The British National League (BNL) was the second tier of the professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2005. Although no formal promotion and relegation existed during its period of existence, it was considered to have been a standard below that of the Ice Hockey Superleague and above that of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Scottish National League. Fife Flyers and Guildford Flames were the only two teams to consistently feature in the BNL during every season of the league's history.
The Fife Flyers are the oldest professional ice hockey club in the United Kingdom, established in 1938. The Flyers play their home games at Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy which has a capacity of just over 3,000.
The British League was the top-flight ice hockey league in the United Kingdom from 1982 until 1996, when it was replaced by the Ice Hockey Superleague and the British National League. Note that the league never had 'hockey' in its title. The league replaced three regional leagues: the Inter-City League in southern England, the English League North in northern England and the Northern League in Scotland and NE England.
The Northern League was the top-flight ice hockey league in Scotland and initially northern England, from 1966. In 1982 it merged with the Inter-City League and the English League North to form the British Hockey League.
Anthony Hand MBE is a Scottish former ice hockey player and coach. He was the first British player to be drafted by an NHL team when he was picked by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986.
The 1984–85 British Hockey League season was the third season of the British Hockey League. The membership of the Premier League was increased to ten with the inclusion of the Southampton Vikings. Promotion and relegation was also introduced between the Premier League and the first Division.
The 1985–86 BHL season was the fourth season of the British Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Great Britain. 10 teams participated in the league, and the Durham Wasps won the league title by finishing first in the regular season. The Murrayfield Racers were playoff champions.
The 1986–87 BHL season was the fifth season of the British Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Great Britain. 10 teams participated in the league, and the Murrayfield Racers won the league title by finishing first in the regular season. The Durham Wasps were playoff champions.
The 1987–88 BHL season was the sixth season of the British Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Great Britain. 10 teams participated in the league, and the Murrayfield Racers won the league title by finishing first in the regular season. The Durham Wasps were playoff champions.
The 1989–90 BHL season was the eighth season of the British Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Great Britain. Nine teams participated in the league, and the Cardiff Devils won the league title by finishing first in the regular season. They also won the playoff championship.
The 1980-81 Northern League season was the 15th season of the Northern League, the top level ice hockey league in northern England and Scotland. Eight teams participated in the league, and the Murrayfield Racers won the championship. The top four teams qualified for the Spring Cup, which served as the Northern League playoffs.
The 1981-82 Northern League season was the 16th and last season of the Northern League, the top level ice hockey league in northern England and Scotland. Eight teams participated in the league, and the Dundee Rockets won the championship. The top four teams qualified for the Spring Cup, which served as the Northern League playoffs. The top two teams, the Dundee Rockets and the Murrayfield Racers, qualified for the British Championship.
The 1965–66 British Ice Hockey season featured the Coca-Cola Championship, consisting of separate leagues comprising English and Scottish teams.
The 1971–72 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.
The 1974–75 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.
The 1975–76 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.
The 1977–78 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.
The 1978–79 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England. A new format was introduced to replace the Southern League for teams from the rest of England. It consisted of two leagues called the Inter-City League and English League North.
The 1980–81 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League, the Inter-City League and English League North.
The 1981–82 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League, the Inter-City League and English League North.