Northern League (ice hockey, 1966–1982)

Last updated November 02, 2023

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.

The League developed out of the far more limited Scottish League, established in 1962. In 1963, The Wasps, based at Whitley Bay, joined and by 1966 a regular but limited schedule had been established.

In 1966, the better British teams, mostly in Scotland, agreed to form a league to provide matches throughout the season. Initially of seven teams joined. It proved a success, and in 1970 various English teams formed a Southern League, leaving the Northern League as an entirely Scottish competition.

Champions

1966–67 Paisley Mohawks
1967–68 Paisley Mohawks
1968–69 Paisley Mohawks
1969–70 Murrayfield Racers
1970–71 Murrayfield Racers
1971–72 Murrayfield Racers
1972–73 Dundee Rockets
1973–74 Whitley Bay Warriors
1974–75 Whitley Bay Warriors
1975–76 Murrayfield Racers
1976–77 Fife Flyers
1977–78 Fife Flyers
1978–79 Murrayfield Racers
1979–80 Murrayfield Racers
1980–81 Murrayfield Racers
1981–82 Dundee Rockets

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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.

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The 1978-79 Northern League season was the 13th season of the Northern League, the top level ice hockey league in northern England and Scotland. Seven 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 1966–67 British Ice Hockey season featured a new Scottish League which was later renamed the Northern League for teams from Scotland, Durham and Whitley Bay. Glasgow Dynamos won the Icy Smith Cup.

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 1972–73 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 1973–74 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 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 1981–82 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League, the Inter-City League and English League North.

References

Martin C. Harris, Homes of British Ice Hockey

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v t e British Ice Hockey seasons
British Ice Hockey (1929–1955)	1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 Not held between 1940–41 and 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55
British National League (1954–1960)	1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
British Ice Hockey (1960–1982)	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82
British Hockey League (1982–1996)	1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96
Ice Hockey Superleague (1996–2003)	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
Elite Ice Hockey League (2003–present)	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 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2021–22 2022-23 2023–24