The Belarusian Extraleague (also know as the Belarusian Open Championship), officially formed in 2006, is the top ice hockey league in Belarus. In its past it has switched several times between being and not being an open league (in reference to allowing foreign teams), but for the 2008-2009 season, the Belarus Ice Hockey Federation has decided to open the Extraleague, the Belarusian Vysshaya Liga, and the Belarusian junior leagues. The Extraleague championship for the 2008-2009 season was won by the Junost Minsk.