The English Premier Ice Hockey League ( EPIHL ) was an ice hockey league of 10 teams, all of which were based in England . Headquartered in Blackpool , the EPIHL was one of two professional ice hockey leagues in the United Kingdom (the other being the Elite Ice Hockey League ). A total of 27 teams played in the league at one time or another. Swindon Wildcats were the only team to have consistently featured in the EPIHL from its inaugural season in 1997-98. In 2017, the league was disbanded, with its teams either joining the top-tier Elite Ice Hockey League or the second-tier National Ice Hockey League .
28-586: The league was founded in 1997, under the banner of "national division", as part of the English National Ice Hockey League in order to serve former members of the British National League who couldn't afford to remain in the latter as a result of increased operating costs; but who were capable of a level of play above the import-free English leagues that made up the rest of the ENIHL. During
56-549: A Cup competition involving eight teams. These are initially split into two groups of four, with each group containing two teams from each conference. The top two teams from each group go onto a single Cup Final Weekend held in a single venue, with semi-finals on the Saturday determining the two teams to play the final on the Sunday. In 2019, the EIHA announced a new National League to sit above
84-508: A league format. Each team plays each of the other teams in their league a total of four times; twice home, twice away. Unlike the North, the South keep a two-legged home-and-away format throughout the playoffs. In Division 1, this is a three-rounded format, involving the teams who finished in the top 8 of the regular season. In Division 2, this is a two-rounded format, involving the teams who finished in
112-681: A new structure of the men's senior league for the 2019/20 season, at a meeting of NIHL clubs in Warwickshire. A new ten-team division was approved to sit above the existing Division 1 in North and South, to be known as the National League . In the inaugural 2019–2020 season the National League comprised Basingstoke Bison , Bracknell Bees , Hull Pirates , Leeds Knights , MK Lightning , Peterborough Phantoms , Romford Raiders , Sheffield Steeldogs , Swindon Wildcats and Telford Tigers . There
140-500: A professional team. Level League(s)/Division(s) 2 National League 11 clubs – no promotions, no relegations 3 Division 1 – North (Moralee) 7 clubs – no promotions, bottom club relegated to D2N Division 1 – South (Britton) 10 clubs – no promotions, bottom club relegated to D2S 4 Division 2 – North (Laidler) 8 clubs – champions promoted to D1N, no relegations Division 2 – South (Wilkinson) 12 clubs – champions promoted to D1S, no relegations Note
168-618: Is a set of semi-professional ice hockey leagues administered by the English Ice Hockey Association . It is currently the second tier of British ice hockey, below the Elite Ice Hockey League . Formerly called the English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL), it was renamed in 2012 to recognise the inclusion of several teams from Scotland and Wales . The English Ice Hockey Association announced
196-471: Is no promotion to or relegation from the National League. Below the National League, the leagues are split into two regions, North and South, meaning teams do not have to travel long distances for away games. Each region has 2 divisions, with promotion and relegation between the divisions in each region. The ENIHL was formed in 1996; following the dissolution of the British Hockey League (BHL), and
224-516: The Basingstoke Bison announced they would sit out the 2023/24 season due to rink upgrade works. As of the 2018–19 season, the divisions are the following: Each team plays each of the other teams in their league a total of four times; twice home, twice away. At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams in the division take part in the Playoff weekend, which are one-off games, replacing
252-431: The British National League who couldn't afford to remain in the latter as a result of increased operating costs; but who were capable of a level of play above the import-free English leagues that made up the rest of the ENIHL. During the 1997-98 season the teams that constituted this division played dual schedules; a series of games solely amongst their own division, and another amongst all the teams that were playing under
280-549: The EPIHL , many teams were forced to enter a reserve team into the ENIHL . This increased the size of the league from 22 teams through to 30 teams for the 2007–08 season. Later in the 2007 off-season, the EIHA suggested introducing an under 25 age limit across the league. However, this age limit was removed within weeks in favour of a drive towards developing players. The ENIHL was restructured for
308-441: The 1997-98 season the teams that constituted this division played dual schedules; a series of games solely amongst their own division, and another amongst all the teams that were playing under the ENIHL at that time. Each year, the league crowned a regular season champion, a post-season playoffs champion, and a knockout Cup champion. Solihull Blaze won the league and play-off trophies of both formats during this inaugural season. At
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#1732851903444336-609: The 2008/2009 season into two regional divisions North and South, with two leagues in each regional division. Following the 2012–13 the league was renamed the National Ice Hockey League , removing the word English due to non-English teams participating. In 2013, it was agreed at the EIHA AGM to restructure the Northern league into two conferences; Moralee and Laidler. The split was done primarily on regions and neither conference
364-653: The EIHA, which include; English Premier Ice Hockey League The English Premier Ice Hockey League ( EPIHL ) was an ice hockey league of 10 teams, all of which were based in England . Headquartered in Blackpool , the EPIHL was one of two professional ice hockey leagues in the United Kingdom (the other being the Elite Ice Hockey League ). A total of 27 teams played in the league at one time or another. Swindon Wildcats were
392-419: The ENIHL at that time. Each year, the league crowned a regular season champion, a post-season playoffs champion, and a knockout Cup champion. Solihull Blaze won the league and play-off trophies of both formats during this inaugural season. At the start of the 1998-99 season the divisions, whilst still both under the ENIHL umbrella, performed in their own separate competitions; and the national division adopted
420-557: The EPIHL to take its place as the second tier of the national game. In 2017, the league was dissolved. The Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames joined the Elite League, Manchester Phoenix folded, and the remaining seven teams became part of the National Ice Hockey League . The league was ruled and governed by the English Ice Hockey Association . The last chairman of the EPIHL was Ken Taggart. English National Ice Hockey League The National Ice Hockey League ( NIHL )
448-528: The creation of the Ice Hockey Superleague and the British National League (BNL) as the top two tiers of British hockey. The ENIHL served as the third tier of hockey; operating below the BNL. Following its inaugural season, an upper tier within the ENIHL was founded, so as to serve as a league for the members of the BNL who could not afford to remain in that league due to the increased operating costs; but at
476-625: The existing regional leagues. This mainly comprised the teams of the former EPIHL that had dropped into NIHL Division 1 in 2017. The competition Champions are as follows: Follows International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules, as used by countries in all major European leagues. There are significant differences between the National Hockey League rules and IIHF rules, including rink dimension, netminder puck handling, and icing. The ENIHL also operates under additional EIHA regulations. Additional discipline rules are also enforced by
504-425: The fourth level of Britain's ice hockey pyramid. However, in 2005 the BNL disbanded; leaving the EPIHL to take its place as the second tier of the national game and, consequently, re-establishing the ENIHL as the third tier of British ice hockey. In April 2007, the EIHA lowered the upper age limit within the junior leagues, abolishing the under 19 age limit to become under 18. Due to the large gap from junior level to
532-401: The name "premier division", and later on became known as the "premier league". By the end of the season the league had established itself outside of the ENIHL as the "English Premier Ice Hockey League". In 2005 the BNL disbanded; leaving the EPIHL to take its place as the second tier of the national game. In 2017, the league was dissolved. The Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames joined
560-554: The odd-number of teams in the league, the Eastern Conference had six teams while the Western Conference had five teams. Both conferences were run completely separately and each winner was only regarded as being the conference winner, with no implication of one conference winner being regarded as the league winner. A two-round playoff format was introduced at the end of the season to determine a league-wide winner. The winner of
588-410: The only team to have consistently featured in the EPIHL from its inaugural season in 1997-98. In 2017, the league was disbanded, with its teams either joining the top-tier Elite Ice Hockey League or the second-tier National Ice Hockey League . The league was founded in 1997, under the banner of "national division", as part of the English National Ice Hockey League in order to serve former members of
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#1732851903444616-450: The playoffs would then be the team promoted to Division 1. In 2017, the two conferences were reunited. The league itself is considered to be a development league, and as such the players are normally amateur. Many teams have affiliate teams in higher leagues. Other teams are aligned with junior ice hockey clubs, and exist to ensure that when players hit 18 there is still a possibility for them to play competitive hockey if they have not joined
644-486: The previous home/away format. There is not usually a third placed Playoff. Blackburn Hawks currently hold the record of most consecutive final appearances with four from 2011/12 to the present season, winning in 2012/13 and 2014/15. The rules regarding promotion and relegation between the Moralee and Laidler regularly change. There are occasional cup competitions, but the format changes in most seasons but usually takes part in
672-533: The same time played ice hockey to a higher standard that of the other ENIHL teams. This division was originally known as the National Division , and during the 1997–98 season the teams in this division played dual schedules; a series of games solely amongst themselves, and another amongst all of the teams which fell under the jurisdiction of the ENIHL at this time. Solihull Blaze won the league and play-off trophies of both formats during this inaugural season. At
700-409: The start of the 1998-99 season the divisions, whilst still both under the ENIHL umbrella, performed in their own separate competitions; and the national division adopted the name "premier division", and later on became known as the "premier league". By the end of the season the league had established itself outside of the ENIHL as the "English Premier Ice Hockey League". In 2005 the BNL disbanded; leaving
728-535: The start of the 1998–99 season the divisions, whilst still both under the ENIHL umbrella, performed in their own separate competitions; and the national division adopted the name Premier Division , and later on became known as the Premier League . By the end of the season the league had established itself outside of the ENIHL as the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL); reducing the ENIHL to
756-403: The top 2 of their conference. In the semi-finals, the conference winners play the runners-up from the other conference with the final involving the winners of the two semi-finals. Division 1 has a Cup competition involving six of the teams. These are initially split into two groups of three, with the top two from each group going on to a knock-out, two-legged semi-final and final. Division 2 has
784-618: Was regarded as being higher than the other. However, at the following year's AGM, it was agreed to return to a tiered Division 1 and Division 2 format. However, the conference names remained in place with Division 1 taking the Moralee Conference title and Division 2 the Laidler Conference title. In 2014, it was agreed at the EIHA AGM to restructure the Southern Division 2 league to have Western and Eastern Conferences. Due to
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