Vysshaya Liga (ice hockey)

Infobox Hockey League
name = Supreme League

pixels = 150
caption =
country = RUS
KAZ
UKR

republic = flagicon|BashkortostanBashkortostan
flagicon|Mari ElMari El
flagicon|TatarstanTatarstan
flagicon|UdmurtiaUdmurtia
confed =
founded = 1946
first =
folded =
divisions = 3
conferences=
teams = 33
feeds =
feeder = 1st League
promotion = KHL
relegation =
champ = Bratina Cup
assc_champ =
champions = Khimik Voskresensk
season = 2007-2008
most successful club =
website = http://www.fhr.ru

The Russian Supreme League (also Highleague) ( _ru. Высшая Лига, "Vysshaya Liga") is the lower division of the Kontinental Hockey League, a professional ice hockey league in Eurasia. Prior to the KHL's creation, it held the same role for the Russian Superleague and Soviet League (where it was considered Class-A 2nd division)

Many changes will occur in the upcoming 2008-09 "Vysshaya Liga" season. The league will be divided into three separate leagues; East, Central, and West, rather than the usual East and West. Twenty four teams will qualify for the playoffs culminating in a final for the Bratina Cup.

It is believed that the league will become more of a developmental league. Only 7 players over the age of 29 will be allowed onto each team's roster. With no promotion/relegation system set in place with the new Kontinental Hockey League, it has been speculated that most teams in the league will eventually become farm teams of the KHL teams.

Teams for 2008-09 season

ee also

* Kontinental Hockey League

References

* [http://www.fhr.ru/division/2 Vysshaya Liga Official Page] ru icon
* [http://www.allhockey.ru/ AllHockey.Ru] ru icon
* [http://online.fhr.ru/ Vysshaya Liga schedule and standings
* [http://www.eurohockey.net/leagues/ Euro Hockey]