New format for EIHL

The EIHL in the UK goes with a new format for the next season. With the expansion of the league bringing in teams from Southern areas of the UK it was decided to further split the league into conferences to cut down on travelling for the most Northern sides.

Last year there were two conferences of four but now there will be three conferences of four teams.

Now all the teams with an Arena will be in one conference: Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers, Belfast Giants and Sheffield Steelers.

Whereas the new, Southern teams, Guildford Flames and Milton Keynes Lightning will be in a group with Manchester Storm and Coventry Blaze.

The other conference will be made up of the teams from Scotland: Braehead Clan, Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers and Dundee Stars.

This latter conference is probably the main reason the league decided to go with this format as most of the Scottish teams, with lower budgets, put forward their concerns about the extra travelling cost frequent trips (approx 400 miles for the greatest travel).

The other competition, The Challenge Cup is also to be changed from two groups to three with the top two teams qualifying and the best two losers from each group going through to a knockout stage.

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