English National Ice Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL) is an amateur ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 league below the English Premier Ice Hockey League
English Premier Ice Hockey League
The English Premier Ice Hockey League commonly abbreviated to EPIHL, or simply EPL, is a senior ice hockey league in England, and is run and administered by the English Ice Hockey Association...

 which is administered by the English Ice Hockey Association
English Ice Hockey Association
The English Ice Hockey Association is the governing body responsible for the administration of all ice hockey in England and Wales and was formed in 1982...

. It is split into two conferences, north and south. The league is now the third tier in ice hockey after the demise of the British National League
British National League
The British National League is a defunct second-level professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Although no formal promotion and relegation existed during its period of existence, it was considered to have a standard below that of the Ice Hockey Superleague and above that of the...



The league has now been further split for 2008/2009 with 2 divisions in both the north and south with promotion/relegation between the two divisions.

History

The ENIHL was formed in 1996.

In April 2007, the EIHA lowered the upper age limit within the junior leagues, abolishing the under 19 age limit to become under 18. Due to the large gap from junior level to the EPIHL, many teams were forced to enter a reserve team into the ENIHL. This increased the size of the league from 22 teams through to 30 teams for the 2007/2008 season.

Later in the 2007 off-season, the EIHA suggested introducing an under 25 age limit across the league. However, this age limit was removed within weeks in favour of a drive towards developing players.

Rules

Follows International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...

 (IIHF) rules, as used by countries in all major European leagues. There are significant differences between the National Hockey League rules
National Hockey League rules
While the rules of the National Hockey League follows the general rules of ice hockey, it differs slightly from those used in international games organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation such as the Olympics.-Hockey rink:...

 and IIHF rules, including rink dimension, netminder puck handling, and icing.

The ENIHL also operates under additional EIHA regulations.

Additional discipline rules are also enforced by the EIHA, which include;
  • Team fines of up to £5,000 for failure to complete a fixture
  • A points system for misconduct and match penalties
  • Player suspensions based upon accumulation of points
    • 10 points - 2 game suspension
    • 15 points - 3 game suspension
    • 20 points - 4 game suspension
    • 25 points - 5 game suspension
  • Penalty Points for coach/managers and bench officials
  • For every 20 penalty points accumulated against the team (players, coaches,managers and bench official) - £25 fine
  • 50 team penalty points - £100 fine
  • 75 team penalty points - £250 fine plus suspension
  • 100 team penalty points - £250 plus the £250 suspended fine awarded at 75 points = £500 total fine

Season Structure

Any team play each of the other teams in their league a total of four times; twice home, twice away.

At the end of the regular season, the top 4 from each division enter the playoffs, the quarter finals of which are over two legs. The semi finals are a single match between teams from the same division, and the champions are decided by a single final.

Relegation is decided by two games between top of league two and bottom of league one for each division; winner goes up, loser goes down.

There is also an ENIHL cup with two groups of five teams who play each other team twice. The winners of the two groups play each other in two final games.

Players

The league itself is considered to be a development league, and as such the players are normally amateur. Many teams have affiliate teams in higher leagues. Other teams are aligned with junior ice hockey clubs, and exist to ensure that when players hit 18 there is still a possibility for them to play competitive hockey if they have not joined a professional team. Examples of this include the Bracknell Hornets
Bracknell Hornets
The Bracknell Hornets are an Ice Hockey Team from Bracknell. Berkshire who play in the English National Hockey League. The Hornets play in ENL south Division 1 and won the 2009–10 league playoffs.-History:...

 and the Lancashire Raptors
Lancashire Raptors
The Lancashire Raptors are a British Ice Hockey team based in Blackburn, Lancashire. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League, and have play in the North 2 division...

.

Clubs

Teams correct for 2009/10 season.

League Champions

Season Northern Champions Southern Champions Playoff Champions English National Cup Champions
1996/97 Kingston Jets
Kingston Jets
The Kingston Jets are an ice hockey team which play in the English National Ice Hockey League. The team was close to extinction prior to the 2005-2006 season but, thanks to Kingston Junior Ice Hockey Club , the team was able to enter into the league again...

Romford Raiders
Romford Raiders
The Romford Raiders are an ice hockey team based at the 1,500 seat Romford Ice Arena in Romford, Havering, east London. They were founder members of the EPIHL but now compete in the ENIHL. Their development team was the Romford Spitfires who played in Division 2 of the ENIHL before being succeeded...

Wightlink Raiders
Wightlink Raiders
The Wightlink Raiders are an ice hockey team based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, England. They are sponsored by Wightlink and play in the third-tier English National Ice Hockey League...

NA
1997/98 Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons are an English ice hockey team from the town of Solihull who play at Solihull Ice Rink on Hobbs Moat Road. They were formed in 2005, although they are named after the team of the same name who played at the same ice rink between 1972 and 1996...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons
Solihull Barons are an English ice hockey team from the town of Solihull who play at Solihull Ice Rink on Hobbs Moat Road. They were formed in 2005, although they are named after the team of the same name who played at the same ice rink between 1972 and 1996...

NA
1998/99 Billingham Bombers
Billingham Bombers
The Billingham Bombers are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the Stockton-on-Tees borough of Teesside. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Northern League. The Bombers play their home games at the Billingham Forum Ice Rink.The Bombers were...

Cardiff Devils Billingham Bombers
Billingham Bombers
The Billingham Bombers are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the Stockton-on-Tees borough of Teesside. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Northern League. The Bombers play their home games at the Billingham Forum Ice Rink.The Bombers were...

NA
1999/00 Billingham Bombers
Billingham Bombers
The Billingham Bombers are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the Stockton-on-Tees borough of Teesside. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Northern League. The Bombers play their home games at the Billingham Forum Ice Rink.The Bombers were...

Haringey Greyhounds
Haringey Greyhounds
The Haringey Greyhounds are a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The team was founded in 1990, as the second team at Alexandra Palace, the first being Haringey Racers. In 1992, Racers collapsed, leaving Greyhounds as the rink's first team. They entered the English Conference and...

Whitley Warriors NA
2000/01 Billingham Bombers
Billingham Bombers
The Billingham Bombers are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the Stockton-on-Tees borough of Teesside. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Northern League. The Bombers play their home games at the Billingham Forum Ice Rink.The Bombers were...

Basingstoke Buffalo
Basingstoke Buffalo
The Basingstoke Buffalo are an ice hockey team from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. They are members of the Southern section of the English National Ice Hockey League and play their home matches at the Planet Ice Silverdome. The Buffalo are the second senior team in Basingstoke behind the...

Whitley Warriors Whitley Warriors
2001/02 Whitley Warriors Basingstoke Buffalo
Basingstoke Buffalo
The Basingstoke Buffalo are an ice hockey team from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. They are members of the Southern section of the English National Ice Hockey League and play their home matches at the Planet Ice Silverdome. The Buffalo are the second senior team in Basingstoke behind the...

Whitley Warriors Whitley Warriors
2002/03 Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Basingstoke Buffalo
Basingstoke Buffalo
The Basingstoke Buffalo are an ice hockey team from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. They are members of the Southern section of the English National Ice Hockey League and play their home matches at the Planet Ice Silverdome. The Buffalo are the second senior team in Basingstoke behind the...

Basingstoke Buffalo
Basingstoke Buffalo
The Basingstoke Buffalo are an ice hockey team from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. They are members of the Southern section of the English National Ice Hockey League and play their home matches at the Planet Ice Silverdome. The Buffalo are the second senior team in Basingstoke behind the...

NA
2003/04 Flintshire Freeze
Flintshire Freeze
Flintshire Freeze are a Welsh ice hockey team that play in the English National Ice Hockey League, north division. They play their games at Deeside Leisure Centre, Flintshire. They won the North League championship in the 2003/2004 season...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

2004/05 Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

2005/06 Billingham Bombers
Billingham Bombers
The Billingham Bombers are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the Stockton-on-Tees borough of Teesside. They are currently members of the English National Ice Hockey League and the Northern League. The Bombers play their home games at the Billingham Forum Ice Rink.The Bombers were...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

2006/07 Newcastles Vipers Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

2007/08 Nottingham Lions
Nottingham Lions
The Nottingham Lions are an ice hockey team from Nottingham, England that compete in the English National League's northern section. The Lions are the senior team of the Nottingham Ice Hockey Club and one of two senior teams based in Nottingham, the other being the professional Nottingham Panthers...

Peterborough Islanders
Peterborough Islanders
The Peterborough Islanders are a British ice hockey team.The Peterborough Islanders, part of the Peterborough Ice Hockey Club were founded in 1996 by Grant Budd - a player with links to the Falkland Islands, Carl Stripling a former Peterborough Pirate ice hockey player and Julian Penczek the...

Whitley Warriors Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

2008/09 Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...

Nottingham Lions
Nottingham Lions
The Nottingham Lions are an ice hockey team from Nottingham, England that compete in the English National League's northern section. The Lions are the senior team of the Nottingham Ice Hockey Club and one of two senior teams based in Nottingham, the other being the professional Nottingham Panthers...

Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars
Sheffield Scimitars formed in 2002 and initially played at the small 500 capacity Sheffield Ice Sports Centre playing in the ENIHL. Since then the team moved to the iceSheffield complex, where they became successful in the ENIHL and made the stepup to the EPL in 2005–06...

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