Erste Liga

The Erste Liga (formerly the MOL Liga) is an international ice hockey league based in Hungary and Romania. It is sponsored by the Austrian Erste Bank. The league's former sponsor was the Hungarian petrolchemical concern MOL Group.
The games played between the Hungarian teams count towards the Hungarian National Championship in the OB I bajnokság. The Romanian teams also compete in the Romanian National Championship Liga Naţională.
==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 an 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 Székely Land.
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 Slovakian 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==
Team 	City 	Arena 	Capacity 	Founded 	Joined MOL liga 	Left MOL liga
Current Teams 	Current Teams 	Current Teams 	Current Teams 	Current Teams 	Current Teams 	Current Teams
Ferencvárosi TC 	Budapest 	Pesterzsébeti Jégcsarnok 	2,400 	1928 	2008–09 	
Fehérvár Hockey Academy 19 	Székesfehérvár 	Ifj. Ocskay Gábor Jégcsarnok 	3,600 	2008 	2008–09 	
Újpesti TE 	Budapest 	Megyeri úti Jégcsarnok 	2,000 	1955 (1930) 	2008–09 	
DAB 	Dunaújváros 	Dunaújvárosi Jégcsarnok 	4,500 	1974 	2008–09 	
DEAC 	Debrecen 	Debreceni Jégcsarnok 	600 	1989 	2018–19 	
Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia HC 	Budapest 	Tüskecsarnok 	2,540 	2015 	2015–162020–21 	2018–19
DVTK Jegesmedvék 	Miskolc 	Miskolci Jégcsarnok 	2,200 	1978 	2021-22 	
ASC Corona Brașov 	Brașov 	Patinoarul Olimpic Brașov 	1,604 	2007 	2009–10 	
CS Progym Gheorgheni 	Gheorgheni 	Gyergyószentmiklósi Műjégpálya 	1,000 	1949 	2008–09 	
HSC Csíkszereda 	Miercurea Ciuc 	Vakár Lajos Műjégpálya 	3,500 	1929 	2008–09 	
Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)	Former Teams (since introduction of current league format)
Vienna Capitals (II.) 	Vienna 	Albert Schultz Eishalle 	7,022 	2001 	2017–18 	2018–19
Hokiklub Budapest 	Budapest 	Tüskecsarnok 	2,540 	 	2018–19 	2019–20
Budapest Stars (Vasas) 	Budapest 	Jegpalota Budapest 	2,000 	2001 	2008–09 	2010–11
HC Csíkszereda 	Miercurea Ciuc 	Vakár Lajos Műjégpálya 	3,500 	2002 	2008–09 	2008–09
Steaua Rangers 	Bucharest 	Patinoarul Mihai Flamaropol 	8,000 	1951 	2008–09 	2011–12
HC Nové Zámky 	Nové Zámky 	Zimny Stadion Nové Zámky 	3,500 	1965 	2012–13 	2014–15
Debreceni HK 	Debrecen 	Debrecen Ice Hall 	600 	1989 	2014–15 	2016–17
Dunărea Galați 	Galați 	Galați Skating Rink 	5,000 	1932 	2016–17 	2016–17
HK Beograd 	Belgrade 	Pionir Ice Hall 	2,000 	2016 	2016–17 	2016–17
==Champions==
Season 	Winner 	Final (matches won) 	Runner-up
2008–09	HC Csíkszereda 	3-0http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol08-09.php	SC Csíkszereda
2009–10	Budapest Stars 	3-1http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol09-10.php	Újpesti TE
2010–11	HSC Csíkszereda 	4-1http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol10-11.php	Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák
2011–12	Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák 	4-0http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol11-12.php	Miskolci JJSE
2012–13	Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák 	4-2http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol12-13.php	HSC Csíkszereda
2013–14	Nové Zámky 	4-2http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol13-14.php	Corona Wolves Braşov
2014–15	Miskolci JJSE 	4-0 	Nové Zámky
2015–16	DVTK Jegesmedvék 	4-0http://www.regi.icehockey.hu/mol15-16.php	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	Not completed due to COVID-19 pandemic	 	
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
===All-time standings===
Club 	No.	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
HSC Csíkszereda3 	14 	2 	4 	1 	3 	2 	5 	8 	7 	11	4 	2 	2 	1 	1
DVTK Jegesmedvék1 	11 	9 	6 	3 	2 	3 	4 	1 	1 	1 	2 	 	 	 	8
Dunaújvárosi Acélbikák4	14 	5 	3 	2 	1 	1 	3 	3 	8 	6 	5 	10	5 	10	11
Ferencvárosi TC 	14 	7 	5 	5 	5 	6 	6 	7 	6 	7 	7 	1 	1 	3 	2
MAC Budapest 	5 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	2 	2 	1 	 	 	5 	6
HC Nové Zámky6 	3 	 	 	 	 	4 	1 	2 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Budapest Stars8 	3 	4 	1 	4 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
HC Csíkszereda 	1 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Corona Brașov5 	13 	 	7 	6 	4 	5 	2 	4 	9 	5 	3 	5 	6 	2 	7
Újpesti TE 	14 	3 	2 	8 	8 	7 	7 	6 	5 	3 	6 	3 	4 	6 	5
Progym Gheorgheni 	5 	8 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	7 	3 	7 	3
Fehérvári Titánok2 	9 	10	 	7 	7 	 	 	 	3 	8 	8 	6 	8 	9 	10
Debreceni EAC 	4 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	4 	7 	4 	4
Debreceni HK 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	5 	4 	4 	 	 	 	 	
Steaua Rangers7 	3 	6 	 	9 	6 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Vasas HC 	3 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	11	9 	8 	
Vienna Capitals (II.) 	2 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9 	8 	 	 	
Dunărea Galați 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9 	 	 	 	 	
KMH Budapest 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9 	10	 	
UNI Győr ETO HC 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	9
HK Beograd 	1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	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.
==References==
Category:Ice hockey leagues