The 2014–15 Elite Ice Hockey League season was the 12th season of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The regular season began in early September and ended in March.
On 30 April 2014, the Elite League announced changes to the import rules, as from the 2014–15 season, the number of non British-trained players would rise from 11 to 12, while the number of work-permit players would remain at 11. The number of non British-trained players would then rise to 13 in season 2015-16 and 14 in season 2016–17, with the number of work-permit players again remaining at 11.
The EIHL lost some top British players such as Jonathan Weaver and Danny Meyers along with Matt Towe and Sam Zajac to the EPIHL, the first team to take advantage of the rule changes was the Steelers with them announcing the signing of British/Canadian Rod Sarich.
Teams
The ten teams were split into two conferences. Teams played the sides in their conferences four times, home and away (32 games), and played the sides in the other conferences twice, home and away (20 games).
Conference champions Braehead Clan and Sheffield Steelers took the top two spots in the league, but neither side could continue their success in the playoffs, which was won by Coventry Blaze, who beat the Steelers 4–2 in the final.
The Challenge Cup went to the Cardiff Devils, with the Steelers again finishing runners-up, losing 2–1.
Erhardt Conference Belfast Giants Belfast Odyssey Arena 8,700 Cardiff Devils Cardiff Cardiff Arena 2,500 Coventry Blaze Coventry SkyDome Arena 3,000 Nottingham Panthers Nottingham National Ice Centre 7,500 Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Motorpoint Arena 8,500
Gardiner Conference Braehead Clan Glasgow Braehead Arena 4,000 Dundee Stars Dundee Dundee Ice Arena 2,400 Edinburgh Capitals Edinburgh Murrayfield Ice Rink 3,700 Fife Flyers Kirkcaldy Fife Ice Arena 3,525 Hull Stingrays Hull Hull Arena 3,150
Standings Overall
Erhardt Conference Only intra-conference games counted towards the Erhardt Conference standings. Each team played the other four teams in the Conference eight times, for a total of 32 matches.
Gardiner Conference Only intra-conference games counted towards the Gardiner Conference standings. Each team played the other four teams in the Conference eight times, for a total of 32 matches.
League Officials Position Name Chairman Tony Smith Media Representative Chris Ellis Head of Discipline Moray Hansen Head Referee Mick Hicks
Match Officials Referees: Tom Darnell, Michael Hicks, James Ashton, Jonny Liptrott, Dean Smith, Neil Wilson and Stefan Hogarth.
Linesmen: Paul Brooks, Scott Dalgleish, Andrew Dalton, Ally Flockhart, Pavel Halas, James Kavanagh, Sam Motton, Gordon Pirry, Danny Beresford, Matt Rose, Luke Palmer, Paul Brooks, Paul Staniforth and Lee Young.
References