The Elite League

Formed in 2003, the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) is the top level of ice hockey in Great Britain.
For the 2011/12 season, there are ten teams competing for the Elite League championship. These include the reigning champions Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants, Braehead Clan, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers in their inaugural Elite League season, Hull Stingrays and Nottingham Panthers.

Teams compete against each other 3 times at home and 3 away in league competition for a 54 game regular season. Teams are awarded 2 points for a win, whilst there cannot be any ties. If teams are tied after 60 minutes, the game continues to overtime (sudden death) and if necessary, penalty shots. The losing team in either scenario is awarded 1 point.

Teams also compete in two other major competitions, the Challenge Cup and the end-of-season Playoffs. The reigning champions for each of these competitions are Nottingham Panthers.