Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Hockey

Kontinental Hockey League

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008 and based in Eurasia.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is an international professional ice hockey league founded in 2008 and based in Eurasia. It is widely regarded as the top-level hockey league in Russia and includes clubs from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.

What it is

The KHL was created in 2008, replacing the Russian Superleague as the top-tier Russian hockey competition. It operates as a multinational league with a regular season followed by playoffs, and the postseason champion is awarded the Gagarin Cup.

Key details

For the 2025–26 season, the KHL has 22 clubs: 19 from Russia, and one each from Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China. The league is commonly described as one of the strongest ice hockey leagues in Europe and Asia, and a leading destination for players outside the NHL.

Why it matters to Canadians

Canadian readers may know the KHL as one of the major professional ice hockey leagues outside North America and as a destination for some Canadian players and coaches. It offers an alternative career path for Canadians who do not play in the NHL.

In short

  • Founded in 2008 as an international professional ice hockey league.
  • 22 clubs for 2025–26, from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.
  • Playoff champion wins the Gagarin Cup.
  • Considered a top league in Europe and Asia.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know the KHL as one of the major professional ice hockey leagues outside North America and as a destination for some Canadian players and coaches.

Quick questions

What does KHL stand for?
KHL stands for Kontinental Hockey League.
When was the KHL founded?
The KHL was founded in 2008.
Which countries have KHL teams?
The 2025–26 KHL includes teams from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and China.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontinental_Hockey_League
    Supports: Founded in 2008; international professional ice hockey league; 2025–26 membership countries and club count.
  2. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontinentale_Hockey-Liga
    Supports: League name, founding year, role as top Russian hockey league, and Gagarin Cup.
  3. Wikipedia — https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHL
    Supports: Membership countries and 22-club 2025–26 season figure.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Russian_Hockey_League
    Supports: Context that the KHL is the top tier of Russian ice hockey and independent from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation.