National Ice Hockey League

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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 KingdomUnited Kingdom 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

Web links