English Premier Ice Hockey League
| English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) | |
| 2016–17 EPIHL Season | |
| |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1998 |
| CEO | Ken Taggart [1] |
| Inaugural season | 1998-99 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country(ies) | England (10 teams) |
| Continent | Europe |
| Ceased | 2017 |
| Last champion(s) | League:Telford Tigers (2nd title)[2] Playoffs: Milton Keynes Lightning Cup: Milton Keynes Lightning |
| Most championship(s) | League: Guildford Flames [4] |
| Official website | EIHA.com/EPIHL |
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 since 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.
History
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 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. 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 the name "premier division", and later on became known as the "premier league". By the end of the season the league had established itselfhttps://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Ice_Hockey_League_2016/17 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.[3]
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.
Organizational structure
The league was ruled and governed by the English Ice Hockey Association.[4] The current chairman of the EPIHL is Ken Taggart. The team owners meet regularly to discuss league matters under the auspices of the league chairman, and take a democratic vote on all decisions.
Executives
- Chairman: Ken Taggart
- Chief Referee: Mohammad Ashraff
- Administrator: Mary Faunt
- Fixtures Secretary: Andy French
- Teams Owners Rep: Harry Howton
- Statistician: Malcolm Preen
- Registrations: Liz Moralee
Game
Each English Premier Ice Hockey League regulation game is played between two teams and is 60 minutes long. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission of 12½ minutes between periods. At the end of the 60-minute regulation time, the team with the most goals wins the game.
Previously, if a game was tied it would end a draw, but in the 2008-09 season, the rule was changed to; if a game is tied after regulation time, overtime ensues. Overtime is a five-minute, four-player on four-player sudden-death period, in which the first team to score a goal wins the game. If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game enters a shootout. Five players for each team in turn take a penalty shot. The team with the most goals at the end of the five-round shootout wins the game. If the game is still tied after the five shootout rounds, the shootout continues but becomes sudden death. Whichever team ultimately wins the shootout is awarded a goal in the game score and thus awarded two points in the standings. The losing team in overtime or shootout is awarded only one.
List of teams
2016-17 Teams
| Team | City/Area | Arena | Founded | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke Bison | Basingstoke, Hampshire | Planet Ice Silverdome Arena | 1988 | 2009 |
| Bracknell Bees | Bracknell, Berkshire | John Nike Leisuresport Complex | 1987 | 2005 |
| Hull Pirates | Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire | Hull Arena | 2015 | 2015 |
| Peterborough Phantoms | Peterborough, [ambridgeshire | Planet Ice Peterborough | 2002 | |
| Sheffield Steeldogs | Sheffield, South Yorkshire | IceSheffield | 2010 | |
| Swindon Wildcats | Swindon, Wiltshire | Link Centre | 1986 | 2005 |
| Telford Tigers | Telford, Shropshire | Telford Ice Rink | 1985 | 2005 |
- Notes
- Although the Telford Tigers joined the league in 2005. They did not play in the 2009–10 season due to financial issues.
Former teams
League Champions
Most titles
| Team | League | Play-offs | EPL Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guildford Flames | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Milton Keynes Lightning | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| Peterborough Phantoms | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Solihull Blaze | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Bracknell Bees | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Slough Jets | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Manchester Phoenix | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| London Raiders | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Basingstoke Bison | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Chelmsford Chieftains | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Invicta Dynamos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Telford Tigers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Swindon Wildcats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Kings | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Wightlink Raiders | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
External links
Notes
| English Premier Ice Hockey League seasons |
|---|
| 1998–99 · 1999–00 · 2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03 · 2003–04 · 2004–05 · 2005–06 · 2006–07 · 2007–08 · 2008–09 · 2009–10 · 2010–11 · 2011–12 · 2012–13 · 2013–14 · 2014–15 · 2015–16 · 2016–17 |
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