2017-18 League Structure
Elite League
With 2 new teams (Guildford & MK) things have changed for the Elite League in terms of structure, but there have also been some tweaks to the roster limits.
Roster limits: Max 14 import players (non-UK trained). Max dressed roster size is 22, but at least 3 of these must be under-23 British players.
Conference Structure: Teams play their conference rivals 4 times home and 4 times away, and play the out of conference teams twice home and twice away. Conference winners will automatically get a place in the playoffs, but no longer get preferential seeding.
Gardiner Conference:
Braehead
Dundee
Edinburgh
Fife
Erhardt Conference:
Belfast
Cardiff
Nottingham
Sheffield
Patton Conference:
Coventry
Guildford
Milton Keynes
Manchester Storm
Challenge Cup Groups:
Group A - Braehead, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield
Group B - Belfast, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife
Group C - Cardiff, Coventry, Guildford, MK
Top 2 go through to the 1/4 finals, with the 2 best 3 placed teams joining them.
NIHL
With the demise of the EPIHL, the NIHL has now become the new second tier absorbing a number of the former-EPL teams. The structure has changed significantly, but the rules have stayed constant. All NIHL games will now play 3-on-3 overtime, followed by penalty shots if no winner is found.
Roster limits: Max 2 import players (non-UK trained, cannot require work permit to play).
NIHL South 1
League Structure: Single league, 2 home and 2 away against all teams.
Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bees
Cardiff Fire
Invicta Dynamos
London Raiders
Milton Keynes Thunder
Peterborough Phantoms
Streatham IHC
Swindon Wildcats
NIHL North 1 - Moralee
League Structure: Single league, 2 home and 2 away against all teams.
Billingham Stars
Blackburn Hawks
Deeside Dragons
Hull Pirates
Nottingham Lions
Sheffield Steeldogs
Solihull Barons
Solway Sharks
Telford
Whitley Warriors
NIHL National Cup:
Group A - Billingham Stars, Blackburn Hawks, Solway Sharks
Group B - Sheffield Steeldogs, Peterborough Phantoms, Hull Pirates
Group C - Invicta Dynamos, London Raiders, Streatham IHC
Group D - Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Swindon Wildcats
Teams play each other twice home & twice away, top 2 from each group go into a quarter final. Presumably each round is 2-legs but it doesn't actually say. Nor does it say which group winners play which runners-up.
NIHL Autumn Cup:
Group 1 - Basingstoke Bison, Peterborough Phantoms, Sheffield Steeldogs
Group 2 - Bracknell Bees, Hull Pirates, Swindon Wildcats
Teams play each other once home & once away, top 2 from each group go into semi-final.
Playoffs: The top 8 from each region go into a regionalised playoff quarter, semi, and final playing each game over 2 legs. The 4 teams that make the regional semi finals will then meet in the NIHL playoff weekend in April for the combined playoff trophy.
NIHL South 2
League Structure: Single league, 1 home and 1 away against all teams.
Basingstoke Buffalo
Bristol Pitbulls
Bracknell Hornets
Cardiff Fire 2
Chelmsford
Guildford Phoenix
Haringey Huskies
Invicta Mustangs
Lee Valley Lions
Oxford City Stars
Peterborough Phantoms 2
Slough Jets
Solent Devils
Swindon Wildcats 2
Playoffs:
Top 8 play 2-legged quarter final before going into a finals weekend. 1-up promotion (league winner gets promoted), no relegation from NIHL S1 until 2018-19.
NIHL North 2 - Laidler
League Structure: Single league, 2 home and 2 away against all teams.
Altrincham Aces
Blackburn 2
Bradford Bulldogs
Coventry Blaze
Deeside 2
Hull Jets
Sheffield Senators
Sutton Sting
Telford 2
Widnes Wild
Playoffs:
Top 4 go into a finals weekend. Promotion applies, with the league winners getting promoted. 1-up and 1-down.
Scottish National League
Roster limits: Max 1 import player (non-UK trained, cannot require work permit to play). This will increase to 2 for 2018-19 to align with the NIHL, creating a new nationwide second tier.
League Structure: Single league, 1 home and 1 away against all teams.
Aberdeen Lynx
Dundee Comets
Dundee Tigers
Edinburgh Capitals SNL
Kilmarnock Storm
Kirkcaldy Kestrels
Moray Typhoons
North Ayrshire Wild
Paisley Pirates
Solway SNL
Think that covers about everything
Bracknell changed owner's over the summer and were uncertain for a long period of time whether they were starting the season or not. Telford liquidated their operating company during the season, running up an incredible amount of debt in the process. They got new owners and retained a large portion of their squad and went on the win the league, quite comfortable.
but good job!
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