The Maxa liga[1] is the second-highest level of professional ice hockey in the Czech Republic, after the Extraliga.

It began in 1993 and is run and administered by Czech Ice Hockey Association.

[3] In the first phase, every team plays each other four times—twice at home and twice away—which makes for a 52-game regular season.

The level of 1. národní hokejová liga is slightly lower than the Czech Extraliga, but there are a lot of players moving between those two leagues every season.

The league has no salary cap, with an average salary of USD 2200 per month, but some of the best players reportedly sign contracts for more than USD 5000 per month, plus most of the teams cover accommodation expenses for their players during the season.