🇵🇱More open
Poland
TAURON Hokej Liga · 1 Liga / MHL
Relatively open senior levels.
29 hockey markets
Hockey countries
Find a realistic route
Use the filters as an initial orientation, then open the country guide and check the current season’s rules.
Separate EHA report · 16 markets
28-market directory
Open the 2026 Hockey Market Map for the EHA qualitative classification, open method, country table and citation guidance.
Filters are a market orientation, not a legal eligibility or contract guarantee. Position demand changes during every season.
🇫🇮Selective
Finland
Liiga · Mestis · Suomi-sarja
High threshold and a deep U18/U20 structure.
🇸🇪Selective
Sweden
SHL · HockeyAllsvenskan · HockeyEttan
A strong pathway from juniors to professional hockey.
🇨🇿Selective
Czechia
Extraliga · Maxa liga · 2. liga
A deep club and junior structure.
🇩🇪More open
Germany
DEL · DEL2 · Oberliga
Many clubs and levels, with widely varying requirements.
🇸🇰More open
Slovakia
The second level is relatively open to suitable profiles.
🇫🇷Check current rules
France
Synerglace Ligue Magnus · Division 1 · D2
Several senior levels; roster need and current eligibility must be verified.
🇨🇭Very selective
Switzerland
National League · Sky Swiss League · MyHockey League
A high threshold and a strict route for non-EU players.
🇳🇴More open
Norway
Elitehockeyligaen · Hockeyliga1
The second level can be more accessible than the top league.
🇩🇰More open
Denmark
A compact market with a limited number of places.
🇦🇹Selective
Austria
ICE Hockey League · Alps Hockey League
Multinational leagues and strong competition for roster places.
🇬🇧Selective
United Kingdom
EIHL · Planet Ice National League
Professional EIHL and the top NIHL competition; registration and work eligibility must be checked.
🇮🇹Check rules
Italy
IHL Serie A · Italian Hockey League
Verified 2026/27 FISG senior routes with different Category B rules.
🇨🇦Selective
Canada
Pro · CHL · CJHL · U Sports
Professional, major-junior and university pathways.
🇺🇸Selective
United States
Pro · NCAA · USHL · NAHL
Professional, college and junior hockey pathways.
🇳🇱More open
Netherlands
Cross-border and national senior levels.
🇱🇻Check rules
Latvia
Top and second senior LHF routes; eligibility must be checked by competition.
🇭🇺Selective
Hungary
ICEHL · Erste Liga · Andersen Liga
International and national senior levels administered by MJSZ.
🇸🇮Selective
Slovenia
ICEHL · Slovenian Championship · IHL
A compact market with multinational and domestic routes.
🇰🇿Selective
Kazakhstan
KHL · Pro Hokei Ligasy · Jastar Hokei Ligasy
A major market with different routes for EAEU and other international players.
🇯🇵Selective
Japan
Asia League · JIHF · University/U18
A compact market with separate professional and education routes.
🇪🇪Selective
Estonia
Unibet Hokiliiga · U19/U16 · Women
A compact market requiring separate league, passport and immigration checks.
🇱🇹Selective
Lithuania
OHL · Lithuanian championship · First League
Baltic and national routes require separate competition and immigration checks.
🇷🇴Selective
Romania
Campionatul Național de Seniori · Erste Liga · U20
National and cross-border routes require separate competition, contract and immigration checks.
🇪🇸Selective
Spain
Liga Nacional · Liga Ibérica · U20
A compact nine-club market; the import limit and semi-pro pay should be verified directly with the club.
🇷🇸Check current rules
Serbia
International Hockey League (IHL) · domestic championship
A small, developing market; import rule and club level are not officially confirmed — verify directly.
🇭🇷Check current rules
Croatia
Alps Hockey League · IHL · domestic championship
Clubs split across two regional leagues and a domestic championship — confirm which one a role is for.
🇧🇪Selective
Belgium
CEHL (formerly BeNe League) · Division 1
The joint CEHL league is mid-restructuring in 2026, with a reported cut to the import limit — verify before acting.
🇧🇾Check current rules
Belarus
Betera-Extraliga
Belarus's national and club teams have been suspended from IIHF-sanctioned competitions since 2022 — whether a standard international transfer is currently possible is unconfirmed.
Individual assessment
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