Fluvannia Hockey League

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Fluvannia Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2022–23 FHL season
FHL.png
SportIce hockey
FoundedMarch 20, 1948 (76 years ago) (1948-03-20)
Inaugural season1948-49
PresidentBarry Goetz
No. of teams12
Countries Fluvannia
 Dunferm
HeadquartersAppleton
ContinentAbos
Most recent
champion(s)
Harrisonburg Highlanders
Most titlesAppleton Bears,
Harrisonburg Highlanders,
Rochester Royals
(1 each)
TV partner(s)Arena Sportsnet
Official websitehttp://www.fhl.fl.co

The Fluvannia Hockey League (FHL; Vinn: Kolmemaatan jääkiekkoliiga; Bergwieser: Fluvanniener Eishockey Liga; Umitaku: ふるばにやホッケーリーグ) is a professional ice hockey league in eastern Abos, comprised of 12 teams -- ten in Fluvannia and two in Dunferm. It is often considered one of the premier hockey leagues in the world, if not the premier league. The FHL is the most-watched sports league in Fluvannia in terms of television viewership, and the wealthiest sports league in Fluvannia in terms of revenue. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top eight teams play for the Union Cup.

The FHL was formed in 1948 in Appleton, and 4 teams played in its inaugural season of 1948-49 during a period of 18 weeks. The FHL was suspended between 1975-1984 as a result of the Third Great War. The league resumed in 1984 and has remained in operation since.

Historically, the FHL was a closed league, operating using the franchise model. Beginning with the 2022-23 season, the FHL entered into an agreement with its own minor league, the Premier Hockey League to adopt a promotion and relegation system between the two leagues.

History

Predecessors

Original Five era

Initial Expansion

Third Great War

International Expansion, Promotion, and Relegation

Player safety issues

Women in the FHL

Organizational structure

Board of Governors

Executives

Teams

List of teams

Timeline

Rule differences with international hockey

Season structure

Entry Draft

Trophies and awards

Teams

Players

Origin of players

Corporate sponsors

Media coverage

Fluvannia

Arena Sportsnet holds rights to broadcast the FHL at the national level in Fluvannia, doing so since the network's inception in 1987. Prior to this, the Fluvannia Broadcasting Corporation was the national broadcaster for FHL games, with radio coverage since the league's inception and television coverage starting with the 1952-53 season; before this time, no FHL games were televised in any capacity.

Additionally, each team has a local broadcast partner, often the local FBC or RBN affiliate, which have rights to broadcast those games not shown on Arena.

Dunferm

Out-of-market packages

International

Starting with the 2021-22 season, FHL games were available for international customers on streaming service Blockbuster.

International competitions

FHL teams have occasionally played games against teams from other countries, as well as games against FHL opponents in foreign locations. Some of these foreign-held games between two FHL teams have been exhibitions, often occurring as part of the league's preseason. Others have been regular-season matches, with points in the standings on the line.

Popularity

See also