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{{Region_icon_Ajax}}
{{Region_icon_Ajax}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
| title          = Liga Magna de Hockey
| title          = Liga Magna Hocceia
| current_season  = 2019–20 season
| current_season  = 2024–25 season
| current_season2 =  
| current_season2 =  
| last_season    = 2018–19 season
| last_season    = 2022–23 season
| logo            = Liga Magna league-wide logo.png
| logo            = LMH Logo (2023).svg
| pixels          = 200px
| pixels          = 200px
| sport          = Ice Hockey
| sport          = Ice Hockey
| founded        = 12 March 1950
| founded        = 12 March 1950
| owner          =  
| owner          =  
| commissioner    = Michael Opreius
| commissioner    = Michael Opreius
| inaugural      = 1950-51 season
| inaugural      = 1950-51 season
| teams          = 22
| teams          = 25
| country        = {{flag|Latium}} (19 teams) <br>{{flag|Gelonia}} (3 teams)
| country        = {{flag|Latium}} (25 teams)
| confed          = Belisaria
| confed          = [[Belisarian Hockey Federation|BHF]]
| champion        = Gwer Durnovaria HC (5th title)
| champion        = [[Ravenna Athletica]] (4th title)
| most_champs    = Rufus HC Aarhusium (10 titles)
| most_champs    = [[Cularo Carda (ice hockey|Cularo Carda]] (12 titles)
| classification  =
| classification  =
| qualification  =
| qualification  =
| TV = {{unbulleted list
| TV = {{unbulleted list
| '''Latium'''
| '''Domestic'''
| [[Latinii Trasmissione|LTC]]
| [[Latinii Trasmissione|LTC]]
| [[Latin Trasmissione Athletica|LTCA]]
| [[Latin Trasmissione Athletica|LTCA]]
| [[Teileorasi Imbros|TVI]]   
| [[Teileorasi Imbros|TVI]]   
| '''Gelonia'''
| '''International'''
| [[Skinwel-Gelonia|SK-G]]
| [[Scinel-Gelonia|SCG]] (Gelonia)
| etc
}}
}}
| sponsor        = [[Verruscosi Holdings#Subsidaries|Delpha]]
| sponsor        = [[Verruscosi Holdings#Subsidaries|Delpha]]
| related_comps  = [[Thalassan Cup (ice hockey)|Thalassan Cup]]
| related_comps  = [[Salacian Cup (ice hockey)|Salacian Cup]]
| domestic_cup    = [[Liga Magna#Copa Glaciei|Copa Glaciei]]
| domestic_cup    = [[Liga Magna#Copa Glaciei|Copa Glaciei]]
| relegation      = Liga Latii Campionata
| relegation      = Liga Nationale
| website        =  
| website        =  
| footnotes      =
| footnotes      =
}}
}}


The '''Delpha Liga Magna de Hockey Glaciei''' ('''LMH'''), most commonly referred to as '''Liga Magna''',  is a professional ice hockey league headquartered in [[Latium]] composed of 22 member clubs. The LMH is considered to be one of the top professional ice hockey leagues in the [[Ajax|world]], and is second most popular professional sports leagues in [[Latium]]. Each season since 2001, the league's playoff champion is awarded the Verruscosi Cup (formerly Anicia Cup), named for league sponsor [[Verruscosi Holdings#Subsidiary|Delpha]]. Following each season, the league champion competes in the Thalassan Cup, an exhibition best-of-seven series against the [[Ghantish Hockey League]] champion.
The '''Liga Magna Hocceia Glaciei''' ('''LMH'''), most commonly referred to as '''Liga Magna''',  is a professional ice hockey league headquartered in [[Latium]] composed of 25 member clubs. The LMH is considered to be one of the top professional ice hockey leagues in the [[Ajax|world]], and is third most popular professional sports leagues in [[Latium]] by attendance, television ratings, and revenue. Each season since 2001, the league's playoff champion is awarded the Anicia Cup. Following each season, the league champion competes in the [[#Salacian Cup|Salacian Cup]], an exhibition best-of-seven exhibition series against the [[Ghantish Hockey League]] champion.


The league draws many highly skilled players from all over the world and currently has players from approximately numerous different countries. However, Latins make up nearly 60% of the league's players.  
The league draws many highly skilled players from all over the world and currently has players from approximately numerous different countries. However, Latins make up nearly 60% of the league's players.  


[[Latinii Trasmissione|LTC]] and [[Latin Trasmissione Athletica|LTCA]] will continue to hold broadcasting rights in Latium through the 2020-21 season. The new television contracts are worth a total of {{LAS}}550 million, the highest of any professional sports league in Latium with the exception of [[Liga Premier]].
[[Latinii Trasmissione|LTC]] and [[Latin Trasmissione Athletica|LTCA]] holds domestic broadcasting rights in Latium through the 2024-25 season. The television contract is worth a total of {{LAS}}550 million, the highest of any professional sports league in Latium with the exception of [[Liga Campiontia]].
==History==
==History==
{{main|Latin hockey league system}}
{{main|Latin hockey league system}}
Ice hockey was first introduced to Latium in winter of 1890 by future emperor [[John XIII of Latium]], who had recently attended the first playing of the Vikandi Cup in Ghant. Those close to the John claim that he was immediately taken with the sport and saw to see it introduced in Latium. Today, many Latin teams honor John XIII as the Father of Latin ice hockey. After its introduction, ice hockey was mostly confined to mountain towns or near the estates of various nobles who could afford to keep sheets of ice and proper refrigeration facilities nearby, with the first such facility built just outside of Castellum in 1893. By 1911, 6 teams (of which only 1 team remains today) formed the Latin Ice Hockey Championship, which eventually grew to become the second most popular sport in Latium, behind association football and the [[Liga Premier]]. The league would grow to incorporate smaller competitors, hosting up to 20 teams by the 1944 season before the outbreak of the [[Social War]]. League operations were put on indefinite hold for the duration of the war, with the 1946-47 season being outright suspended, Many called for the league to continue, including the rebel [[Orestes Cotta]] and members of the Imperial faction.  
Ice hockey was first introduced to Latium in winter of 1890 by future emperor [[John XIII Anicius]], who had recently attended the first playing of the Vikandi Cup in Ghant. Those close to the John claim that he was immediately taken with the sport and saw to see it introduced in Latium. Today, many Latin teams honor John XIII as the Father of Latin ice hockey. After its introduction, ice hockey was mostly confined to mountain towns or near the estates of various nobles who could afford to keep sheets of ice and proper refrigeration facilities nearby, with the first such facility built just outside of Castellum in 1893. By 1911, 6 teams (of which only 1 team remains today) formed the Latin Ice Hockey Championship, which eventually grew to become the third most popular sport in Latium, behind association football and the [[Liga Campiontia]] and TBD. The league would grow to incorporate smaller competitors, hosting up to 20 teams by the 1944 season before the outbreak of the [[Social War]]. League operations were put on indefinite hold for the duration of the war, with the 1946-47 season being outright suspended. Many called for the league to continue, members of the Imperial faction and leaders of the social republican faction.  


In March 1950, 9 franchise owners from the former Latin Ice Hockey Championship were invited to Domus Agrippae by [[Jason Claudius, 36th Duke of Adrianople|The Duke of Adrianople]] to discuss the possibility of restarting league operations. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Liga Magna de Hockey Glaciei or the Liga Magna. On 12 October of the same year, the first puck drop took place in Castellum during a match between HC Alba Imperialis and Regis Adrianople HC, with 5 other matches to take place that week. As a 9 team league in its inaugural season, each LMH team played a total of 48 regular season games with no postseason play. The first postseason was introduced in 1960–61 season after expansion grew the league to 12 teams. Including former Latin Ice Hockey Championship titles, Gwer Durnovaria HC holds the most top-level championships with 22 (of which 13 are pre-LMH). HC Alba Imperialis previously held the longest at championship drought at 60 years before winning their first league title since 1951-52 in the 2015-16 season – it was their first championship since the introduction of postseason play. Currently, SI Vindóbona 1918 holds the longest championship drought, having not won since their first title in 1954.
In March 1950, 9 club owners from the former Latin Ice Hockey Championship were invited to Palatium Supranio by [[Jacobus Claudius, Duke of Adrianople|The Duke of Adrianople]] to discuss the possibility of restarting league operations. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Liga Magna Hocceia or the Liga Magna. On 12 October of the same year, the first puck drop took place in Castellum during a match between HS Alba Imperialis and Regis Adrianople HS, with 5 other matches to take place that week. As a 9 team league in its inaugural season, each LMH team played a total of 48 regular season games with no postseason play. The first postseason was introduced in 1960–61 season after expansion grew the league to 12 teams.  
 
Including former Latin Ice Hockey Championship titles, Gwer Durnovaria HC holds the most top-level championships with 22 (of which 13 are pre-LMH). Durnovaria has since departed for the [[Gelonian Superleague]] before the 2022-23 season. HS Alba Imperialis previously held the longest at championship drought at 60 years before winning their first league title since 1951-52 in the 2015-16 season – it was their first championship since the introduction of postseason play. Currently, SI Vindobona 1918 holds the longest championship drought, having not won since their first title in 1954.
 
The league first underwent expansion in 1953, adding 1 team; adding 5 teams from 1955 to 1963 and introducing a league playoff. Since 1996 the league has consisted of 25 clubs, and has relegated clubs to Liga Nationale since 1966. Currently the bottom three clubs are relegated each season. Since the league's inception and the re-introduction of promotion and relegation, 7 clubs have never been relegated: HS Alba Imperialis, Internationalis Utica, Cularo HS Carda, SUA Ascanium, Gwer Durnovaria HC, Ravenna AS, HSMO Leones. In 2022, Gwer Durnovaria HC and Sant Seoirse HC departed for the [[Gelonian Superleague|Ucayare Gelonian Superliga]].
==Season Structure==
===Pre-season===
Liga Magna teams play anywhere from 5 to 10 preseason games, and are free to organize their own pre-season schedule and training camps. Teams typically play a local, lower level club (most often an affiliate) as the first game of the pre-season. Teams often schedule preseason games against foreign teams.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; float:right"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Most top level championships'''<br><small>Defunct teams not included.</small><br><small>Includes pre-LMH championships.</small>
|+ '''Most top level championships'''<br><small>Defunct teams not included.</small><br><small>Includes pre-LMH championships.</small>
Line 50: Line 58:
! Titles
! Titles
|-
|-
| HC Alba Imperialis ||23{{sup|a}}
| HS Alba Imperialis ||18{{sup|a}}
|-
|-
| Gwer Durnovaria HC ||23{{sup|b}}
| SUA Ascanium || 12{{sup|c}}
|-
|-
| AUA Phoenix || 12{{sup|c}}
| Cularo HS Carda || 12
|-
|-
| Rufus HC Aarhusium || 10
| Internationalis Utica || 11{{sup|d}}
|-
|-
| HC Augusta Adrianopolis || 9{{sup|d}}
| HS Augusta Adrianopolis|| 9{{sup|e}}
|-
|-
| Internationalis Utica HC || 7{{sup|e}}
| Sol Caesena HS || 4
|-
|-
| Heraclea HC Ares || 4
| Aureus Folia HS || 3{{sup|f}}
|-
|-
| Espo Triaina SI || 4
| Lupi LS Ariminium || 3
|-
|-
| Mediolandum HC Lycus || 3{{sup|e}}
| SI Vindobona 1918 || 3{{sup|g}}
|-
|-
| Florentia HC || 3
| Ravenna Athletica || 4
|-
|-
| SI Vindobona 1918 || 3{{sup|f}}
| Brennia Gotha || 3
|-
|-
| Lupi HC Colonia || 2
| HSMO Leones || 2
|-
|-
| HC Ancia Invicta  || 2
| AS Mediolanum || 2
|-
|-
| HCMO Leones || 2
| Urbis Adrianopolis || 2
|-
|-
| HC Ravenna Militum || 2
| Anicia HS Invicta || 2
|-
| Ascanium Rubra || 2
|-
| Auxilia Iuenna || 1
|-
| Aurunca Equites HS || 1
|-
|-
| Sant Seoirse HC || 1
| Sant Seoirse HC || 1
|-
|-
| Apollos Pola HC|| 1
| Bonna AS || 1
|-
|-
| Titanas HC Beroea || 1
| Apollos Pola HS || 1
|-
|-
| Rhenus SI Dynamo || 1
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"| <small>{{sup|a}} Includes twelve additional top level championships.<br> {{sup|b}} Includes eight additional top level championships.<br>{{sup|c}} Includes five additional top level championships.<br>{{sup|d}} Includes five additional top level.<br>{{sup|e}} Includes four additional top level championship.<br>{{sup|f}} All championships pre-LMH.<br>{{sup|g}} All championships pre-LMH.</small>
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="6"| <small>{{sup|a}} Includes eighteen pre-LMH championships.<br> {{sup|b}} Includes thirteen pre-LMH championships.<br>{{sup|c}} Includes five pre-LHM championships.<br>{{sup|d}} Includes five pre-LHM championships.<br>{{sup|e}} Includes three pre-LHM championship.<br>{{sup|f}} Includes one pre-LHM championship.</small>
|}
|}
The league first underwent expansion in 1953, adding 1 team; adding 5 teams from 1955 to 1963 and introducing a league playoff. Since 1996 the league has consisted of 22 clubs, and has relegated clubs to Liga Campionata since 1966. Currently the bottom three clubs are relegated each season.
==Season Structure==
===Pre-season===
Liga Magna teams play anywhere from 5 to 10 preseason games, and are free to organize their own pre-season schedule and training camps. Teams typically play a local, minor league team (most often an affiliate) as their first game of the pre-season. Teams often schedule preseason games against foreign teams. The most notable occurrence of this is by Gwer Durnovaria HC, which regularly schedules games against some of the best teams from around the world.
===Regular season===
===Regular season===
Each LMH team plays a schedule of 60 regular season games, 30 at home and 30 on the road. Each team plays 2 games against the other 21 teams, home and away, to account for 42 games. The remaining 18 games are randomly allocated with preference given to historical rivals.
Each LMH team plays a schedule of 72 regular season games, 36 at home and 36 on the road. Each team plays 3 games against the other 24 teams.
 
The league's regular season is based on a point system. A team is awarded three points for a victory, one point for a shootout victory, one point for an overtime loss, or no points for a regulation or shootout loss. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the regular season champion, and awarded the Duke of Adrianople Trophy. The three teams that finish the regular season with the worst records enter a promotion round robin with the teams that finish 2-4 in [[Liga Nationale]]; the teams that finish with the first and second best records earn promotion to Liga Magana, along with the champion of Liga Nationale.


The league's regular season is based on a point system. A team is awarded three points for a victory, one point for a shootout victory, one point for an overtime loss, or no points for a regulation or shootout loss. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the regular season champion, and awarded the Duke of Adrianople Trophy. Teams that finish in the bottom three during the regular season are relegated to [[Liga Campionata]], while three teams from Liga Campionata are promoted.
===Playoffs===
===Playoffs===
A total of ten teams earn a berth in the post-season playoffs for a chance at winning the Delpha Cup, featuring a first round, quarter-final, semi-final, and league final. Teams playing 1–6 in the regular season receive a first round bye. The remaining, seeds 7–10, compete in a {{wp|Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five}} opening round. Each subsequent playoff round is reseeded, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed, and so on, in a {{wp|Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven}} series.
A total of twelve teams earn a berth in the post-season playoffs for a chance at winning the Delpha Cup, featuring a first round, quarter-final, semi-final, and league final. Teams playing 1–4 in the regular season receive a first round bye. The remaining, seeds 5–12, compete in a {{wp|Playoff format#Best-of-five playoff|best-of-five}} opening round. Each subsequent playoff round is reseeded, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed, and so on, in a {{wp|Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven}} series.


Higher seeded teams receive home-ice advantage for the first two games of each series, followed by the lower seeded team having the next three home games (two in the first playoff round).  
Higher seeded teams receive home-ice advantage for the first two games of each series, followed by the lower seeded team having the next three home games (two in the first playoff round). The final is a best of seven series, with the playoff champion awarded the Delpha Cup.
===Copa Glaciei===
===Copa Glaciei===
{{main|Copa Glaciei (ice hockey tournament){{!}}Copa Glaciei}}
{{main|Copa Glaciei (ice hockey tournament){{!}}Copa Glaciei}}
Copa Glaciei, officially known as Motori Galata Copa Glaciei, is the national {{wp|Single-elimination tournament|knockout}} domestic cup competition of the [[Hockey Latium]]. The annual tournament is the longest continuous ice hockey competition in Latium, with the first tournament hosted by [[Monarchy of Latium|Emperor]] [[John XIII of Latium|John XIII]] and Empress [[Alexandra of Ghant|Alexandra]] in 1899. The tournament runs from the initial qualifying rounds in October to the final round in March. All professional or semi-professional ice hockey teams in Latium participate in the tournament.  
Copa Glaciei is the national {{wp|Single-elimination tournament|knockout}} domestic cup competition of the [[Hockey Latium]]. The annual tournament is the longest continuous ice hockey competition in Latium, with the first tournament hosted by [[Monarchy of Latium|Emperor]] [[John XIII of Latium|John XIII]] and Empress [[Alexandra of Ghant|Alexandra]] in 1899. The tournament runs from the initial qualifying rounds in October to the final round in March. All professional or semi-professional ice hockey teams in Latium participate in the tournament. While at least 10 foreign teams complete in Latin ice hockey leagues, they are not eligible to participate in Copa Glaciei.


The tournament's first round sees matches take place in the first week of October with games between all teams in Liga Auster and Liga Septentrio (division four) and all teams in Liga Nationale (division three) except the two teams relegated from division two in the season prior. Second rounds matches take place third week of October between winners of the opening round with the remaining two teams from Liga Nationale The third round sees the entrance of teams from Liga Campionata (division two); however, the reigning regular season champion of Liga Campionata does not participate until round four. Third round games generally take place in the second week of November. Liga Magna teams enter in the fourth round of the tournament. Each round sees matches randomly drawn from among the teams remaining in the tournament and continues in the single elimination format until the final which is traditionally held in late March. The final two rounds are hosted at the National Arena in [[Castellum]], though the final has occasionally been hosted in other cities.
The tournament's first round sees matches take place in the first week of October with games between all teams in Liga Auster and Liga Septentrio (division four) and all teams in Liga Nationale (division three) except the two teams relegated from division two in the season prior. Second rounds matches take place third week of October between winners of the opening round with the remaining two teams from Liga Nationale The third round sees the entrance of teams from Liga Campionata (division two); however, the reigning regular season champion of Liga Campionata does not participate until round four. Third round games generally take place in the second week of November. Liga Magna teams enter in the fourth round of the tournament. Each round sees matches randomly drawn from among the teams remaining in the tournament and continues in the single elimination format until the final which is traditionally held in late March. The final two rounds are hosted at the National Arena in [[Castellum]], though the final has occasionally been hosted in other cities.


Prize money is awarded following victories in each round, with the tournament champion receiving as much as {{LAS}}2 million as of the 2018 tournament. The most recent champion is HCMO Leones of Liga Magna; it was their 2nd national championship.
Prize money is awarded following victories in each round, with the tournament champion receiving as much as {{LAS}}2 million as of the 2020 tournament. The most recent champion is HSMO Leones of Liga Magna; it was their second consecutive and 3rd overall national championship.
===Thalassan Cup===
===Salacian Cup===
{{main|Thalassan Cup (ice hockey tournament){{!}}Thalassan Cup}}
{{main|Salacian Cup}}
The Thalassan Cup is an annual, preseason exhibition {{wp|best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven series}} between the Liga Magna playoff champion of the preceding season and the Ghantish Hockey League playoff champion of the preceding season. Host of the first two games of the series is determined by coin flip, with the winner hosting games 1, 2, 6 and 7; and the loser hosting games 3, 4, and 5. Due to differing rules between LMH and the GHL, rules from the hosting team's league govern any given game. The first Thalassan Cup was hosted in 1990 and saw LMH champion Gwer Durnovaria HC face GHL champion Ghish Imperials in a best-of-seven exhibition series. Gwer Durnovaria became the first LMH team to win the series in 1993 after defeating the Lorazaina Lakers. HC Alba Imperialis is the most recent Latin champion of the challenge cup, becoming the first Latin team to win back-to-back Cups, in 2016 and 2017.
The Salacian Cup is an annual, preseason exhibition {{wp|best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven series}} between the Liga Magna playoff champion of the preceding season and the Ghantish Hockey League playoff champion of the preceding season. Host of the first two games of the series is determined by coin flip, with the winner hosting games 1, 2, 6 and 7; and the loser hosting games 3, 4, and 5. Due to differing rules between LMH and the GHL, rules from the hosting team's league govern any given game. The first Salacian Cup was hosted in 1990 and saw LMH champion Gwer Durnovaria HC face GHL champion Ghish Imperials in a best-of-seven exhibition series. Gwer Durnovaria became the first LMH team to win the series in 1993 after defeating the Lorazaina Lakers. HS Alba Imperialis is the most recent Latin champion of the challenge cup, becoming the first Latin team to win back-to-back Cups, in 2016 and 2017.
 
==Teams==
==Teams==
A total of 22 teams compete in the LMH. Of the current teams, 9 are founding members, previously participating in the Latin Ice Hockey Championship until 1946. The remaining clubs either were elevated from another league or were newly created expansion franchises. The oldest team participating in the league as of the current 2019–20 season is Gwer Durnovaria HC, founded in 1911.  
A total of 25 teams compete in the LMH. Of the current teams, 9 are founding members, previously participating in the Latin Ice Hockey Championship until 1946. The remaining clubs either were elevated from another league or were newly created expansion franchises. The oldest team participating in the league as of the current 2022-23 season is [[SUA Ascanium (ice hockey)|SUA Ascanium]], which was established in 1918.  
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Team
! Team
Line 121: Line 131:
! Capacity
! Capacity
|-
|-
| Rufus HC Aarhusium
| HS Augusta Adrianopolis {{sup|a}}
| Aarhusium
| [[Adrianople]]
| align=center | 1941
| align=center | 1933
| Olympiou Energia Arena
| Sermo Arena
| align=center | 15,981
| align=center | 17,500
|-
| Martis Antium AS
| Antium
| align=center | 1945
| Olympiou Energia Stadium
| align=center | 14,281
|-
|-
| Lupi LC Ariminium
| Lupi LS Ariminium
| Ariminium
| Ariminium
| align=center | 1969
| align=center | 1969
| Ariminium Arena
| Ariminium Arena
| align=center | 13,000
| align=center | 13,947
|-
|-
| HC Augusta Adrianopolis {{sup|a}}
| SUA Ascanium<!--Sabine Athletic Union of Ascanium-->
| [[Adrianople]]
| [[Ascanium]]
| align=center | 1933
| align=center | 1919
| Sermo Arena  
| Celer Arena  
| align=center | 17,500
| align=center | 15,937
|-
|-
| AUA Phoenix
| Anicia Invicta
| [[Ascanium]]
| [[Ascanium]]
| align=center | 1919
| align=center | 1980
| Celer Arena  
| Celer Arena  
| align=center | 15,937
| align=center | 15,937
|-
|-
| Aurunca Equites HC
| Aurunca Equites HS
| Aurunca
| Aurunca
| align=center | 1960
| align=center | 1970
| Aurunca Arena
| Aurunca Arena
| align=center | 14,147
| align=center | 14,147
|-
|-
| Caesena HC
| Titanas Beroea
| Bonna
| align=center | 1967
| Stadia Anicia
| align=center | 15,970
|-
| HS Bonna
| Bonna
| align=center | 1960
| Bonna Arena
| align=center | 14,700
|-
| Brennia Gotha
| Brennia
| align=center | 1900
| Stadia Brennia
| align=center | 14,240
|-
| Sol Caesena HS
| Caesena
| Caesena
| align=center | 1940
| align=center | 1940
| BaudelaireArena
| BaudelaireArena
| align=center | 15,203
| align=center | 16,203
|-
|-
| HC Caetot Guerreier
| HC Caetota Guerreier
| [[Caetot]]
| [[Caetota]]
| align=center | 1952
| align=center | 1952
| Caetot Civic Arena  
| Caetot Civic Arena  
| align=center | 10,870
| align=center | 14,870
|-
|-
| HC Alba Imperialis {{sup|b}}
| HS Alba Imperialis {{sup|b}} <!--Imperial Hockey Club of Alba-->
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| align=center | 1921
| align=center | 1921
Line 169: Line 203:
| align=center | 18,000
| align=center | 18,000
|-
|-
| HCMO Leones
| HSMO Leones <!--Mons Ottava Lions Hockey Club-->
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| align=center | 1955
| align=center | 1952
| AirLatinii Arena  
| AirLatinii Arena  
| align=center | 14,004
| align=center | 14,004
|-
|-
| Valle Aurelia LC
| Valle Aurelia
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| [[Castellum ab Alba]]
| align=center | 1978
| align=center | 1989
| National Arena  
| National Arena  
| align=center | 18,000
| align=center | 18,000
|-
|-
| Gwer Durnovaria HC
| Cularo Carda <!--Cularo Hearts Hockey Club-->
| Durnovaria
| Cularo
| align=center | 1911
| align=center |1942
|Gelonia Civic Center
| Arena Celer
| align=center | 17,931
| align=center | 17,423
|-
|-
| Florentia HC
| HS Haenna Attica
| Florentia
| Haenna
| align=center | 1945
| align=center | 1976
| Olympiou Energia Stadium
| Arena Universitas Haennae
| align=center | 13,281
| align=center | 14,190
|-
| Aureus Folia HS
| Insubria
| align=center | 1922
| Olympiou Energia Arena
| align=center | 15,981
|-
|-
| HC Haenna Attica
| Auxilia Iuenna <!--Iuenna Auxilleries-->
| Haenna
| Iuenna
| align=center |1982
| align=center | 1958
| GA Arena
| Iuenna Civitas Arena
| align=center | 12,423
| align=center | 14,500
|-
|-
| Espo Tridentis SI
| Juliabona HS
| Espo
| Juliabona
| align=center | 1975
| align=center | 1978
| Espo Arena  
| Juliabona Arena
| align=center | 13,000
| align=center | 14,630
|-
|-
| Mediolanum HC Lycus
| Mediolanum HS
| Mediolanum
| Mediolanum
| align=center | 1978
| align=center | 1978
| VerruscosiTelecomm Arena
| VTM Arena
| align=center | 14,510
| align=center | 14,510
|-
|-
| Ostia Dynamo HC
| Parmnial Ostia
| Ostia
| Ostia
| align=center | 1955
| align=center |1970
| Neos Arena  
| GA Arena
| align=center | 15,952
| align=center | 16,423
|-
| Sant Seoirse HC
| Oxonia
| align=center | 1945
| ULBanco Arena
| align=center | 14,488
|-
|-
| Apollos Pola HC
| Apollos Pola HS
| Pola
| Pola
| align=center | 1963
| align=center | 1963
| Pola Arena  
| Pola Arena  
| align=center | 13,300
| align=center | 14,300
|-
|-
| HC Ravenna Militum
| Ravenna Atheltica
| [[Ravenna]]
| [[Ravenna]]
| align=center | 1955
| align=center | 1951
| Ravenna Arena
| Ravenna Arena
| align=center | 15,870
| align=center | 16,870
|-
| HC Anicia Invicta
| Entella
| align=center | 1955
| Anicia Arena
| align=center | 14,950
|-
|-
| Utica Internationalis
| Utica Internationalis
| Utica
| Utica
| align=center | 1943
| align=center | 1930
| CRG Arena
| CRG Arena
| align=center | 15,200
| align=center | 17,200
|-
|-
| SI Vindobona 1918 {{sup|c}}
| SI Vindobona 1918 {{sup|c}}
| Vindobona
| Vindobona
| align=center | 1918
| align=center | 1951
| ULBanco Arena
| ULBanco Arena
| align=center | 16,000
| align=center | 16,000
Line 257: Line 285:
|{{sup|a}} Formerly named Regis Adrianople HC.
|{{sup|a}} Formerly named Regis Adrianople HC.
|{{sup|b}} Merger of two Castellum based teams, Velia HC and Alba Athletica.
|{{sup|b}} Merger of two Castellum based teams, Velia HC and Alba Athletica.
|{{sup|c}} Sporting club founded in 1918; hockey club first established in 1933.
}}
}}


==Players==
==Players==
The major source of players comes from [[Latium]], with 71% of all players currently under contract being Latin born or of Latin descent. Unique among LMH teams is [[Gwer Durnovaria HC]], which only signs players of Gelonian descent or ancestry from the northwestern region of Gelonia within Latium. Since the most recent {{wp|Collective bargaining agreement|CBA}} in 2012, LMH clubs are not allowed to have more than twelve foreign (non-Latin or non-Gelonian) players under contract.
The major source of players comes from [[Latium]], with 71% of all players currently under contract being Latin born or of Latin descent. Unique among LMH teams is [[Gwer Durnovaria HC]], which only signs players of Gelonian descent or ancestry from the northwestern region of Gelonia within Latium. Since the most recent {{wp|Collective bargaining agreement|CBA}} in 2012, LMH clubs are not allowed to have more than twelve foreign players under contract; however, in theory, the definition of foreign players can change from year to year depending on the teams participating in a given season. As only Latin and Gelonian-based clubs have participated in LMH, the definition of foreign-born is all players not of Latin or Gelonion-origin or citizenship.


LMH teams recruit players from the [[Latin hockey league system#Academy|youth leagues]], promoting youth players to senior teams or loaning them out to their academy or other affiliate clubs in lower leagues. Every off-season, the league holds a foreign players draft to distribute signing rights for foreign born players.
LMH teams recruit players from the [[Latin hockey league system#Academy|youth leagues]], promoting youth players to senior teams or loaning them out to their academy or other affiliate clubs in lower leagues. Every off-season, the league holds a foreign players draft to distribute signing rights for foreign born players.
===Labor Issues===
===Labor Issues===
The first league wide labor stoppage took place in September 1974 with the formation of the [[Professional Ice Hockey Players Association|HGCPL]] (''Hockey Glaciei Consociatio Professio Ludi''), following which owners attempted to lock the players out of the arenas until they denounced the union and agreed not to take part in the organization. The players announced a strike, garnering large public support following an attempt by the owners to use replacement players in preseason games; the league owners ended the lock-out after 24 days, resulting in the regular season being pushed back a month to accommodate for the lock-out.  
The first league wide labor stoppage took place in September 1974 with the formation of the [[Professional Ice Hockey Players Association|HGCPL]] (''Hocceia Glaciei Consociatio Professio Ludi''), following which owners attempted to lock the players out of the arenas until they denounced the union and agreed not to take part in the organization. The players announced a strike, garnering large public support following an attempt by the owners to use replacement players in preseason games; the league owners ended the lock-out after 24 days, resulting in the regular season being pushed back a month to accommodate for the lock-out.  


The second and most significant labor stoppage occurred in July 2002, when league owners allowed for the previous collective bargaining agreement to lapse. League officials would go on to claim that it would have no effect on the season, but this proved to not be the case. The league remained locked-out until early November 2002 when owners and players union officials began negotiations again. The 2002-03 season officially began on New Years Day 2003, and remains the shortest season in league history, and imposed an increased {{wp|Luxury tax (sports)|luxury tax}} and reduction of limits on foreign born players. The current CBA expires after the 2021–22 season.
The second and most significant labor stoppage occurred in July 2002, when league owners allowed for the previous collective bargaining agreement to lapse. League officials would go on to claim that it would have no effect on the season, but this proved to not be the case. The league remained locked-out until early November 2002 when owners and players union officials began negotiations again. The 2002-03 season officially began on New Years Day 2003, and remains the shortest season in league history, and imposed an increased {{wp|Luxury tax (sports)|luxury tax}} and reduction of limits on foreign born players. The current CBA expires after the 2025–26 season.
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Major professional sports leagues in Latium]]
*[[Latin hockey league system]]
*[[Latin hockey league system]]
*[[Ice hockey in Ajax]]
*[[List of ice hockey leagues (Ajax)|List of ice hockey leagues]]
*[[Ghantish Hockey League]]
*[[Ghantish Hockey League]]
*[[Unified Hockey Association of Allamunnika]]
[[Category:Latium]]
[[Category:Latium]]
[[category:Gelonia]]
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Sports (Ajax)]]
[[category:Ice hockey leagues (Ajax)]]
[[category:Professional sports leagues in Latium]]

Latest revision as of 00:14, 10 June 2024

Liga Magna Hocceia
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024–25 season
LMH Logo (2023).svg
SportIce Hockey
Founded12 March 1950
Inaugural season1950-51 season
CommissionerMichael Opreius
No. of teams25
Country Latium (25 teams)
ConfederationBHF
Most recent
champion(s)		Ravenna Athletica (4th title)
Most titlesCularo Carda (12 titles)
TV partner(s)
Sponsor(s)Delpha
Relegation toLiga Nationale
Domestic cup(s)Copa Glaciei
Related
competitions		Salacian Cup

The Liga Magna Hocceia Glaciei (LMH), most commonly referred to as Liga Magna, is a professional ice hockey league headquartered in Latium composed of 25 member clubs. The LMH is considered to be one of the top professional ice hockey leagues in the world, and is third most popular professional sports leagues in Latium by attendance, television ratings, and revenue. Each season since 2001, the league's playoff champion is awarded the Anicia Cup. Following each season, the league champion competes in the Salacian Cup, an exhibition best-of-seven exhibition series against the Ghantish Hockey League champion.

The league draws many highly skilled players from all over the world and currently has players from approximately numerous different countries. However, Latins make up nearly 60% of the league's players.

LTC and LTCA holds domestic broadcasting rights in Latium through the 2024-25 season. The television contract is worth a total of $550 million, the highest of any professional sports league in Latium with the exception of Liga Campiontia.

History

Main article: Latin hockey league system

Ice hockey was first introduced to Latium in winter of 1890 by future emperor John XIII Anicius, who had recently attended the first playing of the Vikandi Cup in Ghant. Those close to the John claim that he was immediately taken with the sport and saw to see it introduced in Latium. Today, many Latin teams honor John XIII as the Father of Latin ice hockey. After its introduction, ice hockey was mostly confined to mountain towns or near the estates of various nobles who could afford to keep sheets of ice and proper refrigeration facilities nearby, with the first such facility built just outside of Castellum in 1893. By 1911, 6 teams (of which only 1 team remains today) formed the Latin Ice Hockey Championship, which eventually grew to become the third most popular sport in Latium, behind association football and the Liga Campiontia and TBD. The league would grow to incorporate smaller competitors, hosting up to 20 teams by the 1944 season before the outbreak of the Social War. League operations were put on indefinite hold for the duration of the war, with the 1946-47 season being outright suspended. Many called for the league to continue, members of the Imperial faction and leaders of the social republican faction.

In March 1950, 9 club owners from the former Latin Ice Hockey Championship were invited to Palatium Supranio by The Duke of Adrianople to discuss the possibility of restarting league operations. The meeting resulted in the formation of the Liga Magna Hocceia or the Liga Magna. On 12 October of the same year, the first puck drop took place in Castellum during a match between HS Alba Imperialis and Regis Adrianople HS, with 5 other matches to take place that week. As a 9 team league in its inaugural season, each LMH team played a total of 48 regular season games with no postseason play. The first postseason was introduced in 1960–61 season after expansion grew the league to 12 teams.

Including former Latin Ice Hockey Championship titles, Gwer Durnovaria HC holds the most top-level championships with 22 (of which 13 are pre-LMH). Durnovaria has since departed for the Gelonian Superleague before the 2022-23 season. HS Alba Imperialis previously held the longest at championship drought at 60 years before winning their first league title since 1951-52 in the 2015-16 season – it was their first championship since the introduction of postseason play. Currently, SI Vindobona 1918 holds the longest championship drought, having not won since their first title in 1954.

The league first underwent expansion in 1953, adding 1 team; adding 5 teams from 1955 to 1963 and introducing a league playoff. Since 1996 the league has consisted of 25 clubs, and has relegated clubs to Liga Nationale since 1966. Currently the bottom three clubs are relegated each season. Since the league's inception and the re-introduction of promotion and relegation, 7 clubs have never been relegated: HS Alba Imperialis, Internationalis Utica, Cularo HS Carda, SUA Ascanium, Gwer Durnovaria HC, Ravenna AS, HSMO Leones. In 2022, Gwer Durnovaria HC and Sant Seoirse HC departed for the Ucayare Gelonian Superliga.

Season Structure

Pre-season

Liga Magna teams play anywhere from 5 to 10 preseason games, and are free to organize their own pre-season schedule and training camps. Teams typically play a local, lower level club (most often an affiliate) as the first game of the pre-season. Teams often schedule preseason games against foreign teams.

Most top level championships
Defunct teams not included.
Includes pre-LMH championships.
Team Titles
HS Alba Imperialis 18a
SUA Ascanium 12c
Cularo HS Carda 12
Internationalis Utica 11d
HS Augusta Adrianopolis 9e
Sol Caesena HS 4
Aureus Folia HS 3f
Lupi LS Ariminium 3
SI Vindobona 1918 3g
Ravenna Athletica 4
Brennia Gotha 3
HSMO Leones 2
AS Mediolanum 2
Urbis Adrianopolis 2
Anicia HS Invicta 2
Ascanium Rubra 2
Auxilia Iuenna 1
Aurunca Equites HS 1
Sant Seoirse HC 1
Bonna AS 1
Apollos Pola HS 1
a Includes twelve additional top level championships.
b Includes eight additional top level championships.
c Includes five additional top level championships.
d Includes five additional top level.
e Includes four additional top level championship.
f All championships pre-LMH.
g All championships pre-LMH.

Regular season

Each LMH team plays a schedule of 72 regular season games, 36 at home and 36 on the road. Each team plays 3 games against the other 24 teams.

The league's regular season is based on a point system. A team is awarded three points for a victory, one point for a shootout victory, one point for an overtime loss, or no points for a regulation or shootout loss. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the regular season champion, and awarded the Duke of Adrianople Trophy. The three teams that finish the regular season with the worst records enter a promotion round robin with the teams that finish 2-4 in Liga Nationale; the teams that finish with the first and second best records earn promotion to Liga Magana, along with the champion of Liga Nationale.

Playoffs

A total of twelve teams earn a berth in the post-season playoffs for a chance at winning the Delpha Cup, featuring a first round, quarter-final, semi-final, and league final. Teams playing 1–4 in the regular season receive a first round bye. The remaining, seeds 5–12, compete in a best-of-five opening round. Each subsequent playoff round is reseeded, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed, and so on, in a best-of-seven series.

Higher seeded teams receive home-ice advantage for the first two games of each series, followed by the lower seeded team having the next three home games (two in the first playoff round). The final is a best of seven series, with the playoff champion awarded the Delpha Cup.

Copa Glaciei

Main article: Copa Glaciei

Copa Glaciei is the national knockout domestic cup competition of the Hockey Latium. The annual tournament is the longest continuous ice hockey competition in Latium, with the first tournament hosted by Emperor John XIII and Empress Alexandra in 1899. The tournament runs from the initial qualifying rounds in October to the final round in March. All professional or semi-professional ice hockey teams in Latium participate in the tournament. While at least 10 foreign teams complete in Latin ice hockey leagues, they are not eligible to participate in Copa Glaciei.

The tournament's first round sees matches take place in the first week of October with games between all teams in Liga Auster and Liga Septentrio (division four) and all teams in Liga Nationale (division three) except the two teams relegated from division two in the season prior. Second rounds matches take place third week of October between winners of the opening round with the remaining two teams from Liga Nationale The third round sees the entrance of teams from Liga Campionata (division two); however, the reigning regular season champion of Liga Campionata does not participate until round four. Third round games generally take place in the second week of November. Liga Magna teams enter in the fourth round of the tournament. Each round sees matches randomly drawn from among the teams remaining in the tournament and continues in the single elimination format until the final which is traditionally held in late March. The final two rounds are hosted at the National Arena in Castellum, though the final has occasionally been hosted in other cities.

Prize money is awarded following victories in each round, with the tournament champion receiving as much as $2 million as of the 2020 tournament. The most recent champion is HSMO Leones of Liga Magna; it was their second consecutive and 3rd overall national championship.

Salacian Cup

Main article: Salacian Cup

The Salacian Cup is an annual, preseason exhibition best-of-seven series between the Liga Magna playoff champion of the preceding season and the Ghantish Hockey League playoff champion of the preceding season. Host of the first two games of the series is determined by coin flip, with the winner hosting games 1, 2, 6 and 7; and the loser hosting games 3, 4, and 5. Due to differing rules between LMH and the GHL, rules from the hosting team's league govern any given game. The first Salacian Cup was hosted in 1990 and saw LMH champion Gwer Durnovaria HC face GHL champion Ghish Imperials in a best-of-seven exhibition series. Gwer Durnovaria became the first LMH team to win the series in 1993 after defeating the Lorazaina Lakers. HS Alba Imperialis is the most recent Latin champion of the challenge cup, becoming the first Latin team to win back-to-back Cups, in 2016 and 2017.

Teams

A total of 25 teams compete in the LMH. Of the current teams, 9 are founding members, previously participating in the Latin Ice Hockey Championship until 1946. The remaining clubs either were elevated from another league or were newly created expansion franchises. The oldest team participating in the league as of the current 2022-23 season is SUA Ascanium, which was established in 1918.

Team City Founded Arena Capacity
HS Augusta Adrianopolis a Adrianople 1933 Sermo Arena 17,500
Martis Antium AS Antium 1945 Olympiou Energia Stadium 14,281
Lupi LS Ariminium Ariminium 1969 Ariminium Arena 13,947
SUA Ascanium Ascanium 1919 Celer Arena 15,937
Anicia Invicta Ascanium 1980 Celer Arena 15,937
Aurunca Equites HS Aurunca 1970 Aurunca Arena 14,147
Titanas Beroea Bonna 1967 Stadia Anicia 15,970
HS Bonna Bonna 1960 Bonna Arena 14,700
Brennia Gotha Brennia 1900 Stadia Brennia 14,240
Sol Caesena HS Caesena 1940 BaudelaireArena 16,203
HC Caetota Guerreier Caetota 1952 Caetot Civic Arena 14,870
HS Alba Imperialis b Castellum ab Alba 1921 National Arena 18,000
HSMO Leones Castellum ab Alba 1952 AirLatinii Arena 14,004
Valle Aurelia Castellum ab Alba 1989 National Arena 18,000
Cularo Carda Cularo 1942 Arena Celer 17,423
HS Haenna Attica Haenna 1976 Arena Universitas Haennae 14,190
Aureus Folia HS Insubria 1922 Olympiou Energia Arena 15,981
Auxilia Iuenna Iuenna 1958 Iuenna Civitas Arena 14,500
Juliabona HS Juliabona 1978 Juliabona Arena 14,630
Mediolanum HS Mediolanum 1978 VTM Arena 14,510
Parmnial Ostia Ostia 1970 GA Arena 16,423
Apollos Pola HS Pola 1963 Pola Arena 14,300
Ravenna Atheltica Ravenna 1951 Ravenna Arena 16,870
Utica Internationalis Utica 1930 CRG Arena 17,200
SI Vindobona 1918 c Vindobona 1951 ULBanco Arena 16,000
  • a Formerly named Regis Adrianople HC.
  • b Merger of two Castellum based teams, Velia HC and Alba Athletica.

Players

The major source of players comes from Latium, with 71% of all players currently under contract being Latin born or of Latin descent. Unique among LMH teams is Gwer Durnovaria HC, which only signs players of Gelonian descent or ancestry from the northwestern region of Gelonia within Latium. Since the most recent CBA in 2012, LMH clubs are not allowed to have more than twelve foreign players under contract; however, in theory, the definition of foreign players can change from year to year depending on the teams participating in a given season. As only Latin and Gelonian-based clubs have participated in LMH, the definition of foreign-born is all players not of Latin or Gelonion-origin or citizenship.

LMH teams recruit players from the youth leagues, promoting youth players to senior teams or loaning them out to their academy or other affiliate clubs in lower leagues. Every off-season, the league holds a foreign players draft to distribute signing rights for foreign born players.

Labor Issues

The first league wide labor stoppage took place in September 1974 with the formation of the HGCPL (Hocceia Glaciei Consociatio Professio Ludi), following which owners attempted to lock the players out of the arenas until they denounced the union and agreed not to take part in the organization. The players announced a strike, garnering large public support following an attempt by the owners to use replacement players in preseason games; the league owners ended the lock-out after 24 days, resulting in the regular season being pushed back a month to accommodate for the lock-out.

The second and most significant labor stoppage occurred in July 2002, when league owners allowed for the previous collective bargaining agreement to lapse. League officials would go on to claim that it would have no effect on the season, but this proved to not be the case. The league remained locked-out until early November 2002 when owners and players union officials began negotiations again. The 2002-03 season officially began on New Years Day 2003, and remains the shortest season in league history, and imposed an increased luxury tax and reduction of limits on foreign born players. The current CBA expires after the 2025–26 season.

See also

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