The English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) was an ice hockey league of 10 teams, all of which were based in England. Headquartered in Blackpool, the EPIHL was one of two professional ice hockey leagues in the United Kingdom (the other being the Elite Ice Hockey League). A total of 27 teams played in the league at one time or another. Swindon Wildcats were the only team to have consistently featured in the EPIHL from its inaugural season in 1997–98. In 2017, the league was disbanded, with its teams either joining the top-tier Elite Ice Hockey League or the second-tier National Ice Hockey League.

History The league was founded in 1997, under the banner of "national division", as part of the English National Ice Hockey League in order to serve former members of the British National League who couldn't afford to remain in the latter as a result of increased operating costs; but who were capable of a level of play above the import-free English leagues that made up the rest of the ENIHL. During the 1997–98 season the teams that constituted this division played dual schedules; a series of games solely amongst their own division, and another amongst all the teams that were playing under the ENIHL at that time.

Each year, the league crowned a regular season champion, a post-season playoffs champion, and a knockout Cup champion. Solihull Blaze won the league and play-off trophies of both formats during this inaugural season. At the start of the 1998–99 season the divisions, whilst still both under the ENIHL umbrella, performed in their own separate competitions; and the national division adopted the name "premier division", and later on became known as the "premier league". By the end of the season the league had established itself outside of the ENIHL as the "English Premier Ice Hockey League". In 2005 the BNL disbanded; leaving the EPIHL to take its place as the second tier of the national game.

In 2017, the league was dissolved. The Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames joined the Elite League, Manchester Phoenix folded, and the remaining seven teams became part of the National Ice Hockey League.

Organizational structure The league was ruled and governed by the English Ice Hockey Association. The last chairman of the EPIHL was Ken Taggart.

Executives Chairman: Ken Taggart Chief Referee: Mohammad Ashraff Administrator: Mary Faunt Fixtures Secretary: Gary Dent Teams Owners Rep: Harry Howton Statistician: Malcolm Preen Registrations: Liz Moralee

Teams 2016–17 season Team City Arena Capacity Founded Joined Tenure Head coach Captain Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke, Hampshire Planet Ice Silverdome Arena 2,000 1988 2009 2009–present Doug Sheppard (P/C) Joe Greener Bracknell Bees Bracknell, Berkshire John Nike Leisuresport Complex 2,400 1987 2005 2005–present Lukas Smital (P/C) Matt Foord Hull Pirates Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire Hull Arena 3,750 2015 2015 2015–present Dominc Osman (P/C) Nathan Salem Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Planet Ice Peterborough 1,250 2002 2002 2002–present Slava Koulikov (P/C) James Ferrara Sheffield Steeldogs Sheffield, South Yorkshire IceSheffield 1,500 2001 2005 2005–present Greg Wood (P/C) Ben Morgan Swindon Wildcats Swindon, Wiltshire Link Centre 2,800 1986 1997 1997–present Aaron Nell (P/C) Jan Košťál Telford Tigers Telford, Shropshire Telford Ice Rink 600 2001 2010 2002–2009,2010–present Tom Watkins Jason Silverthorn

Notes

Although the Telford Tigers joined the league in 2005. They did not play in the 2009–10 season due to financial issues.

Former teams Team City Founded Joined Left Billingham Eagles Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees 1996 1997 1998 Blackburn Hawks Blackburn, Lancashire 1990 1998 1999 Chelmsford Chieftains Chelmsford, Essex 1987 19982002 20002008 Solihull Blaze Solihull, West Midlands 1965 1997 1999 Guildford Flames Guildford, Surrey 1992 2005 2017 Haringey Greyhounds Harringay, Greater London 1990 2000 2003 Hull Stingrays Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire 2003 2005 2006 Invicta Dynamos Gillingham, Kent 1997 1997 2003 Kingston Jets Kingston-upon-Thames, London 1996 1997 1998 London Raiders Romford, Greater London 1987 19982002 20002010 Manchester Phoenix Manchester 2003 2009 2017 Milton Keynes Kings Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 1990 1998 1999 Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 2002 2002 2017 Nottingham Lions Nottingham, Nottinghamshire 2000 2000 2003 Oxford Blades Oxford, Oxfordshire 1998 1998 2000 Slough Jets Slough, Berkshire 1986 2002 2014 Solihull Barons Solihull, West Midlands 20002005 20002005 20022007 Solihull Kings Solihull, West Midlands 2003 2003 2005 Sunderland Chiefs Sunderland, Tyne and Wear 1977 1997 1998 Whitley Warriors Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear 1955 1997 1998 Wightlink Raiders Ryde, Isle of Wight 1991 1997 2009

Champions Season League Play-offs EPL Cup 1997–98 Solihull Blaze Solihull Blaze — 1998–99 Solihull Blaze Solihull Blaze Milton Keynes Kings 1999–00 Chelmsford Chieftains Chelmsford Chieftains — 2000–01 Swindon Wildcats London Raiders — 2001–02 Invicta Dynamos Invicta Dynamos London Raiders 2002–03 Peterborough Phantoms Milton Keynes Lightning Wightlink Raiders 2003–04 Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Lightning Peterborough Phantoms 2004–05 Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Lightning London Raiders 2005–06 Guildford Flames Milton Keynes Lightning Bracknell Bees 2006–07 Bracknell Bees Bracknell Bees Guildford Flames 2007–08 Guildford Flames Slough Jets Bracknell Bees 2008–09 Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough Phantoms Peterborough Phantoms 2009–10 Milton Keynes Lightning Slough Jets Guildford Flames 2010–11 Manchester Phoenix Guildford Flames Slough Jets 2011–12 Guildford Flames Slough Jets Guildford Flames 2012–13 Guildford Flames Manchester Phoenix Guildford Flames 2013–14 Manchester Phoenix Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison 2014–15 Telford Tigers Peterborough Phantoms Telford Tigers 2015–16 Basingstoke Bison Guildford Flames Guildford Flames 2016–17 Telford Tigers Milton Keynes Lightning Milton Keynes Lightning

Team total championships Team LeaguePlay-offsEPL CupTotal Guildford Flames 4 2 5 11 Milton Keynes Lightning 3 5 1 9 Peterborough Phantoms 2 2 2 6 Solihull Blaze 2 2 0 4 Bracknell Bees 1 1 2 4 Slough Jets 0 3 1 4 Manchester Phoenix 2 1 0 3 London Raiders 0 1 2 3 Basingstoke Bison 1 1 1 3 Chelmsford Chieftains 1 1 0 2 Invicta Dynamos 1 1 0 2 Telford Tigers 2 0 1 3 Swindon Wildcats 1 0 0 1 Milton Keynes Kings 0 0 1 1 Wightlink Raiders 0 0 1 1

References

External links EPIHL Official Website