Liiga vs Alps Hockey League

How would you compare/contrast Liiga and Alps Hockey League?

Liiga sits at a little bit higher caliber of hockey than Alps Hockey League overall. The combo of high end local players and import who play in Liiga give it that lead.

Our partners scout each of these leagues each season. We've had players play in both levels too and have this as added insights.

Liiga

Liiga is the top ice hockey league in Finland.

Alps Hockey League

The Alps Hockey League is a regional professional hockey league in the south of Europe, with teams spread across Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Location: Finland

Location: Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia

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 Alps Hockey League

Founded in 2016, the Alps Hockey League features teams across Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia. The level of hockey on the ice is high quality and off the ice, the majority of the leagues clubs continue to thrive and be financially stable.

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: Alps Hockey League

"It’s a great league to play in. The import players that each team carries bring another level of experience and you know who they are on opposing rosters."

Number of Teams in Liiga: 15

Number of Teams in Alps Hockey League: 13

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.