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.
Fife Flyers is the oldest professional ice hockey club in the UK, established in 1938. The Flyers play their home games at Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy which has a capacity of just over 3000.
The Paisley Pirates were founded in 1946 and are one of the oldest ice hockey clubs in Scotland and the UK. The Pirates were the epitome of the game in Scotland during the 1950s. In season 1953–54 they won the Autumn Cup, the Scottish Cup and the Canada Cup.
The Scottish National League was the first ice hockey league in Scotland. It was founded in 1932 by five teams from a single ice rink in Glasgow. The league gradually expanded to encompass teams from many areas of Scotland. It was suspended during the Second World War, but returned in 1946, and for the 1947/8 season was split into two divisions. These reunited the following season, and in 1954 the league merged with the English National League to form the British National League.
The Scottish Premier Hockey League is an ice hockey league in Scotland. The league began play in September 2007 and consists of five teams. It replaced the Scottish National League as the highest level of competition in Scotland behind the Elite League. In addition to the Premier League, membered teams will also take part in the Northern League with teams from the Northern section of the English National Ice Hockey League.
Arthur "Art" Hodgins, also known as The Timmins Tiger and Husky Hodgins, was a Canadian ice hockey player who was born in Timmins, Ontario. He played mainly in the United Kingdom and is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
William Patrick Brennan is a retired ice hockey player who played in Scotland and for the Great Britain national ice hockey team. He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
Matthew Rich is a Scottish professional ice hockey player, currently plays for Paisley Pirates in the Scottish National League. In 2005 he began his professional career, playing for the Edinburgh Capitals. Prior to this, Rich had still been playing at a high standard, having iced for the Scotland national team at U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels. He had also been playing for local teams in Scotland, such as the Paisley Pirates.
Adam Walker is a Scottish professional ice hockey player. He is currently the player-head coach of the Paisley Pirates of the Scottish National League. He previously in the British Elite Ice Hockey League for the Cardiff Devils, Manchester Phoenix and the Braehead Clan.
Thomas "Red" Imrie was a British ice hockey defender who played in the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s. He also played for the Great Britain national team between 1961 and 1966. He was inducted into the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
Marshal Key was a former professional ice hockey player who played in the Scottish National League and the British National League for the Dundee Tigers, Harringay Racers, Edinburgh Royals and the Paisley Pirates. He also played for the Great Britain national ice hockey team. He was inducted to the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
Stephen James Murphy is a former professional ice hockey goaltender born in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
The 1953–54 Scottish National League season was the 16th and final season of the Scottish National League, the top level of ice hockey in Scotland. Seven teams participated in the league, and the Paisley Pirates won the championship.
Desmond Joseph Moroney was a Canadian/Swedish professional ice hockey player. Moroney played in North American minor leagues like the Eastern Hockey League, International Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. He also played in Europe, in the British National League and the Swedish Hockey League. His professional career lasted from 1955 through 1980.
The 1946–47 British Ice Hockey season featured the English National League and Scottish National League.
The 1947–48 British Ice Hockey season featured the English National League and Scottish National League.
The 1949–50 British Ice Hockey season featured the English National League and Scottish National League.
The 1950–51 British Ice Hockey season featured the English National League and Scottish National League.
The 1953–54 British Ice Hockey season featured the English National League and Scottish National League.
The 1954–55 British Ice Hockey season featured a new British National League whereby the English and Scottish teams had merged into one National League.
