The Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (, 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.
History The Bel-Pa Ice Rink hosted the first match ever played in compliance with the IIHF rules and regulations, at the end of 1989 between Ankara Tarım Kredi Spor and Istanbul Paten Kulübü teams.
As of January 1990, ice hockey in Turkey was operated under the jurisdiction of the Turkish Ski Federation, and the first official championship ever was organized among two teams from Ankara and two from Istanbul. Ankara Büyükşehir Belediyesi, Istanbul Paten Kulübü, Ankara Atatürk Buz Hokeyi Takımı and İstanbul Boğaziçi Patinaj Klübü has participated to the championship and B.B. Ankara SK became the champion.
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.
Place Team 1 Zeytinburnu SK 10 10 0 0 0 175 13 162 302 Erzurum BB GSK 10 8 0 0 2 79 24 55 243 Gümüş Patenler SK 10 4 1 0 5 37 62 −25 144 Buzadam GSK 10 3 0 0 7 28 94 −66 95 Başkent Yıldızları BP BHSK 10 2 0 1 7 33 90 −57 76 Koç Üniversitesi SK 10 1 0 0 9 27 96 −69 3
2017 Playoffs 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.
2015–16 season 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.
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. East Division West Division Club Home town Club Home townBB Ankara SK AnkaraBuz Korsanları SK IstanbulErzurum BB GSK Erzurumİzmir BB GSK İzmirErzurum Gençlik SK ErzurumKoç Üniversitesi SK IstanbulGenç Ankaralılar SK AnkaraPars Buz Sporları SK IstanbulGümüş Patenler SK AnkaraZeytinburnu SK Istanbul
Standings The 2015–16 league ended with İzmir BB GSK leading. The first four leading teams were promoted to play semi-finals.
Place Team 1 İzmir BB GSK 10 8 1 0 1 133 20 113 26 2 Zeytinburnu SK 10 8 0 1 1 146 20 126 253 Erzurum BB GSK 10 7 0 0 3 94 29 65 214 Koç Üniversitesi SK 10 4 0 0 6 42 96 −54 125 Gümüş Patenler SK 8 0 0 0 8 22 132 −110 06 BB Ankara SK 8 0 00 8 15 155 −140 0
2016 Playoffs 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.
2009–10 season Final standings Place Team GP' W T L PTS 1Ankara University SK1081125 1Baskent Yildizlari SK1081125 3Kocaeli BB Kagitspor1061319 4Polis Akademisi 1041513 5BB Ankara SK102076 6Izmit Sirintepe SK1000100
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.
Teams Club Home town Arena Founded RankAnkara University SKAnkaraBel-Pa1948 Başkent Yıldızları Ankara Bel-Pa 2004 B.B. Ankara SK Ankara Bel-Pa 1978 Izmit Şirintepe SK Izmit Kocaeli 2000 Kocaeli B.B. Kağıt Izmit Kocaeli 2000 Polis AkademisiAnkara Bel-Pa 1996
2010 Playoffs
2010 All-Star Game 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.
Club Home town Arena Founded RankBaşkent YıldızlarıAnkaraBel-Pa20043rdB.B. AnkarasporAnkaraBel-Pa19786thİstanbul PatenIstanbulGalleria19874thKocaeli B.B. KağıtIzmitKocaeli20001stPolis AkademisiAnkaraBel-Pa19962ndAnka SKAnkaraBel-Pa19545th
Season structure 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.
Standings
Note: GF= Goals for, GA = Goals against
Team Games Won Lost Tied GF GA Points 1 Kocaeli B.B. 10 9 1 0 149 18 27 2 Polis Akademisi 10 8 2 0 141 28 24 3 Başkent Yıldızları 10 7 3 0 110 44 21 4 Istanbul Paten 10 3 7 0 21 104 9 5 Anka SK 10 2 8 0 28 153 6 6 B.B. Ankara 10 1 9 0 23 145 3
Ice hockey rinks
Currently, Turkish Ice Hockey Super League games are played by teams in four cities including Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Erzurum. Ice hockey rinks hosting the TBHSL are Silivrikapı Ice Skating Hall (seating capacity: 900) and Zeytinburnu Ice Rink (700) in Istanbul, Ankara Ice Skating Palace (1,150) in Ankara, Bornova Ice Sports Hall (1,751) in İzmir, Palandöken Ice Skating Hall (2,000) and Yakutiye Ice Skating Hall (3,000 and 500) in Erzurum. Another olympic-sized ice hockey rink is Kocaeli B.B. Ice Arena (3,600) in İzmit.
Ice hockey rinks in Turkey follow the IIHF specifications for ice surface dimensions of , and a corner radius of .
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. 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.
Season Champion Runner up2025–26Buzadam IstanbulZeytinburnu BS2024–25Buzadam IstanbulZeytinburnu BS2023–24Buzadam Istanbulİstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor2022–23Buzadam IstanbulBuz Beykoz Istanbul2021–22Buzadam Istanbulİstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor2020–21Buz Beykoz IstanbulZeytinburnu BS2019–20Buz Beykoz IstanbulZeytinburnu BS2018–19Zeytinburnu BSBuzadam Istanbul2017–18Zeytinburnu BSErzurum BB GSK2016–17Zeytinburnu BSErzurum BB GSK2015–16Zeytinburnu BSİzmir BB GSK2014–15Zeytinburnu BSİzmir BB GSK2013–14İzmir BB GSKZeytinburnu BS2012–13Başkent Yıldızlarıİzmir BB GSK2011–12Başkent YıldızlarıKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2010–11Başkent YıldızlarıKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2009–10Ankara University SKBaşkent Yıldızları2008–09Polis Akademisi ve KolejiKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2007–08Polis Akademisi ve KolejiKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2006–07Kocaeli B.B. Kağıt SKPolis Akademisi ve Koleji2005–06Polis Akademisi ve KolejiKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2004–05Polis Akademisi ve KolejiKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2003–04Polis Akademisi ve KolejiKocaeli B.B. Kağıt SK2002–03B.B. Ankara SKPolis Akademisi ve Koleji2001–02B.B. Ankara SKPolis Akademisi ve Koleji2000–01Polis Akademisi ve KolejiB.B. Ankara SK1999–2000B.B. Ankara SKIstanbul Paten K1998–99Gümüş Patenler SKIstanbul Paten K1997–98Istanbul Paten KB.B. Ankara SK1996–97B.B. Ankara SKIstanbul Paten K1995–96Kavaklıdere B. SKIstanbul Paten K1994–95B.B. Ankara SKEmniyet SK1993–94B.B. Ankara SKEmniyet SK1992–93B.B. Ankara SKMülkiye SK
Performance by club Club Champions Winning years B.B. Ankara SK 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003 Polis Akademisi ve Koleji† 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 Zeytinburnu BS 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Buzadam Istanbul 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Başkent Yıldızları 2011, 2012, 2013 Buz Beykoz Istanbul 2020, 2021 Kavaklıdere B. SK 1996 Istanbul Paten K† 1998 Gümüş Patenler SK 1999 Kocaeli B.B. Kağıt 2007 Ankara University SK 2010 İzmir BB GSK 2014 † Club has folded and is no longer operating.
IIHF Continental Cup 2022–23 Continental Cup – first round – Group B Team Country W L GF GA Buzadam İstanbul 3 0 19 5 Bulldogs Liège 2 1 13 4 Hockey Punks Vilnius 1 2 6 14 FC Barcelona 0 3 7 22
2022–23 Continental Cup – second round – Group D Team Country W L GF GA Asiago Hockey 3 0 28 5 Acroni Jesenice 2 1 14 7 Buzadam İstanbul 1 2 9 15 HK Vojvodina 0 3 3 27
2021–22 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA Corona Brașov 3 0 30 3 KHL Mladost 2 1 16 18 FC Barcelona 1 2 10 14 Buz Beykoz Istanbul 0 3 7 28
2019–20 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA Crvena Zvezda 3 0 17 6 Zeytinburnu BS 2 1 11 12 Irbis-Skate Sofia 1 2 9 10 Skautafélag Akureyrar 0 3 4 13
2018–19 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA Vikingar Akureyri 3 0 13 5 Irbis-Skate Sofia 2 1 17 8 Zeytinburnu BS 1 2 7 11 HC Bat Yam 0 3 1 14
2017–18 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA Crvena Zvezda 3 0 15 0 Zeytinburnu BS 2 1 10 9 Irbis-Skate Sofia 1 2 11 11 Esja Reykjavík 0 3 5 13
2016–17 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA Zeytinburnu BS 3 0 32 6 Partizan Belgrade 2 1 12 14 Irbis-Skate Sofia 1 2 9 13 HC Bat Yam 0 3 10 30
2016–17 Continental Cup – second round – Group B Team Country W L GF GA Nottingham Panthers 3 0 28 4 HK Liepāja 2 1 19 6 Zeytinburnu BS 1 2 9 23 CH Jaca 0 3 7 30
2015–16 Continental Cup – first round – Group A Team Country W L GF GA CSKA Sofia 3 0 28 10 Zeytinburnu BS 2 1 23 14 Partizan Belgrade 1 2 14 17 Rishon Devils 0 3 6 30
2014–15 Continental Cup – First Group Stage – Group A Team Country W L GF GA CSKA Sofia 3 0 32 7 CG Puigcerdà 2 1 27 5 HK Beostar 1 2 23 17 İzmir BB GSK 0 3 6 59
2013–14 IIHF Continental Cup Did not participate.
2012–13 Continental Cup – First Group Stage – Group A Team Country W L GF GA HSC Csíkszereda 3 0 36 0 Başkent Yıldızları 2 1 19 17 HK Vitez 1 2 16 12 HC Metulla 0 3 1 43
2011–12 Continental Cup – First Group Stage – Group A Team Country W L GF GA White Caps Turnhout 2 0 21 3 Tartu Kalev-Välk 1 1 13 7 Başkent Yıldızları 0 2 3 27 HC Metulla† 0 0 0 0 † HC Metulla withdrew from tournament in July, 2011
2010–11 Continental Cup – First Group Stage – Group A. Team Country W L GF GA CH Jaca 2 0 22 1 Ankara University SK 1 1 9 10 HC Bat Yam 0 2 3 23 Energija Elektrenai† 0 0 0 0 † Energija Elektrenai were not able to compete in the tournament because their airline went bankrupt the day of their departure to Spain.
Turkish teams' Continental Cup results