ELJ (Czechia) 2026/27

The Elite Junior League, known as the Extraliga juniorů v ledním hokeji, is the premier under-20 ice hockey competition in the Czech Republic. Governed by the Czech Ice Hockey Association (ČSLH), the league was founded in 1995, replacing the Senior Youth League (Liga staršího dorostu). It occupies the highest position in the Czech junior pyramid, standing above the Liga juniorů and regional divisions.

For the upcoming 2026–27 season, the competition will expand to include 14 clubs. The current schedule lists eight participating sides, including AZ Havirov U20, České Budějovice U20, Chomutov U20, Jihlava U20, Karlovy Vary U20, and Kladno U20. A new format replaces the previous regional split. Teams will now play a single-table regular season, facing each other three times for a total of 45 games. The top twelve teams advance to a distinctive playoff stage divided into three groups of four. The leading two teams from each group, alongside two best third-placed sides, progress to the quarter-finals.

Post-season play follows a streamlined structure. Quarter-finals and semi-finals are contested over best-of-three series, while the final extends to best-of-four. The league maintains strict promotion and relegation links with the second tier. The bottom-placed team in the Elite Junior League is directly relegated. Meanwhile, the second and third teams in the relegation group enter a four-team playoff against the top two Liga juniorů participants to secure the second promotion spot.

HC Slavia Praha and HC Oceláři Třinec share the record for most titles, each winning four championships. HC Sparta Praha also holds significant prestige, claiming the 2022–23 title. Recent winners include HC Dynamo Pardubice for the 2024–25 season and HC Oceláři Třinec for 2025–26. The competition is currently sponsored by Komerční banka, operating as the KB Extraliga juniorů. The league functions as the primary development pathway for Czech players targeting the NHL or senior professional leagues, combining club academy talent with national team prospects.