English Challenge Cup competition
Teams from the English Premier League and National Ice Hockey League will face each other next season in a revamped English Challenge Cup competition.
A series of matches, to be drawn from regional groups, will see clubs play sides in their own league, as well as those from another division. Chosen teams from the top of their respective Conferences from both the North and the South of the NIHL will compete at full strength against a north and South Conference made up of all the EPIHL clubs.
To aid development under 21 British players will be drafted in to the EPIHL teams to bring Parity to the Contest. The cross league games will be played under the current configuration of the NIHL.
NIHL sides will have the opportunity to test their line-ups against teams from the higher level, while also improving links between the two leagues.
The Two Conferences for the New English Challenge Cup sponsored by Redtouchmedia will line up like this:
South
| North
|
Basingstoke
| Sheffield
|
Bracknell
| Peterborough
|
Guildford
| Manchester
|
Swindon
| Solway
|
Chelmsford
| Billingham
|
Invicta
| Blackburn
|
Isle of Wight
| Telford
|
Milton Keynes
|
|