ICE HOCKEY: CHANGES to the structure Elite Ice Hockey League will see Coventry Blaze compete in a new conference next season following the addition of two new teams.
At an EIHL board meeting on Thursday (April 27) afternoon, it was confirmed the previous two conference system of five teams will be replaced with three conferences – containing four teams apiece.
Blaze will join newcomers Guildford Flames, Milton Keynes Lightning and Manchester Storm in conference two.
Scottish teams Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife will make up conference one while Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham and Sheffield will form conference three.
Each team will play teams in their own conference four times at home and four times away – 12 home games and 12 away games.
Each team will play teams in the other conference twice at home and twice away – 16 home games and 16 away games.
This will give each team a total of 28 homes games and 28 away games for a total schedule of 56 games – four games more than last year.
In the Challenge Cup teams will play in the same conference.
Each team will play against teams in their group once at home and once away.
The top two in each group will advance to the quarter final stage of the competition, with two wild card teams completing the quarter final line up.
The wild cards will be made up of the two teams with the most points that do not automatically qualify, with normal tie breaking format to be used in the event of the teams being tied on points.
League chairman Tony Smith said having all 12 teams on the board was crucial.
He added: “I’m excited at how our league looks on the back of these changes.
“We’ve made sure every team gets the best out of this layout and I’m sure it’s something the fans will get behind when they see how it’s all come together.
“It’s going to be a very competitive competition and I will be fascinated at how things play out in the coming season when we get back to action.”
The Elite League campaign will begin during the weekend of September 9th and 10th 2017 and it will conclude on the weekend of March 31st and April 1st 2018.
