Liiga vs PHL (Polish Hockey League)

How would you compare/contrast Liiga and PHL (Polish Hockey League)?

Liiga sits at a bit higher level, but the PHL continues to get stronger each season and we've actually seen a number of ex-Liiga players playing in the PHL producing similar on the score sheet which gives a good sense for how the two levels somewhat compare in terms of caliber.

Liiga vs PHL (Polish Hockey League) comparison

We have partners based in each of these regions and consistently scout matches here both in Finland and Poland in the top leagues.

Liiga

Liiga is the top ice hockey league in Finland.

PHL (Polish Hockey League)

The Polska Hokej Liga (PHL) is the top professional ice hockey league in Poland, featuring the nation's top hockey clubs and players.

Location: Finland

Location: Poland

Skill Level in Liiga

Liiga is the highest professional hockey league in Finland. Founded in 1975, the league has 15 clubs that span from the South near Helsinki all the way up to the Arctic Circle. It's considered by many to be one of the stronger leagues in Europe.

Skill Level in PHL

The PHL (Polska Hokej Liga- Polish Hockey League) is Poland’s top hockey league. The league continues to grow steadily in quality each year in big part by attracting more international imports across many clubs.

Player Perspective: Liiga

"Liiga is the perfect league to play in, especially as an import from North America who enjoys the physical play paired with skill. I'd agree that Liiga's caliber is up there with a number of the top leagues in Europe based on my experience also playing in Germany and Austria. The fans hear love their hockey.

Player Perspective: PHL

"As an import, Poland was a good place for me to begin playing overseas. The training over here reminds me a bit of that Eastern bloc style in that you train super hard in the gym and on the ice, but you get in real good hockey shape conditioning wise quick. The fans here will chant all game. They have a drum guy, coordinated chants, and a few of the ultras will light up flares in the supporter section sometimes. It's wild in a good way!"

Number of Teams in Liiga: 15

Number of Teams in PHL: 9

Caliber of Players and Imports in Liiga

Skill level of Liiga players is extremely high, with only the best Finnish players moving up to the highest league. For imports, teams expect players in Europe with strong resumes and players from North America with high-end ECHL/AHL experience on their resumes. Some even have NHL games played. This shows the strength of the league.