This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2017)
The English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) was an ice hockeyleague 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.
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.
^"English Premier League history and statistics at hockeydb.com".
^. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
External links
January 02, 2023
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This article s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information May 2017 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 English Premier Ice Hockey League EPIHL SportIce hockeyFounded1998 1997 as part of ENIHL Inaugural season1998 99 1997 98 as part of ENIHL Ceased2016 2017CEOKen Taggart 1 No of teams10CountryEngland 10 teams HeadquartersBlackpool Lancashire England 1 ContinentEuropeLastchampion s League Telford Tigers 2nd title 2 Playoffs Milton Keynes Lightning Cup Milton Keynes LightningMost titlesLeague Guildford Flames 4 NotesSee Elite Ice Hockey League and National Ice Hockey League Contents 1 History 2 Organizational structure 2 1 Executives 3 Teams 2016 17 season 3 1 Former teams 4 Champions 4 1 Team total championships 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe 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 EditThe league was ruled and governed by the English Ice Hockey Association 4 The last chairman of the EPIHL was Ken Taggart Executives Edit Chairman Ken Taggart Chief Referee Mohammad Ashraff Administrator Mary Faunt Fixtures Secretary Gary Dent Teams Owners Rep Harry Howton Statistician Malcolm Preen Registrations Liz MoraleeTeams 2016 17 season EditTeam City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Tenure Head Coach CaptainBasingstoke Bison Basingstoke Hampshire Planet Ice Silverdome Arena 2 000 1988 2009 2009 present Doug Sheppard P C Joe GreenerBracknell Bees Bracknell Berkshire John Nike Leisuresport Complex 2 400 1987 2005 2005 present Lukas Smital P C Matt Foord Hull Pirates Hull East Riding of Yorkshire Hull Arena 3 750 2015 2015 2015 present Dominc Osman P C Nathan Salem Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough Cambridgeshire Planet Ice Peterborough 1 250 2002 2002 2002 present Slava Koulikov P C James Ferrara Sheffield Steeldogs Sheffield South Yorkshire IceSheffield 1 500 2001 2005 2005 present Greg Wood P C Ben Morgan Swindon Wildcats Swindon Wiltshire Link Centre 2 800 1986 1997 1997 present Aaron Nell P C Jan Kostal Telford Tigers Telford Shropshire Telford Ice Rink 600 2001 2010 2002 2009 2010 present Tom Watkins Jason Silverthorn NotesAlthough the Telford Tigers joined the league in 2005 They did not play in the 2009 10 season due to financial issues Former teams Edit Team City Founded Joined LeftBillingham Eagles Billingham Stockton on Tees 1996 1997 1998Blackburn Hawks Blackburn Lancashire 1990 1998 1999Chelmsford Chieftains Chelmsford Essex 1987 19982002 20002008Solihull Blaze Solihull West Midlands 1965 1997 1999Guildford Flames Guildford Surrey 1992 2005 2017Haringey Greyhounds Harringay Greater London 1990 2000 2003Hull Stingrays Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire 2003 2005 2006Invicta Dynamos Gillingham Kent 1997 1997 2003Kingston Jets Kingston upon Thames London 1996 1997 1998London Raiders Romford Greater London 1987 19982002 20002010Manchester Phoenix Manchester 2003 2009 2017Milton Keynes Kings Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire 1990 1998 1999Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire 2002 2002 2017Nottingham Lions Nottingham Nottinghamshire 2000 2000 2003Oxford Blades Oxford Oxfordshire 1998 1998 2000Slough Jets Slough Berkshire 1986 2002 2014Solihull Barons Solihull West Midlands 20002005 20002005 20022007Solihull Kings Solihull West Midlands 2003 2003 2005Sunderland Chiefs Sunderland Tyne and Wear 1977 1997 1998Whitley Warriors Whitley Bay Tyne and Wear 1955 1997 1998Wightlink Raiders Ryde Isle of Wight 1991 1997 2009Champions EditSeason League Play offs EPL Cup1997 98 Solihull Blaze Solihull Blaze 1998 99 Solihull Blaze Solihull Blaze Milton Keynes Kings1999 00 Chelmsford Chieftains Chelmsford Chieftains 2000 01 Swindon Wildcats London Raiders 2001 02 Invicta Dynamos Invicta Dynamos London Raiders2002 03 Peterborough Phantoms Milton Keynes Lightning Wightlink Raiders2003 04 Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Lightning Peterborough Phantoms2004 05 Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Lightning London Raiders2005 06 Guildford Flames Milton Keynes Lightning Bracknell Bees2006 07 Bracknell Bees Bracknell Bees Guildford Flames2007 08 Guildford Flames Slough Jets Bracknell Bees2008 09 Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough Phantoms2009 10 Milton Keynes Lightning Slough Jets Guildford Flames2010 11 Manchester Phoenix Guildford Flames Slough Jets2011 12 Guildford Flames Slough Jets Guildford Flames2012 13 Guildford Flames Manchester Phoenix Guildford Flames2013 14 Manchester Phoenix Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison2014 15 Telford Tigers Peterborough Phantoms Telford Tigers2015 16 Basingstoke Bison Guildford Flames Guildford Flames2016 17 Telford Tigers Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes LightningTeam total championships Edit Team League Play offs EPL Cup TotalGuildford Flames 4 2 5 11Milton Keynes Lightning 3 5 1 9Peterborough Phantoms 2 2 2 6Solihull Blaze 2 2 0 4Bracknell Bees 1 1 2 4Slough Jets 0 3 1 4Manchester Phoenix 2 1 0 3London Raiders 0 1 2 3Basingstoke Bison 1 1 1 3Chelmsford Chieftains 1 1 0 2Invicta Dynamos 1 1 0 2Telford Tigers 2 0 1 3Swindon Wildcats 1 0 0 1Milton Keynes Kings 0 0 1 1Wightlink Raiders 0 0 1 1References Edit a b England Ice Hockey gt Main Index gt Contacts Who s Who Archived from the original on 2012 02 15 Retrieved 2012 08 30 English Premier Ice Hockey League English Premier League history and statistics at hockeydb com England Ice Hockey gt Main Index gt Contacts Who s Who Archived from the original on 2011 10 02 Retrieved 2009 10 31 External links EditEPIHL Official Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title English Premier Ice Hockey League amp oldid 1108407761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
