Levantine Hockey League
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Current season, competition or edition: 2031 | |
 Ersatz logo | |
| Sport | Hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | AD 980 |
| Founder | Reverend Matthias de Mabeauf |
| CEO | Joan-Michel de Burgesse |
| COO | Cuffy O'Toole |
| Commissioner | Scipio Urceanus |
| Country |  Kiravia (10 teams) Burgundie(8 teams) Fiannria (8 teams) Urcea (4 teams) Faneria (2 teams) Anglei (1 team) Hollona and Diorisia (1 team) |
| Most recent champion(s) | Urceopolis Royals |
| Most titles | File:NH Albatrosses Logo.pngPort Diteaux Albatrosses (180 titles) |
| Sponsor(s) | Imperial Cola Alquifer Incorporated BNLTC |
| Domestic cup(s) | Stanley Coup |
History
The sport of hockey originated in Levantia, and has a close historical association with that continent. Archaeological evidence, including cave paintings and what appear to be rudimentary hockey sticks buried as grave goods, indicates that the earliest forms of hockey were played among the various primitive fishing tribes that settled along the continent's northern coast during the Neolithic Era. Various regional variants of the game were played by the Gaelic peoples, who had presumably assimilated it from the aforementioned fishing tribes as they became absorbed into local communities. The first record of hockey in the Latin language is found in the Annales Septentrionales of Marcus Aspergillus, who refers to it as ludus qui inter Pretannos hoccæus apellatur.
Teams
The Levantine Hockey League (LHL) has 33 teams, 10 from Kiravia, 8 each from Burgundie and Fiannria, four from Urcea, two from Faneria, and one each from Anglei and Hollona and Diorisia. With the most teams Kiravia also has the largest fan base. The industry makes about $14 billion collectively, $5.3 billion in Kiravia alone. Burgundie comes in a close second with its 8 teams bringing in $4.5 billion. While not a requisite, many of the nations whose teams participate in the league also have national all-star teams who compete in the Olympics and other international competitions.
Hivernille Albatrosses
Founded in 1845 as the Merchants, the company team of the Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company, was formed by Emmanuel Vichois-Ermau de Milasse Esq. as a niche joke by the tropical Bergendii who were curious about the carietizein like sport played on the ice. They remained the Merchants until the advent of mascots in the 1940s when they adopted the albatross, the logo of the Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company, as their own. The fans connected with the albatross and put together a fanclub petition to have the name changed. In 1951, the team finally adopted its current name, the Albatrosses.
Albatross Fandom
Fans of the team are called Albatroaz and are notable for their violence and hooliganism. Female fans are also known for their promiscuous behavior and flamboyant style. The team is particularly popular with the working class of Hivernille, and to a certain extent is a symbol of resistance amongst the working class of other Burgoignesc cities. The logo is pervasive across the athletic wear of working-class Burgundie, regardless of which team the individual supports. It is not uncommon for poorer hockey fans to have a set of Albatross gear as well as their local team.