View source for English National Ice Hockey League

{{Infobox sports league
| logo= ENL_Logo.png
| pixels         = 200px
| sport = Ice hockey
| founded = 1996
| teams = 37
| country = {{GBR}} 
| website = [http://www.eiha.co.uk/Leagues.aspx EIHA Leagues]
}}
The '''National Ice Hockey League''' ('''NIHL''') 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]].<ref>http://www.facebook.com/SlapshotScotland</ref>


The English Ice Hockey Association announced 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'''.<ref>[https://eiha.co.uk/nihl-new-structure-for-national-league-agreed-by-clubs-to-start-2019-20-season/]</ref>

In the inaugural 2019-2020 season the National League will comprise [[Basingstoke Bison]], [[Bracknell Bees]], [[Hull Pirates]], [[Leeds Chiefs]], [[MK Lightning]], [[Peterborough Phantoms]], [[London Raiders]], [[Sheffield Steeldogs]], [[Swindon Wildcats]] and [[Telford Tigers]]. There 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.

==History==
The ENIHL was formed in 1996; following the dissolution of the [[British Hockey League]] (BHL), and the creation of the [[Ice Hockey Superleague]] and the [[British National League (1996–2005)|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.

=== Tiers of British ice hockey since 1995 ===
{| class="wikitable"
| style="width: 10%;"|'''1995-1996'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''1996-97'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''1997-98'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''1998-99'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''[[1999–2000 EPIHL season|1999-00]]'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''2002-03'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''2005-06'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''2012-13'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''2017-18'''
| style="width: 10%;"|'''2019-20'''
|-
| style="background: DarkSeaGreen;" |BHL Premier Division
| style="background: GoldenRod;" |Ice Hockey Superleague
| style="background: GoldenRod;" |Ice Hockey Superleague
| style="background: GoldenRod;" |Ice Hockey Superleague
| style="background: GoldenRod;" |Ice Hockey Superleague
| style="background: Gold;" |Elite Ice Hockey League
| style="background: Gold;" |Elite Ice Hockey League
| style="background: Gold;" |Elite Ice Hockey League
| style="background: Gold;" |Elite Ice Hockey League
| style="background: Gold;" |Elite Ice Hockey League
|-
| style="background: DarkSeaGreen;" |BHL Division 1
| style="background: IndianRed;" |British National League
| style="background: IndianRed;" |British National League
| style="background: IndianRed;" |British National League
| style="background: IndianRed;" |British National League
| style="background: IndianRed;" |British National League
| style="background: gray;" |English Premier Ice Hockey League
| style="background: gray;" |English Premier Ice Hockey League
| style="background: silver;"|National Ice Hockey League
| style="background: silver;"|National Ice Hockey League <br />National League
|- 
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: silver;"| ENIHL
| style="background: silver;" |National Division
| style="background: silver;"|Premier Division/League
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: gray;"|English Premier Ice Hockey League
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: gray;"|English Premier Ice Hockey League
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: silver;"| ENIHL
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: silver;"|National Ice Hockey League
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: silver;"|
| rowspan="2" ! style="background: silver;"|National Ice Hockey League <br />Leagues 1 and 2 
|-
| style="background: silver;" |ENIHL
| style="background: silver;" |ENIHL
|-
|
|
|
|
| style="background: silver;" |ENIHL
| style="background: silver;"|ENIHL
|
|
|
|
|}
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 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. [[Coventry Blaze|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 itself outside of the ENIHL as the [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]] (EPIHL); reducing the ENIHL to 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.<ref>http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/80.html</ref> 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 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.<ref>[http://www.vectistigers.com/history.html History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217172450/http://vectistigers.com/history.html |date=17 February 2009 }}, Vectis Tigers (last accessed 13 April 2009)</ref> Later in the 2007 off-season, the [[English Ice Hockey Association|EIHA]] suggested introducing an under 25 age limit across the league.<ref>[http://www.eiha.co.uk/2007_06_08_EIHA_Board_Meeting_Minutes.pdf ENGLISH ICE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION COMPANY LIMITED MEETING OF DIRECTORS 8TH JUNE 2007] (last accessed 13 April 2009)</ref> However, this age limit was removed within weeks in favour of a drive towards developing players.<ref>[http://www.invictadynamos.co.uk/php/news.php?id=436 News from the ENIHL AGM - Under 25's Age Limit Removed], Invicta Dynamos (last accessed 13 April 2009)</ref> The ENIHL was restructured for 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 [[English Ice Hockey Association|EIHA]] AGM to restructure the Northern league into two conferences; Moralee and Laidler. The split was done primarily on regions and neither conference 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 [[English Ice Hockey Association|EIHA]] AGM to restructure the Southern Division 2 league to have Western and Eastern Conferences. Due to 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 the playoffs would then be the team promoted to Division 1. In 2017, the two conferences were reunited.

==Teams==
===Division 1===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! style="background:blue; color:white" colspan=7 | <span style="color:white;">Division 1 - North (Moralee)</span>
|-
!
! Club
! Founded
! City
! Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Billingham Stars]]
| align=center | 1971
| [[Billingham]]
| Forum Ice Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Blackburn Hawks]]
| align=center | 1990
| [[Blackburn]]
| [[Blackburn Ice Arena]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Hull Pirates]]
| align=center | 2015
| [[Kingston upon Hull]]
| [[Hull Ice Arena]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Nottingham Lions]]
| align=center | 2000
| [[Nottingham]]
| [[National Ice Centre]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Sheffield Steeldogs]]
| align=center | 2010
| [[Sheffield]]
| [[IceSheffield]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Solihull Barons]]
| align=center | 2005
| [[Solihull]]
| Planet Ice Solihull
|-
| {{flagicon|SCO}}
| [[Solway Sharks]]
| align=center | 1998
| [[Dumfries]]
| Dumfries Ice Bowl
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Sutton Sting]]
| align=center | 2011
| [[Sutton-in-Ashfield]]
| Lammas Leisure Centre
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Telford Tigers]]
| align=center | 1985
| [[Telford]]
| [[Telford Ice Rink]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Whitley Warriors]]
| align=center | 1957
| [[Whitley Bay]]
| [[Whitley Bay Ice Rink]]
|-
! style="background:red; color:white" colspan=7 | <span style="color:white;">Division 1 - South (Britton)</span>
|-
!
! Club
! Founded
! City
! Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Basingstoke Bison]]
| align=center | 1988
| [[Basingstoke]]
| Planet Ice Basingstoke
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Bracknell Bees]]
| align=center | 1987
| [[Bracknell]]
| John Nike Leisuresport Complex
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Invicta Dynamos]]
| align=center | 1997
| [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]]
| Planet Ice Gillingham
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[London Raiders]]
| align=center | 1987
| [[Romford]], [[Greater London]]
| Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Milton Keynes Thunder]]
| align=center | 2001
| [[Milton Keynes]]
| [[Planet Ice Milton Keynes]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Peterborough Phantoms]]
| align=center | 2002
| [[Peterborough]]
| Planet Ice Peterborough
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Streatham Redhawks]]
| align=center | 1932
| [[Streatham]], [[Greater London]]
| [[Streatham Ice Arena]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Swindon Wildcats]]
| align=center | 1986
| [[Swindon]]
| [[Link Centre]]
|}

===Division 2===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|-
! style="background:blue; color:white" colspan=7 | <span style="color:white;">Division 2 - North (Laidler)</span>
|-
!
! Club
! Founded
! City
! Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Altrincham Aces]]
| align=center | 1961
| [[Altrincham]]
| [[Altrincham Ice Dome]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Blackburn Hawks]] 2
| align=center | 1990
| [[Blackburn]]
| [[Blackburn Ice Arena]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Bradford Bulldogs]]
| align=center | 1978
| [[Bradford]]
| Bradford Ice Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Coventry Blaze]] 2
| align=center | 2007
| [[Coventry]]
| [[SkyDome Arena]]
|-
| [[File:Flag of Wales.svg.png|25px]]
| [[Deeside Dragons]]
| align=center | 2012
| [[Queensferry, Flintshire|Queensferry]]
| [[Deeside Leisure Centre]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Hull Jets]]
| align=center | 2013
| [[Kingston upon Hull]]
| [[Hull Ice Arena]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Sheffield Senators]]
| align=center | 2010
| [[Sheffield]]
| [[IceSheffield]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Telford Tigers]] 2
| align=center | 1985
| [[Telford]]
| [[Telford Ice Rink]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Widnes Wild]]
| align=center | 2013
|[[Widnes]]
| Planet Ice Widnes
|-
! style="background:red; color:white" colspan=7 | <span style="color:white;">Division 2 - South (Wilkinson)</span>
|-
!
! Club
! Founded
! City
! Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Basingstoke Buffalo]]
| align=center | 1996
| [[Basingstoke]]
| Planet Ice Basingstoke
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Bracknell Hornets]]
| align=center | 1987
| [[Bracknell]]
| John Nike Leisuresport Complex
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Bristol Pitbulls]]
| align=center | 2009
| [[Oxford]]
| [[Oxford Ice Rink]]
|-
| [[File:Flag of Wales.svg.png|25px]]
| [[Cardiff Fire]]
| align=center | 2015
| [[Cardiff]]
| [[Ice Arena Wales]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Chelmsford Chieftains]]
| align=center | 1987
| [[Chelmsford]]
| Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Guildford Phoenix]]
| align=center | 2017
| [[Guildford]]
| [[Guildford Spectrum]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Haringey Huskies]]
| align=center | 2017
| [[Haringey]]. [[Greater London]]
| [[Alexandra Palace]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Invicta Mustangs]]
| align=center | 1997
| [[Gillingham, Kent|Gillingham]]
| Planet Ice Gillingham
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Lee Valley Lions]]
| align=center | 1984
| [[Waltham Forest]], [[Greater London]]
| [[Lee Valley Ice Centre]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[London Raiders]] 2
| align=center | 1987
| [[Romford]], [[Greater London]]
| Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Oxford City Stars]]
| align=center | 1984
| [[Oxford]]
| [[Oxford Ice Rink]]
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Peterborough Phantoms]] 2
| align=center | 2002
| [[Peterborough]]
| Planet Ice Peterborough
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Slough Jets]]
| align=center | 1986
| [[Slough]]
| Slough Ice Arena
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Solent Devils]]
| align=center | 2003
| [[Gosport]]
| Planet Ice Gosport
|-
| {{flagicon|ENG}}
| [[Swindon Wildcats]] 2
| align=center | 1986
| [[Swindon]]
| [[Link Centre]]
|}

==Season Structure==
As of the 2018-19 season, the divisions are the following:

===North===
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 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 a league format.

===South===
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 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.

==League Champions==

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#dddddd"
!'''Season''' 
!'''Northern Champions'''
!'''Southern Champions'''
!'''Playoff Champions'''
|-
| [[1996-97 English League season|1996-97]]  
| [[Kingston Jets]]
| [[Romford Raiders]]
| [[Wightlink Raiders]]
|-
| [[1997-98 English League season|1997-98]]   
| [[Solihull Barons]]  
| [[Invicta Dynamos]]
| Solihull Barons
|-
| [[1998-99 English League Division I season|1998-99]]  
| [[Billingham Bombers]]  
| [[Cardiff Dragons|Cardiff Devils]]
| Billingham Bombers
|-
| [[1999-2000 English League Division I season|1999-2000]]  
| Billingham Bombers
| [[Haringey Greyhounds]]
| [[Whitley Warriors]]
|-
| [[2000-01 ENIHL season|2000-01]]   
| Billingham Bombers
| [[Basingstoke Buffalo]]
| Whitley Warriors
|-
| [[2001-02 ENIHL season|2001-02]] 
| Whitley Warriors
| Basingstoke Buffalo
| Whitley Warriors
|-
| [[2002-03 ENIHL season|2002-03]]  
| [[Sheffield Scimitars]] 
| Basingstoke Buffalo
| 
|-
| [[2003-04 ENIHL season|2003-04]]  
| [[Flintshire Freeze]] 
| [[Invicta Dynamos]]
| Sheffield Scimitars
|-
| [[2004-05 ENIHL season|2004-05]] 
| Sheffield Scimitars
| Invicta Dynamos
| Sheffield Scimitars
|-
| [[2005-06 ENIHL season|2005-06]] 
| Billingham Bombers
| Invicta Dynamos
| Invicta Dynamos
|-
| [[2006-07 ENIHL season|2006-07]]   
| [[Newcastle ENL Vipers|Newcastle Vipers]] 
| Invicta Dynamos
| Sheffield Scimitars
|- 
| [[2007-08 ENIHL season|2007-08]]  
| [[Nottingham Lions]] 
| [[Peterborough Islanders]]
| Whitley Warriors
|-
| [[2008-09 ENIHL season|2008-09]] 
| Sheffield Scimitars
| Invicta Dynamos
| Nottingham Lions
|-
| [[2009-10 ENIHL season|2009-10]]
| Whitley Warriors
| Invicta Dynamos
| 
|-
| [[2010-11 ENIHL season|2010-11]]
| Whitley Warriors
| [[Wightlink Raiders]]
| 
|-
| [[2011-12 ENIHL season|2011-12]]
| [[Billingham Stars]]
| [[Chelmsford Chieftains]]
| 
|-
| [[2012-13 ENIHL season|2012-13]]
| [[Blackburn Hawks]]
| Chelmsford Chieftains
| 
|-
| [[2013-14 ENIHL season|2013-14]]
| [[Solway Sharks]]
| Chelmsford Chieftains
| 
|-
| [[2014-15 ENIHL season|2014-15]]
| Blackburn Hawks
| Chelmsford Chieftains
| 
|-
| [[2015-16 ENIHL season|2015-16]]
| Blackburn Hawks
| Chelmsford Chieftains
| 
|-
| [[2016-17 ENIHL season|2016-17]]
| Solway Sharks
| Chelmsford Chieftains
| 
|-
| [[2017-18 ENIHL season|2017-18]]
| Sheffield Steeldogs
| Basingstoke Bison
| Basingstoke Bison
|-
| [[2018-19 ENIHL season|2018-19]]
| Hull Pirates
| Swindon Wildcats
| Hull Pirates
|}

==Rules==

Follows [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) rules,<ref>[http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/sport/iihf-rule-book.html Rulebook 2006-2010] International Ice Hockey Federation</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.eiha.co.uk/EIHA_Rules_and_Regulations.pdf Rules and Regulations], EIHA</ref>

Additional discipline rules are also enforced by the EIHA,<ref>[http://www.eiha.co.uk/Discipline_Document_2008-2009.pdf Disciplinary Document], EIHA, Revised 7 June 2008</ref> which include;
* Team fines of up to £5,000 for failure to complete a fixture
* A points system for misconduct and match penalties
* Player suspensions based upon accumulation of points
** 10 points - 2-game suspension
** 15 points - 3-game suspension
** 20 points - 4-game suspension
** 25 points - 5-game suspension
* Penalty Points for coach/managers and bench officials
* For every 20 penalty points accumulated against the team (players, coaches,managers and bench official) - £25 fine
* 50 team penalty points - £100 fine
* 75 team penalty points - £250 fine plus suspension
* 100 team penalty points - £250 plus the £250 suspended fine awarded at 75 points = £500 total fine

==See also==
*[[English Premier Ice Hockey League]]
*[[English National Ice Hockey Cup]]
== References ==

{{Reflist}}
{{Euro Hockey}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]