Liiga vs Swiss League

How would you compare/contrast Liiga and Swiss League?

Both Liiga and the Swiss League are considered to be top leagues in Europe. These leagues different in style, but they're similar in how strong they are level wise.

We regularly scout each of these hockey leagues and our insights come from this collectively scouting.

Liiga

Liiga is the top ice hockey league in Finland.

Swiss League

The Swiss League is the second-tier professional ice hockey league in Switzerland, focusing on developing local talent and providing competitive play.

Location: Finland

Location: Switzerland

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 Swiss League

The Swiss League serves as Switzerland’s second-tier hockey league, featuring 10 teams. It emphasizes player development and provides opportunities for promotion.

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: Swiss League

"Playing in the Swiss League was an important step in my career prior to the NHL. As a younger player still developing, it prepared me for top-level competition with much older and experienced players."

Number of Teams in Liiga: 15

Number of Teams in Swiss League: 10

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.