MHL (Russia) 2026/27

The **Junior Hockey League (MHL, Molodyozhnaya Hokkeynaya Liga)** operates as the premier junior ice hockey competition in Russia. Founded on March 26, 2009, by the KHL Holding, 20 professional KHL clubs, and the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia (FHR), it serves as the primary developmental feeder system for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Sitting directly below the KHL in the Russian hockey pyramid and above the National Junior Hockey League (NMHL), the league is the highest tier for players aged 16–21.

In the 2025/2026 season, 39 teams participate, divided into Western and Eastern Conferences. Each conference is split into Golden and Silver Divisions. The regular season features a round-robin format within divisions, followed by a complex playoff structure involving play-in games for lower-ranked teams in the Golden Division. The MHL does not have formal promotion or relegation; team membership is determined by administrative invitation based on the status of parent KHL/VHL clubs or financial viability.

The league's championship trophy is the Harlamov Cup. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl is the most successful club with four titles (2016, 2018, 2019, 2026). MHC Spartak (Moscow) is the current champion, having defeated SKA-1946 4–3 in the 2024/2025 final. Notable records include Krasnaya Armiya's 23-game winning streak and Artem Manukyan's 100-point season.

The MHL differs from the KHL primarily in its developmental role, age restrictions, and use of North American-style ice rink dimensions (61x26m) compared to the KHL's international size (61x30.5m). The league's official website is mhl.khl.ru. The NMHL, now transitioning to the Russian Hockey League (RHL), serves as the third tier, focusing on younger players (15–19) and regional development, whereas the MHL is fully professionalized and geared toward KHL integration.