National Ice Hockey League
|
|
|
| Full name | National Ice Hockey League |
| Current season | 2017/18 |
| sport | ice Hockey |
| abbreviation | NIHL |
| Association | English Ice Hockey Association |
| League foundation | 1996 as the English National Ice Hockey League |
| Teams | 43 |
| Country countries |
 United Kingdom
|
| Website | eiha.co.uk/nihl |
| ^ Elite Ice Hockey League | |
The National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) is now a series of semi-professional ice hockey leagues in the United Kingdom administered by the English Ice Hockey Association and currently represents the second tier of British ice hockey, below the Elite Ice Hockey League .
The league is split into two regions, North and South, which means teams don't have to travel long distances to play away games. Each region has 2 divisions, with relegation and relegation between divisions in each region.
history
The National Ice Hockey League was originally founded as the English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL) in England in 1996. It was after the newly founded Ice Hockey Superleague and the British National League , which replaced the British Hockey League , the third highest league at the time. Due to the large number of teams, which were divided into a North and a South Conference, the league was split into two levels. The better Premier Division was renamed again and again and carried the name English Premier League until 2017. The National League continued to exist as the fourth league level. After the end of the British National League in 2005, the Premier League became the second highest division and the National League has since been the third highest league level in the United Kingdom alongside the Scottish National League . To distinguish it from the Scottish League, it was generally referred to as the English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL) .
In 2012 the English National Ice Hockey League was renamed the National Ice Hockey League, as several teams from Scotland and Wales played in the league.
Title holder
| season | Master North | Master South | Master playoffs | English National Cup winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996/97 | Kingston Jets | Romford Raiders | Wightlink Raiders | |
| 1997/98 | Solihull Barons | Invicta Dynamos | Solihull Barons | |
| 1998/99 | Billingham Bombers | Cardiff Devils | Billingham Bombers | |
| 1999/2000 | Billingham Bombers | Haringey Greyhounds | Whitley Warriors | |
| 2000/01 | Billingham Bombers | Basingstoke Buffalo | Whitley Warriors | Whitley Warriors |
| 2001/02 | Whitley Warriors | Basingstoke Buffalo | Whitley Warriors | Whitley Warriors |
| 2002/03 | Sheffield Scimitars | Basingstoke Buffalo | Basingstoke Buffalo | |
| 2003/04 | Flintshire Freeze | Invicta Dynamos | Sheffield Scimitars | Sheffield Scimitars |
| 2004/05 | Sheffield Scimitars | Invicta Dynamos | Sheffield Scimitars | Sheffield Scimitars |
| 2005/06 | Billingham Bombers | Invicta Dynamos | Invicta Dynamos | Invicta Dynamos |
| 2006/07 | Newcastle Vipers | Invicta Dynamos | Sheffield Scimitars | Sheffield Scimitars |
| 2007/08 | Nottingham Lions | Peterborough Islanders | Whitley Warriors | Sheffield Scimitars |
| 2008/09 | Sheffield Scimitars | Invicta Dynamos | Nottingham Lions | Sheffield Scimitars |
| 2009/10 | Whitley Warriors | Invicta Dynamos |
North : Whitley Warriors South : Bracknell |
Swindon Wildcats |
| 2010/11 | Whitley Warriors | Wightlink Raiders |
North : Whitley Warriors South : Chelmsford Chieftains |
|
| 2011/12 | Billingham Stars | London Raiders |
North : Billingham Stars South : Chelmsford Chieftains |
|
| 2012/13 | Solway Sharks | Chelmsford Chieftains |
North : Blackburn Hawks South : Chelmsford Chieftains |
|
| 2013/14 | Solway Sharks | Chelmsford Chieftains |
North : Solway Sharks South : Chelmsford Chieftains |
|
| 2014/15 | Blackburn Hawks | Chelmsford Chieftains |
North : Blackburn Hawks South : Wightlink Raiders |
|
| 2015/16 | Blackburn Hawks | Chelmsford Chieftains |
North : Blackburn Hawks South : Chelmsford Chieftains |
|
| 2016/17 | Solway Sharks | Chelmsford Chieftains |
North : Solway Sharks South : Invicta Dynamos |
|
| 2017/18 | Sheffield Steeldogs | Basingstoke bison |
North : Telford Tigers South : Basingstoke Bison Final 4 : Basingstoke Bison |
See also
- English National League for the highest English ice hockey league from 1935 to 1954