The Erste Liga is an international ice hockey league organized for clubs based in Hungary and Romania. It was founded in 2008 as the MOL Liga and was so known until being renamed Erste Liga in 2017 due to a sponsorship agreement with Erste Bank Hungary.
Games played between Hungarian teams count towards the Hungarian national championship league, the OB I Bajnokság, and games played between Romanian teams count towards the Romanian national championship league, the Liga Națională.
The last 6* seasons have been won by Romanian teams: HSC Csíkszereda three times, Gyergyói HK twice and CSM Corona Brașov once. * The season 2019–20 (Covid) recognized both Ferencvárosi TC and HSC Csíkszereda as winners.
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 a 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 Miercurea Ciuc
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 (3–6, 4–5). 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 Slovak 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 (4–1). 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
The departure of Ferencvárosi TC to the ICE Hockey League following the 2024–25 season left nine teams to participate in the 2025–26 Erste Liga season, six from Hungary and three from Romania. Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined league Left league 2025–26 teams Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia HC Budapest Vasas Jégcentrum 1,500 2015 2015–16 Corona Brașov Brașov Patinoarul Olimpic Brașov 1,604 2007 2009–10 Debrecen Debreceni Jégcsarnok60019892018–19 DVTK Jegesmedvék Miskolc Miskolci Jégcsarnok 2,200 1978 2021–22 Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák Dunaújváros Dunaújvárosi Jégcsarnok 4,500 1974 2008–09 Ifjabb Ocskay Gábor Ice Hall 3,600 2008 2008–09 Gyergyói Hoki Klub Gheorgheni Remetea Ice Arena 1,000 1949 2008–09 Sport Club Csíkszereda Miercurea Ciuc Patinoarul Lajos Vákár 3,500 1929 2008–09 UTE Budapest Megyeri úti Jégcsarnok 2,000 1955 (1930) 2008–09 Former Teams (since introduction of current league format) HC Csíkszereda Miercurea Ciuc Patinoarul Lajos Vákár 3,500 2002 2008–09 2008–09 Budapest Stars (Vasas) Budapest Jégpalota Budapest 2,000 2001 2008–09 2010–11 Steaua Rangers Bucharest Patinoarul Mihai Flamaropol 8,000 1951 2008–09 2011–12 HC Nové Zámky Nové Zámky Zimný štadión Nové Zámky 3,500 1965 2012–13 2014–15 Debreceni HK Debrecen Debreceni Jégcsarnok 600 1989 2014–15 2016–17 Dunărea Galați Galați Patinoarul Galați 5,000 1932 2016–17 2016–17 HK Beograd Belgrade Ice Palace Pionir 2,000 2016 2016–17 2016–17 Vienna Capitals (II.) Vienna Albert Schultz Eishalle 7,022 2001 2017–18 2018–19 Hokiklub Budapest Budapest Tüskecsarnok 2,540 2018–19 2019–20 Ferencvárosi TC Budapest Pesterzsébeti Jégcsarnok 2,400 1928 2008–09 2024–25
Champions Season Winner Final (matches won) Runner-up 2008–09 HC Csíkszereda 3–0 SC Csíkszereda 2009–10 Budapest Stars 3–1 Újpesti TE 2010–11 HSC Csíkszereda 4–1 DAB-Docler 2011–12 DAB-Docler 4–0 Miskolci JJSE 2012–13 DAB-Docler 4–2 HSC Csíkszereda 2013–14 HC Mikron Nové Zámky 4–2 Corona Wolves Braşov 2014–15 Miskolci Jegesmedvék 4–0 HC Mikron Nové Zámky 2015–16 DVTK Jegesmedvék 4–0 MAC Budapest 2016–17 DVTK Jegesmedvék 4–1 MAC Budapest 2017–18 MAC Budapest 4–1 DVTK Jegesmedvék 2018–19 Ferencvárosi TC 4–1 HSC Csíkszereda 2019–20 Ferencvárosi TC and HSC Csíkszereda – 2020–21 HSC Csíkszereda 4–2 Corona Brașov 2021–22 HSC Csíkszereda 4–1 Ferencvárosi TC 2022–23 Gyergyói HK 4–3 Ferencvárosi TC 2023–24 Corona Brașov 4–0 Ferencvárosi TC 2024–25 Gyergyói HK 4–2 HSC Csíkszereda 2025–26 Gyergyói HK 4–1 Corona Brașov
All-time standings
Club No. 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák418 5 3 2 1 1 3 3 8 6 5 10 5 10 11 7 9 10 9 HSC Csíkszereda318 2 4 1 3 2 5 8 7 11 4 2 1(Covid) 1 1 6 4 2 7 Újpesti TE18 3 2 8 8 7 7 6 5 3 6 3 3(Covid) 6 5 10 6 8 5 Ferencvárosi TC17 7 5 5 5 6 6 7 6 7 7 1 1(Covid) 3 2 2 2 6 Corona Brașov517 7 6 4 5 2 4 9 5 3 5 6 2 7 4 1 4 2 DVTK Jegesmedvék115 9 6 3 2 3 4 1 1 1 2 8 5 7 7 3 FEHA19214 10 7 7 3 8 8 6 8 9 10 8 10 9 8 MAC Budapest9 2 2 1 5 6 3 5 3 4 Gyergyói HK9 8 7 3(Covid) 7 3 1 3 1 1 Debreceni EAC8 4 7 4 4 9 8 5 6 Debreceni HK3 5 4 4 Steaua Rangers73 6 9 6 Vasas HC3 11 9 8 HC Nové Zámky63 4 1 2 Budapest Stars83 4 1 4 HC Csíkszereda1 1 Vienna Capitals (II.)2 9 8 Dunărea Galați1 9 KMH Budapest1 9 10 UNI Győr ETO HC1 9 HK Beograd1 10
Color code Result Gold Champion Silver Finalist Green Semi-finalist Purple Quarter-finalist Blue Pre-qualifying White not qualified for play-offs Red Folded during regular season No. Number of seasons in league (as of 2017–18)
1 Played as Miskolci Jegesmedvék JSE (Miskolci JJSE) from 2008–09 to 2014–15. 2 Played as Alba Volán Székesfehérvár 2 from 2008–09 to 2009–10 and as SAPA Fehérvár AV19 2 from 2010–11 to 2015–16. 3 Played as SC Miercurea Ciuc from 2008–09 to 2009–10. 4 Played as DAB-Docler from 2008–09 to 2014–15. 5 Played as SCM Fenestela 68 Brașov from 2008–09 to 2010–11, as Corona Fenestela Brașov from 2011–12 to 2012–13 and as Corona Brașov Wolves from 2013–14 to 2014–15. 6 Also known as HC Mikron Nové Zámky during time in league from 2012–13 to 2014–15. 7 Played as Steaua București from 2008–09 to 2009–10. 8 Played as Vasas HC Budapest Stars from 2008–09 to 2010–11.
Hungarian champions
1937: Budapesti KE 1937/38: Budapesti KE (2) 1938/39: Budapesti KE (3) 1939/40: Budapesti KE (4) 1940/41: BBTE 1941/42: Budapesti KE (5) 1942/43: BBTE (2) 1943/44: Budapesti KE (6) 1944/45: Not held 1945/46: Budapesti KE (7) 1946/47: MTK Budapest 1947/48: MTK Budapest (2) 1948/49: MTK Budapest (3) 1949/50: Bp. Vörös Meteor 1950/51: Bp. Kinizsi 1951/52: Bp. Vörös Meteor (2) 1952/53: Bp. Postás 1953/54: Bp. Postás (2) 1954/55: Bp. Kinizsi (2) 1955/56: Bp. Kinizsi (3) 1956/57: Bp. Vörös Meteor (3) 1957/58: Újpesti Dózsa 1958/59: Bp. Vörös Meteor (4) 1959/60: Újpest (2) 1960/61: Ferencvárosi TC (4) 1961/62: Ferencvárosi TC (5) 1962/63: Bp. Vörös Meteor (5) 1963/64: Ferencvárosi TC (6) 1964/65: Újpesti Dózsa (3) 1965/66: Újpesti Dózsa (4) 1966/67: Ferencvárosi TC (7) 1967/68: Újpesti Dózsa (5) 1968/69: Újpesti Dózsa (6) 1969/70: Újpesti Dózsa (7) 1970/71: Ferencvárosi TC (8) 1971/72: Ferencvárosi TC (9) 1972/73: Ferencvárosi TC (10) 1973/74: Ferencvárosi TC (11) 1974/75: Ferencvárosi TC (12) 1975/76: Ferencvárosi TC (13) 1976/77: Ferencvárosi TC (14) 1977/78: Ferencvárosi TC (15) 1978/79: Ferencvárosi TC (16) 1979/80: Ferencvárosi TC (17) 1980/81: Székesfehérvári Volán SC 1981/82: Újpesti Dózsa (8) 1982/83: Újpesti Dózsa (9) 1983/84: Ferencvárosi TC (18) 1984/85: Újpesti Dózsa (10) 1985/86: Újpesti Dózsa (11) 1986/87: Újpesti Dózsa (12) 1987/88: Újpesti Dózsa (13) 1988/89: Ferencvárosi TC (19) 1989/90: Jászberényi Lehel HC 1990/91: Ferencvárosi TC (20) 1991/92: Ferencvárosi TC (21) 1992/93: Ferencvárosi TC (22) 1993/94: Ferencvárosi TC (23) 1994/95: Ferencvárosi TC (24) 1995/96: Dunaferr SE 1996/97: Ferencvárosi TC (25) 1997/98: Dunaferr SE (2) 1998/99: Alba Volán-Riceland (2) 1999/00: Dunaferr SE (3) 2000/01: Alba Volán-FeVita (3) 2001/02: Dunaferr SE (4) 2002/03: Alba Volán-FeVita (4) 2003/04: Alba Volán-FeVita (5) 2004/05: Alba Volán-FeVita (6) 2005/06: Alba Volán-FeVita (7) 2006/07: Alba Volán-FeVita (8) 2007/08: Alba Volán SC (9) 2008/09: Alba Volán SC (10) 2009/10: SAPA Fehérvár AV 19 (11) 2010/11: SAPA Fehérvár AV 19 (12) 2011/12: SAPA Fehérvár AV 19 (13) 2012/13: DAB-Docler (5) 2013/14: DAB-Docler (6)(MOL Liga title winner HC Nové Zámky) 2014/15: Miskolci Jegesmedvék 2015/16: DVTK Jegesmedvék (2) 2016/17: DVTK Jegesmedvék (3) 2017/18: MAC Budapest (1) 2018/19: Ferencvárosi TC (26) 2019/20: Ferencvárosi TC (27) 2020/21: Ferencvárosi TC (28) 2021/22: Ferencvárosi TC (29) 2022/23: Ferencvárosi TC (30) 2023/24: Ferencvárosi TC (31) 2024/25: Budapest Akademia HK (2)
Titles by club