Elite League Reaches Season Climax
The British Elite Ice Hockey Leaguetitle goes to the final weekend of fixtures after the last round of results.
Article: Raymond Monaghan
Pic: monapics.com
EIHL title run-in – what you need to know:
The British Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) title goes to the final weekend of fixtures after the last round of results. Three of the league’s ten clubs are in the mix to win the big prize; Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and the Braehead Clan.
No Scottish side has won the Elite League title since it came into existence in 2003, for the last time a Scottish side was triumphant at the top of British Ice Hockey, you have to go back to the 1998 Grand-Slam winning Ayr Eagles.
The Clan are the outsiders of the three going into this weekend, but results elsewhere could change that very quickly. The full attention of Cardiff and Braehead fans will be firmly towards the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on Friday night at 7:30pm. A 7,000 sell-out crowd will see the Panthers hosting the Steelers while the Devils and Clan are inactive. They’ll both be rooting for a home victory to enhance their own title bids. A live broadcast of the match will be available to purchase from the Nottingham Panthers, you can find that with the internet search provider of your choice.
On Saturday night, the Clan host the Hull Stingrays at Braehead Arena at 7pm for a 4th consecutive sell-out, knowing nothing less than a win will do. At the very same time the Sheffield Steelers are hosting their last match of the league season against the Cardiff Devils in a potentially winner takes all match.
Then on Sunday, Clan travel up to their fierce rivals Fife Flyers for a 6:30pm face-off, again needing to win that match to have any hope of securing the title. Cardiff Devils will be hosting the Nottingham Panthers in front of a sold-out Cardiff Bay Arena.
Fixtures:
Friday March 20th:
Nottingham Panthers V Sheffield Steelers (7:30pm)
Saturday March 21st:
Braehead Clan V Hull Stingrays (7pm)
Sheffield Steelers V Cardiff Devils (7pm)
Sunday March 22nd:
Cardiff Devils V Nottingham Panthers (6pm)
Fife Flyers V Braehead Clan (6:30pm)
EIHL table at present:
Pos
**GP**W
RW
L
OTL
SOL
PTS
Sheffield Steelers
50
33
29
13
70
Cardiff Devils
50
33
28
13
70
Braehead Clan
50
33
31
14
69
RW = Regulation time wins OTL = Overtime Losses *SOL = Shoot-out Losses
The permutations:
Braehead Clan will win the league with:
2 Wins of any kind in their fixtures, then Sheffield AND Cardiff would both need to drop at least a point in either of their games. Braehead would win in any points tie by virtue of having more regulation time wins.
Sheffield Steelers OR Cardiff Devils will win the league with:
2 Wins of any kind in their respective fixtures.
Plenty of twists and turns to no doubt come in this final weekend of League action, anything can still happen, be sure to keep tabs on the action as the Braehead Clan bid to make British Ice Hockey history.