Norumbrian Continental Hockey League
Sport | Ice Hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 27th of July, 1961 |
Inaugural season | 1962-1963 |
Replaced by | NSLH, LDB |
No. of teams | 28 |
Countries | Skaldafen (8 teams) Belfras (8 teams) Tsurushima (4 teams) Enyama (4 teams) Nunaaqqinit (4 teams) |
Continent | Trans-Makiran |
Most titles | Veshiv Vikings (9) |
The Nasjonel Kontinentr Legen Hocken (NKLH) is an international professional hockey league based out of the Skaldafen Confederation and Belfras. Financially, it is a world leader among organizations of its kind, and is considered to be the part of the highest tier of play within ice hockey outside. The Burnt Woods Cup (named for the rampant wildfires that characterized the league's inaugural year) is awarded annually to the winners of the league post-season playoff tournament.
Originally founded as a local league based in ten cities along the Belfras-Skaldanian border, rampant international popularity and successful expansions has led the NKLH to expand well beyond its nominal continental boundaries. It currently hosts a total of 28 teams, organized into two conferences composed of 14 teams each. Following the Tsurushima expansion in 1989 and the fifth general expansion in 2011, the league has shown a vested interest in expanding both within Norumbria and overseas. A spike in cities from non-member states applying for teams began in 2014, and such requests have only increased over the past few years.
Players from 16 different countries currently play in the NKLH. Historically, the league has been dominated by players originating from member states, but recent years have seen rapid spikes of players joining and being drafted from all over the world. This trend has been most notable from Latium and Liothidia.