EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League)

Ice hockey in Britain

Britain is more associated with football and rugby, but ice hockey also has a long history there. Great Britain even won Olympic gold in 1936, with a team that included many players who had grown up in Canada. Today's top league, the Elite Ice Hockey League, was founded in 2003 after a predecessor league collapsed.

Teams from four nations

The EIHL is unusual because it brings together teams from all four parts of the United Kingdom. Well-known clubs include the Belfast Giants from Northern Ireland, the Cardiff Devils from Wales, the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers from England, and several teams from Scotland. The league is closed, so there is no sporting relegation.

Competitions

Several titles are awarded in a season:

• the league championship after the regular season,
• the playoffs with a finals weekend, traditionally in Nottingham,
• the Challenge Cup, a cup competition during the season.

A team that wins all three takes the so-called Grand Slam. The British champion qualifies for the Champions Hockey League.

Players and style

Teams rely on a mix of British players and many imports, mainly from Canada and the USA. The game is physical and fast. Many players use the league as a stop in Europe; some come from the AHL or the ECHL.

Atmosphere

The arenas in Belfast, Sheffield, Nottingham and Cardiff are among the larger ice hockey arenas in Europe, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of North America, with music, show and mascots. For visiting fans, a game is a good addition to a city break.

National team

After decades in lower divisions, the British national team returned to the top division of the World Championship in 2019. Many national team players come from the EIHL. Since then the team has moved between the top level and the division below. More under Ice Hockey World Championship.

Season and schedule

The EIHL season runs from September to April. Teams play many games at weekends, often back to back, which requires long journeys between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The league plays under rules based on the IIHF, with some adjustments.

Predecessor and fresh start

Before the EIHL, the Ice Hockey Superleague was Britain's top league from 1996 to 2003. It relied heavily on imports and high salaries and eventually collapsed for financial reasons. The EIHL was founded as a more economically cautious fresh start.

International successes

A highlight for British club hockey was the Nottingham Panthers' win in the 2017 IIHF Continental Cup, a European cup competition. Since then, British champions have regularly taken part in the Champions Hockey League, where they also meet clubs from the DEL.

Connection to the German-speaking region

The EIHL regularly features pros who were previously under contract in Germany or Austria, especially imports from North America. For German fans, Champions Hockey League games against British clubs are a chance to get to know the league.

Venues

The arenas are in cities such as Belfast, Cardiff, Sheffield, Nottingham, Glasgow and Dundee.

Fans and culture

British ice hockey thrives on a family audience and a show atmosphere modelled on North America. Many spectators don't come from an ice hockey tradition but discover the sport as evening entertainment. Derbies such as Sheffield against Nottingham attract particularly large crowds.