Elite Ice Hockey League
Current season, competition or edition: 2016-17 EIHL season
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| Sport | Ice Hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Inaugural season | 2003–04 |
| No. of teams | 10 (12 for 2017-18) |
| Countries | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | 53 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4HS |
| Continent | Europe |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Sheffield Steelers (5th title) |
| Most titles | Sheffield Steelers (5 titles) |
| TV partner(s) | Front Runner TV |
| Official website | eliteleague.co.uk |
The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) is a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2003 following the demise of the Ice Hockey Superleague, it is the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom. Initial sponsorship was from bmiBaby and then Rapid Solicitors.
The league currently consists of ten teams, with representation from all four Home Nations – the only league in any sport to do so. In eight completed seasons the league has been won by four different teams. From the 2012–13 Season onwards the league features a northern conference (Gardiner Conference, named after Scottish-born former NHL goalie Charlie Gardiner) featuring Braehead (SCO), Dundee (SCO), Edinburgh (SCO), Fife (SCO) and Manchester Storm (ENG) and a Southern conference (Erhardt Conference, named after 1936 English Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist Carl Erhardt) featuring Belfast (NIR), Cardiff (WAL), Coventry (ENG), Nottingham (ENG) and Sheffield (ENG). The top eight teams in the overall league standings qualify for the Elite League playoffs. The Elite League post-season is considerably shorter than playoff tournaments in North America; in the first round teams play a two-leg game (one home, one away) and the semi-finals and final take place over the course of a single weekend at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other teams in the league. Teams play each team in their conference four times at home and four times away from home, and each team in the other conference twice at home and twice away. Two points are awarded for a win and one for an overtime or penalty shootout defeat. Overtime consists of five minutes of three-on-three hockey and ends immediately if a goal is scored. The team that has most points after all fixtures are completed is declared champion.
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