Valorian Hockey League
The Valorian Hockey League (abbreviated VHL, French: Ligue valorienne de hockey—LVH) is the highest level of professional ice hockey competition in Valoria. Along with the Coupe Balbuzard, the VHL is organized, regulated, and sanctioned by the Valorian Hockey Federation. 45 seasons have been run since the inaugural 1978 campaign.
Across a VHL season, each team plays thirty games (playing each other team in the league twice, once at home and once away), with points awarded based off game results. As of the 2024 season, the eight teams with the most points at the end of the season qualify for the playoffs, playing each other in a best-of-five elimination tournament to determine the league champion.
The VHL has a longstanding rivalry with the NHL, with whom they play an All-Stars match every year, typically in July.
The Boston Spirits are current VHL champions, having defeated the Mainers [3 - 2] in the 2023 VHL Finals Series. The Spirits also hold the record for most VHL titles, with 17.
Teams
16 teams currently compete in the VHL. Six have won the league shield, while eight have won the championship.
| Team | Abbreviation | City |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia Rage | ACA | Moncton, AC |
| Boston Spirits | BOS | Boston, BO |
| Concord Venom | COV | Concord, NH |
| Connecticut Bandits | CNB | New Haven, CO |
| Charlottetown Hockey | CHA | Charlottetown, NS |
| EH Bas-Canada | BAS | Montréal, BC |
| Fredericton Stars | FRE | Fredericton, AC |
| Halifax Hockey Club | HHC | Halifax, NS |
| Hartford Hockey | HAR | Hartford, CO |
| Mainers | MAI | Augusta, MN |
| Newfoundland Sailors | NEW | St. John's, NF |
| Plymouth Fishermen | PLY | Plymouth, MA |
| Providence Doves | PRO | Providence, RI |
| Salem Loggers | SAL | Lynn, BO |
| Springfield Bullets | SPR | Springfield, MA |
| Vermont | VER | Montpelier, VE |
List of VHL champions by year
| Year | Champion | Series | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Salem Loggers | [3 - 2] | Boston Spirits |
| 1979 | Newfoundland Sailors | [3 - 2] | Vermont |
| 1980 | Boston Spirits | [3 - 0] | Salem Loggers |
| 1981 | Boston Spirits (2) | [3 - 1] | Concord Venom |
| 1982 | Salem Loggers (2) | [3 - 1] | Boston Spirits |
| 1983 | Salem Loggers (3) | [3 - 0] | Charlottetown Hockey |
| 1984 | Boston Spirits (3) | [3 - 0] | Mainers |
| 1985 | Boston Spirits (4) | [3 - 0] | Salem Loggers |
| 1986 | Salem Loggers (4) | [3 - 0] | EH Bas-Canada |
| 1987 | EH Bas-Canada | [3 - 1] | Boston Spirits |
| 1988 | Boston Spirits (5) | [3 - 0] | Halifax Hockey Club |
| 1989 | Boston Spirits (6) | [3 - 2] | Halifax Hockey Club |
| 1990 | Boston Spirits (7) | [3 - 2] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 1991 | Boston Spirits (8) | [3 - 2] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 1992 | Boston Spirits (9) | [3 - 1] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 1993 | Boston Spirits (10) | [3 - 1] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 1994 | Concord Venom | [3 - 2] | Halifax Hockey Club |
| 1995 | Newfoundland Sailors (2) | [3 - 1] | Boston Spirits |
| 1996 | Providence Doves | [3 - 1] | Halifax Hockey Club |
| 1997 | Newfoundland Sailors (3) | [3 - 2] | Providence Doves |
| 1998 | Newfoundland Sailors (4) | [3 - 0] | Boston Spirits |
| 1999 | Newfoundland Sailors (5) | [3 - 1] | Mainers |
| 2000 | Providence Doves (2) | [3 - 1] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 2001 | Providence Doves (3) | [3 - 1] | Boston Spirits |
| 2002 | Providence Doves (4) | [3 - 0] | Connecticut Bandits |
| 2003 | Providence Doves (5) | [3 - 2] | Boston Spirits |
| 2004 | Boston Spirits (11) | [3 - 2] | Providence Doves |
| 2005 | Providence Doves (6) | [3 - 0] | Boston Spirits |
| 2006 | Boston Spirits (12) | [3 - 2] | Providence Doves |
| 2007 | Salem Loggers (5) | [3 - 2] | Acadia Rage |
| 2008 | Boston Spirits (13) | [3 - 2] | Providence Doves |
| 2009 | Boston Spirits (14) | [3 - 1] | Plymouth Fishermen |
| 2010 | Boston Spirits (15) | [3 - 2] | Providence Doves |
| 2011 | Newfoundland Sailors (6) | [3 - 0] | Boston Spirits |
| 2012 | Providence Doves (7) | [3 - 1] | Boston Spirits |
| 2013 | Boston Spirits (16) | [3 - 0] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 2014 | Newfoundland Sailors (7) | [3 - 1] | Mainers |
| 2015 | Newfoundland Sailors (8) | [3 - 2] | Boston Spirits |
| 2016 | Newfoundland Sailors (9) | [3 - 1] | Providence Doves |
| 2017 | Salem Loggers (6) | [3 - 2] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 2018 | Newfoundland Sailors (10) | [3 - 1] | Salem Loggers |
| 2019 | Halifax Hockey Club | [3 - 2] | Newfoundland Sailors |
| 2021 | Newfoundland Sailors (11) | [3 - 0] | Boston Spirits |
| 2022 | Mainers | [3 - 2] | Boston Spirits |
| 2023 | Boston Spirits (17) | [3 - 2] | Mainers |
| 2024 | TBD | [X - X] | TBD |