EIHL champions

The EIHL in the U.K. is unique in that the league is the most coveted prize and not, as in other countries, the play offs.

It is regarded in some circles as being the most difficult league to win because of this.

Beginning in September the EIHL came to a conclusion last Sunday with Sheffield Steelers becoming champions for the second successive year.

They took two points from opponents Fife Flyers and even though close contenders Cardiff Devils also won it was not enough.

At Christmas Cardiff Devils were clear leaders and looked to be the strongest side overall, indeed, at that stage Sheffield were only fourth.

Five weeks ago the Braehead Clan emerged as strong contenders to surpass the expectations of their rivals as they had three games in hand and an easier run-in. But they ran into injury problems and the loss of three key players, including their influential skipper, saw them gradually overhauled by their competitors.

Sheffield Steelers were to be the most consistent side but they had their injury problems also with English international Robert Dowd missing for thirteen of the last seventeen games and import forward Colton Fretter being sidelined all year. Throughout the season other teams were to lose games in batches but Sheffield managed to stay strong throughout only losing, at most, two games in a row.

Going into the final fortnight Cardiff still held a game in hand over Sheffield but unfortunately for them they could not make the advantage pay and they were defeated by Belfast Giants.

So it was all down to the final weekend and Sheffield was to hold off attentions of Nottingham Panthers on the Saturday and win the league in Scotland on Sunday.

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