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2025–26 EIHL season

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2025–26 EIHL season
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration
  • 13 September 2025 – 19 April 2026
Matches270
Teams10
Total attendance1,321,128
Average attendance3,863
Regular season
Season championsBelfast Giants (8th title)
Challenge Cup
WinnersNottingham Panthers (9th title)
  Runners-upCoventry Blaze
Playoffs
ChampionsCardiff Devils (4th title)
  Runners-upSheffield Steelers
EIHL seasons

The 2025–26 EIHL season was the 22nd season of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), the highest level of domestic ice hockey played in the United Kingdom. The league ran three separate competitions which were played between 13 September 2025 and 19 April 2026.[1] The Belfast Giants were the defending League Championship and Challenge Cup winners, while the Nottingham Panthers were the defending playoff champions.

The Panthers won a record-extending ninth Challenge Cup title, and their first for a decade, defeating the Coventry Blaze 3–2 through Didrik Henbrant's overtime goal.[2] The Giants defended their regular season title – a record-extending eighth overall – defeating the Panthers 4–2 on 27 March, to open up an unassailable margin over their rivals.[3] The Cardiff Devils went on to win the play-offs, defeating the Sheffield Steelers 5–2 in the final, with two goals each from Kohen Olischefski and Nolan Yaremko.

Teams

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The same ten teams that competed in the 2024–25 EIHL season will compete in the 2025–26 season.

Team City/Town Arena Capacity
Belfast Giants Northern Ireland Belfast SSE Arena Belfast 8,700
Cardiff Devils Wales Cardiff Vindico Arena 3,110
Coventry Blaze England Coventry Planet Ice Coventry 3,000
Dundee Stars Scotland Dundee Dundee Ice Arena 2,700
Fife Flyers Scotland Kirkcaldy Fife Ice Arena 3,525
Glasgow Clan Scotland Glasgow Braehead Arena 4,000
Guildford Flames England Guildford Guildford Spectrum 2,200
Manchester Storm England Altrincham Planet Ice Altrincham 2,440
Nottingham Panthers England Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Nottingham 7,500
Sheffield Steelers England Sheffield Utilita Arena Sheffield 9,300

Regular season

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League standings

[edit]

Each team played 54 games, playing each of the other nine teams six times: three times on home ice, and three times away from home. Points were awarded for each game: two points for all victories, regardless of whether it was in regulation time or after overtime or game-winning shots, one point for losing in overtime or game-winning shots, and zero points for losing in regulation time. At the end of the regular season, the team that finished with the most points were crowned league champions. The top eight teams qualified for the playoffs.[4]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belfast Giants (C) 54 35 5 4 10 207 122 +85 84 Regular season champions
Qualification to playoffs
2 Cardiff Devils 54 30 5 5 14 195 122 +73 75 Qualification to playoffs
3 Nottingham Panthers 54 26 7 6 15 186 145 +41 72[a]
4 Sheffield Steelers 54 26 7 6 15 196 138 +58 72[a]
5 Guildford Flames 54 24 5 6 19 168 151 +17 64
6 Manchester Storm 54 16 10 9 19 158 154 +4 61
7 Coventry Blaze 54 19 6 7 22 167 176 −9 57
8 Glasgow Clan 54 19 5 9 21 147 164 −17 57
9 Dundee Stars 54 7 6 5 36 121 247 −126 31
10 Fife Flyers 54 7 5 4 38 118 244 −126 28
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
(C) Champion
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Nottingham 8, Sheffield 7.

Playoffs

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Bracket

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In the two-legged quarter-finals, the highest-ranked team met the lowest-ranked team, the second-highest-ranked team met the second-lowest-ranked team and so forth. The winners of each tie was determined by aggregate scoring over the two games. In the semi-finals, the highest remaining seed were matched against the lowest remaining seed, with the other two teams facing off. The winners of the semi-finals progressed to the Final, with the losers playing in the third-place match.

Quarter-finals
(11–12 April) 		Semi-finals
(18 April) 		Final
(19 April)
           
1 Belfast Giants 1 1 2
8 Glasgow Clan 0 3 3
2 Cardiff Devils 3
8 Glasgow Clan 1
2 Cardiff Devils 2 4 6
7 Coventry Blaze 1 1 2
2 Cardiff Devils 5
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round)
4 Sheffield Steelers 2
3 Nottingham Panthers 1 4 5
6 Manchester Storm 2 4 6
4 Sheffield Steelers 6 Third place
6 Manchester Storm 0
4 Sheffield Steelers 1 5 6 6 Manchester Storm 2
5 Guildford Flames 1 1 2 8 Glasgow Clan 3

Quarter-finals

[edit]

The quarter-final schedule was announced on 5 April 2026, following the conclusion of the final-day regular season matches.[5]

(1) Belfast Giants vs. (8) Glasgow Clan

[edit]
11 April 2026 Belfast Giants 1–0 Glasgow Clan SSE Arena Belfast
Attendance:7,298		 Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Nicolas Guay – 18:02 Third period No scoring
Jake Kupsky (22 shots / 22 saves) Goalie stats Sami Aittokallio (30 shots / 29 saves)
12 April 2026 Glasgow Clan 3–1 SO Belfast Giants Braehead Arena
Attendance:3,448		 Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
 Second period 11:21 – Mike Lee
No scoring Third period No scoring
 Shootout
Sami Aittokallio (37 shots / 36 saves) Goalie stats Jake Kupsky (35 shots / 33 saves)
Glasgow Clan win 3–2 on aggregate.

(2) Cardiff Devils vs. (7) Coventry Blaze

[edit]
11 April 2026 Coventry Blaze 1–2 Cardiff Devils Coventry Skydome
Attendance:2,304		 Recap  
Grayson Constable – 14:40 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period
No scoring Third period No scoring
Mat Robson (42 shots / 40 saves) Goalie stats Christian Stoever (22 shots / 21 saves)
12 April 2026 Cardiff Devils 4–1 Coventry Blaze Vindico Arena
Attendance:3,110		 Recap  
Kohen Olischefski – 0:39 First period No scoring
 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 10:25 – William Boysen
Christian Stoever (31 shots / 30 saves) Goalie stats Mat Robson (42 shots / 38 saves)
Cardiff Devils win 6–2 on aggregate.

(3) Nottingham Panthers vs. (6) Manchester Storm

[edit]
11 April 2026 Manchester Storm 2–1 Nottingham Panthers Planet Ice Altrincham
Attendance:2,350		 Recap  
 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 17:23 – Matt Marcinew
Drew DeRidder (38 shots / 37 saves) Goalie stats Kevin Carr (35 shots / 33 saves)
12 April 2026 Nottingham Panthers 4–4 SO Manchester Storm Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance:6,790		 Recap  
Mitch Fossier – 15:46 First period 5:37 – Brandon Cutler
David Noël – 18:37 Second period 13:45 – Loren Ulett
 Third period 2:58 – Gary Haden (PPG)
 Shootout
Kevin Carr (29 shots / 26 saves) Goalie stats Drew DeRidder (42 shots / 38 saves)
Manchester Storm win 6–5 on aggregate.

(4) Sheffield Steelers vs. (5) Guildford Flames

[edit]
11 April 2026 Guildford Flames 1–1 Sheffield Steelers Guildford Spectrum
Attendance:1,973		 Recap  
Jamal Watson – 8:29 First period 11:20 – Evan Jasper
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Justin Fazio (41 shots / 40 saves) Goalie stats Matt Greenfield (31 shots / 30 saves)
12 April 2026 Sheffield Steelers 5–1 Guildford Flames Utilita Arena Sheffield
Attendance:8,673		 Recap  
 First period No scoring
 Second period No scoring
Robert Dowd – 2:45 Third period 15:44 – Cole Ully (PPG)
Matt Greenfield (21 shots / 20 saves) Goalie stats Justin Fazio (40 shots / 35 saves)
Sheffield Steelers win 6–2 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

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The semi-final schedule was announced on 12 April 2026, following the conclusion of the quarter-final matches.

18 April 2026
15:00		Cardiff Devils3–1
(0–0, 2–1, 1–0)		Glasgow ClanMotorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance: 6,608
Game reference
Christian StoeverGoaliesSami AittokallioReferees:
Tom Pering
Joe Sewell
Linesmen:
Lee Young
Rob Pullar
Connor Caponi – 24:291–0
1–125:20 – Jason Fram
Brandon Estes – 25:582–1
Joey Martin (ENG) – 59:343–1
0 minPenalties0 min
34Shots24
18 April 2026
19:00		Sheffield Steelers6–0
(1–0, 1–0, 4–0)		Manchester StormMotorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance: 6,608
Game reference
Matt GreenfieldGoaliesDrew DeRidderReferees:
Daniel Ferguson
Andy Dalton
Linesmen:
Danny Beresford
Scott Rodger
Ryan Tait (PPG) – 12:421–0
Mitchell Heard – 31:082–0
Evan Jasper – 48:193–0
Ryan Tait (2; PPG) – 54:424–0
Mitchell Heard (2; PPG) – 58:245–0
Stephen Harper (PPG) – 59:046–0
9 minPenalties24 min
49Shots23

Third-place match

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19 April 2026
13:00		Manchester Storm2–3
(1–1, 1–2, 0–0)		Glasgow ClanMotorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance: 6,402
Game reference
GoaliesLiam SoulièreReferees:
Daniel Ferguson
Andrew Miller
Linesmen:
Lee Young
Rob Pullar
Connor Lee – 4:151–0
1–115:10 – Mick Messner
Harrison Caines – 35:062–1
2–236:37 – Hugo Roy
2–338:07 – Brady Risk
0 minPenalties2 min
27Shots33

Final

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19 April 2026
17:00		Cardiff Devils5–2
(1–0, 2–1, 2–1)		Sheffield SteelersMotorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance: 6,402
Game reference
Christian StoeverGoaliesMatt GreenfieldReferees:
Joe Sewell
Andy Dalton
Linesmen:
Danny Beresford
Scott Rodger
Kohen Olischefski (PPG) – 2:411–0
1–122:52 – Kevin Tansey
Nolan Yaremko – 38:322–1
Nolan Yaremko (2) – 39:573–1
3–253:25 – Ryan Tait
Josh MacDonald (ENG) – 58:234–2
Kohen Olischefski (2; ENG) – 59:315–2
0 minPenalties6 min
31Shots23

Challenge Cup

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The Challenge Cup was split into two stages: an initial group stage where the league's ten teams were divided into two groups based on geographical distance – one group of six teams (Group A) and a group of four teams (Group B).[6] The teams in Group A (the five English teams and the Cardiff Devils) played each of the other teams twice for a total of ten games, while the teams in Group B (the three Scottish teams and the Belfast Giants) played each of the other teams four times for a total of twelve games.

The top two teams in Group A and the winners of Group B qualified for the semi-finals. The runners-up in Group B faced the third-placed team in Group A in a semi-final playoff game held at the arena of the team with a higher group stage points percentage to determine the final semi-finalist.[7]

Group stage

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield Steelers 10 5 2 1 2 32 21 +11 15 Qualification to semi-finals
2 Coventry Blaze 10 4 2 1 3 29 31 −2 13
3 Nottingham Panthers 10 5 1 0 4 33 31 +2 12[a] Qualification to play-in match
4 Cardiff Devils 10 5 1 0 4 29 24 +5 12[a]
5 Manchester Storm 10 2 1 2 5 28 34 −6 8
6 Guildford Flames 10 2 0 3 5 28 38 −10 7
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Away points: Nottingham 8, Cardiff 6.

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belfast Giants 12 7 0 3 2 48 31 +17 17 Qualification to semi-finals
2 Glasgow Clan 12 6 2 0 4 38 30 +8 16 Qualification to play-in match
3 Dundee Stars 12 3 3 1 5 43 46 −3 13
4 Fife Flyers 12 2 1 2 7 24 46 −22 8
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

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Bracket

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  • Play-in match
  • (December 2025)
  • Semi-finals
  • (February & March 2026)
  • Final
  • (March 2026)
1Sheffield Steelers044
B2Glasgow Clan14Nottingham Panthers325
A3Nottingham Panthers44Nottingham Panthers3
3Coventry Blaze2
2Belfast Giants235
3Coventry Blaze369

Play-in match

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17 December 2025
19:30		Glasgow Clan1–4
(0–0, 1–2, 0–2)		Nottingham PanthersBraehead Arena
Attendance: 2,323
Game reference
Sami AittokallioGoaliesKevin CarrReferees:
Andy Dalton
Daniel Ferguson
Linesmen:
Scott Rodger
James Nelson
0–122:11 – David Noël
Tristin Langan – 34:301–1
1–239:47 – Matt Marcinew
1–352:36 – Matt Spencer
1–457:37 – Tim Doherty (ENG)
2 minPenalties8 min
28Shots24

Semi-finals

[edit]

In a change for the 2025–26 season, the semi-final matchups were determined on win percentage from the group stage – between both group winners (the Sheffield Steelers and the Belfast Giants) for the number one and two seeds, and the remaining two teams (the Coventry Blaze and the Nottingham Panthers) for the number three and four seeds.[8][9]

(1) Sheffield Steelers vs. (4) Nottingham Panthers
[edit]
18 February 2026 Nottingham Panthers 3–0 Sheffield Steelers Motorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance:6,816		 Recap  
 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Kevin Carr (26 shots / 26 saves) Goalie stats Matt Greenfield (17 shots / 14 saves)
25 February 2026 Sheffield Steelers 4–2 OT Nottingham Panthers Utilita Arena Sheffield
Attendance:9,086		 Recap  
Mikko Juusola (SHG) – 6:46 First period 7:06 – Matt Marcinew (PPG)
 Second period No scoring
Mitchell Balmas (PPG) – 1:56 Third period No scoring
No scoring First overtime period 0:25 – Bryan Lemos
Matt Greenfield (26 shots / 24 saves) Goalie stats Kevin Carr (40 shots / 36 saves)
Nottingham Panthers win 5–4 on aggregate.
(2) Belfast Giants vs. (3) Coventry Blaze
[edit]

The second leg, initially scheduled for 18 February, was postponed as a result of the Blaze being unable to travel to Belfast.[10] The game was rescheduled to 4 March.[11]

11 February 2026 Coventry Blaze 3–2 Belfast Giants Coventry Skydome
Attendance:2,078		 Recap  
 First period 8:41 – Ben Lake
Grayson Constable – 16:57 Second period 9:46 – Scott Conway
No scoring Third period No scoring
Mat Robson (44 shots / 42 saves) Goalie stats Alexis Gravel (18 shots / 15 saves)
4 March 2026 Belfast Giants 3–6 Coventry Blaze SSE Arena Belfast
Attendance:6,777		 Recap  
Carsen Twarynski – 10:42 First period 17:36 – Matthew Gleason
No scoring Second period
Third period
Jake Kupsky (24 shots / 20 saves) Goalie stats Mat Robson (48 shots / 45 saves)
Coventry Blaze win 9–5 on aggregate.

Final

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As the highest remaining seed, the Coventry Blaze were scheduled to have home advantage for the final against the Nottingham Panthers. However, as the Coventry Skydome did not meet league requirements for the final, it was instead played at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.[12]

18 March 2026
19:30		Coventry Blaze2–3 (OT)
(0–0, 1–1, 1–1, 0–1)		Nottingham PanthersMotorpoint Arena Nottingham
Attendance: 6,287
Game reference
Mat RobsonGoaliesKevin CarrReferees:
Tom Pering
Joe Sewell
Linesmen:
Danny Beresford
Rob Pullar
Michael Pelech – 22:561–0
1–134:31 – Mitch Fossier
1–246:35 – Jakob Stridsberg
Elijiah Barriga (PPG) – 51:562–2
2–371:29 – Didrik Henbrant
4 minPenalties4 min
31Shots42

References

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  1. ↑ "Gamecentre". EIHL. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  2. ↑ Aloia, Andrew; Gadsby, Chris (19 March 2026). "Panthers 'embrace' Challenge Cup win - Stewart". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. ↑ McKendry, Adam (27 March 2026). "Belfast Giants clinch fifth Elite League title in six seasons as Nottingham Panthers swept aside at SSE Arena". Belfast Telegraph. Mediahuis Ireland. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "Standings 2025/2026 Elite Ice Hockey League". EIHL. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Playoff Quarter-Finals Scheduled". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Crow, Allan (13 May 2024). "EIHL's new Challenge Cup format revealed after fans' survey criticism – and it still feels clunky". Fife Free Press. National World. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Elimination Game scheduled for 17 December". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 10 November 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Tweak to Challenge Cup knockout stages". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Line-up for Challenge Cup Semi-Finals". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Giants v Coventry postponed after flight cancellation". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Giants vs. Blaze re-arranged". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ↑ James, Luke (3 March 2026). "Elite League introduces Challenge Cup final arena requirements on semi-final eve". British Ice Hockey. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
[edit]
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