English Premier Ice Hockey League

Last updated
English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL)
EPL Logo.gif
Sport Ice hockey
Founded1998
(1997 as part of ENIHL)
First season1998–99
(1997–98 as part of ENIHL)
Ceased2016-2017
CEO Ken Taggart [1]
No. of teams 10
Country England (10 teams)
Headquarters Blackpool, Lancashire, England [1]
Continent Europe
Last
champion(s)		League:Telford Tigers (2nd title) [2]
Playoffs: Milton Keynes Lightning
Cup: Milton Keynes Lightning
Most titlesLeague: Guildford Flames (4)
Notes
See Elite Ice Hockey League and National Ice Hockey League

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 from 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.

Contents

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.[ citation needed ] 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.[ citation needed ]

Each year, the league crowned a regular season champion, a post-season playoffs champion, and a knockout Cup champion. 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". 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 last chairman of the EPIHL was Ken Taggart.

Executives

Teams 2016-17 season

TeamCityArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedTenureHead CoachCaptain
Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke, Hampshire Planet Ice Silverdome Arena 2,000198820092009–presentDoug Sheppard (P/C)Joe Greener
Bracknell Bees Bracknell, Berkshire John Nike Leisuresport Complex2,400198720052005–presentLukas Smital (P/C)Matt Foord Flag of England.svg
Hull Pirates Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire Hull Arena 3,750201520152015–presentDominc Osman (P/C)Nathan Salem Flag of England.svg
Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Planet Ice Peterborough1,250200220022002–presentSlava Koulikov (P/C)James Ferrara Flag of England.svg
Sheffield Steeldogs Sheffield, South Yorkshire IceSheffield 1,500200120052005–presentGreg Wood (P/C)Ben Morgan Flag of England.svg
Swindon Wildcats Swindon, Wiltshire Link Centre 2,800198619971997–presentAaron Nell (P/C)Jan Košťál Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Telford Tigers Telford, Shropshire Telford Ice Rink600200120102002-2009,
2010–present		Tom WatkinsJason Silverthorn Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Notes
  1. Although the Telford Tigers joined the league in 2005. They did not play in the 2009–10 season due to financial issues.

Former teams

TeamCityFoundedJoinedLeft
Billingham Eagles Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees 199619971998
Blackburn Hawks Blackburn, Lancashire 199019981999
Chelmsford Chieftains Chelmsford, Essex 19871998
2002		2000
2008
Solihull Blaze Solihull, West Midlands 196519971999
Guildford Flames Guildford, Surrey 199220052017
Haringey Greyhounds Harringay, Greater London 199020002003
Hull Stingrays Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire 200320052006
Invicta Dynamos Gillingham, Kent 199719972003
Kingston Jets Kingston-upon-Thames, London 199619971998
London Raiders Romford, Greater London 19871998
2002		2000
2010
Manchester Phoenix Manchester 200320092017
Milton Keynes Kings Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 199019981999
Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 200220022017
Nottingham Lions Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 200020002003
Oxford Blades Oxford, Oxfordshire 199819982000
Slough Jets Slough, Berkshire 198620022014
Solihull Barons Solihull, West Midlands 2000
2005		2000
2005		2002
2007
Solihull Kings Solihull, West Midlands 200320032005
Sunderland Chiefs Sunderland, Tyne and Wear 197719971998
Whitley Warriors Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear 195519971998
Wightlink Raiders Ryde, Isle of Wight 199119972009

Champions

SeasonLeaguePlay-offsEPL Cup
1997–98Solihull BlazeSolihull Blaze—
1998–99Solihull BlazeSolihull BlazeMilton Keynes Kings
1999–00Chelmsford ChieftainsChelmsford Chieftains—
2000–01Swindon WildcatsLondon Raiders—
2001–02Invicta DynamosInvicta DynamosLondon Raiders
2002–03Peterborough PhantomsMilton Keynes LightningWightlink Raiders
2003–04Milton Keynes LightningMilton Keynes LightningPeterborough Phantoms
2004–05Milton Keynes LightningMilton Keynes LightningLondon Raiders
2005–06Guildford FlamesMilton Keynes LightningBracknell Bees
2006–07Bracknell BeesBracknell BeesGuildford Flames
2007–08Guildford FlamesSlough JetsBracknell Bees
2008–09Peterborough PhantomsPeterborough PhantomsPeterborough Phantoms
2009–10Milton Keynes LightningSlough JetsGuildford Flames
2010–11Manchester PhoenixGuildford FlamesSlough Jets
2011–12Guildford FlamesSlough JetsGuildford Flames
2012–13Guildford FlamesManchester PhoenixGuildford Flames
2013–14Manchester PhoenixBasingstoke BisonBasingstoke Bison
2014–15Telford TigersPeterborough PhantomsTelford Tigers
2015-16Basingstoke BisonGuildford FlamesGuildford Flames
2016-17Telford TigersMilton Keynes LightningMilton Keynes Lightning

Team total championships

TeamLeaguePlay-offsEPL CupTotal
Guildford Flames42511
Milton Keynes Lightning3519
Peterborough Phantoms2226
Solihull Blaze2204
Bracknell Bees1124
Slough Jets0314
Manchester Phoenix2103
London Raiders0123
Basingstoke Bison1113
Chelmsford Chieftains1102
Invicta Dynamos1102
Telford Tigers2013
Swindon Wildcats1001
Milton Keynes Kings0011
Wightlink Raiders0011

References

  1. 1 2 "England Ice Hockey > Main Index > Contacts/Who's Who". Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  2. ↑ "English Premier Ice Hockey League".
  3. ↑ "English Premier League history and statistics at hockeydb.com".
  4. ↑ "England Ice Hockey > Main Index > Contacts/Who's Who". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
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