champions
See also
References
External links
- http://www.hokej.cz
- http://hokej.idnes.cz
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