English Premier Ice Hockey League

The English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) is a developmental ice hockey league of 10 teams, all of which are based in England. Headquartered in Blackpool, the EPIHL is secondary professional ice hockey league in Great Britain (after the Elite Ice Hockey League).

The league was founded in 1997, where it initially served as the effective 3rd tier of the game, offering a level of play above the import free English leagues, but below the 8 import British National League (BNL). Since 2005, when the BNL disbanded, the EPIHL has functioned as the second tier; in fact, many previous BNL teams now play in the EPIHL.

Organizational structure
The league is ruled and governed by the English Ice Hockey Association. The current chairman of the EPIHL is Ken Taggart. The team owners meet regularly to discuss league matters under the auspices of the league chairman, and take a democratic vote on all decisions.

Executives

 * Chairman: Ken Taggart
 * Chief Referee: Mohammad Ashraff
 * Administrator: Mary Faunt
 * Fixtures Secretary: Andy French
 * Teams Owners Rep: Harry Howton
 * Statistician: Malcolm Preen
 * Registrations: Liz Moralee

Game
Each English Premier Ice Hockey League regulation game is played between two teams and is 60 minutes long. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission of 12½ minutes between periods. At the end of the 60-minute regulation time, the team with the most goals wins the game.

Previously, if a game was tied it would end a draw, but in the 2008-09 season, the rule was changed to; if a game is tied after regulation time, overtime ensues. Overtime is a five-minute, four-player on four-player sudden-death period, in which the first team to score a goal wins the game. If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game enters a shootout. Five players for each team in turn take a penalty shot. The team with the most goals at the end of the five-round shootout wins the game. If the game is still tied after the five shootout rounds, the shootout continues but becomes sudden death. Whichever team ultimately wins the shootout is awarded a goal in the game score and thus awarded two points in the standings. The losing team in overtime or shootout is awarded only one.

Rules
While the English Premier Ice Hockey League follows the rules of ice hockey that are used in international games organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) such as the Olympics.

The league does however operate under a number of restrictions, allowing it to classify itself as a 'developmental league'.

The main restriction placed on the member clubs is a limit of 4 non EIHA trained, EU passport holding 'import' players dressed per game. Further to this, only 3 of these players may be on the ice simultaneously, with certain exceptions. The EU passport requirement is not enforced by the EPIHL per se, rather it is a product of the fact that the UK Border Agency only grants work permits to non-EU players who wish to sign for teams in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Despite the 4 imports dressed rule, it is not uncommon for some teams to sign a 5th import as 'backup' in case of injuries to an 'active' import.

The league has no wage limitations, although it is generally accepted that due to the import restriction, wage bills are lower than teams in the EIHL. Despite the lower wages paid, the league still suffers from teams folding, or quitting the league due to financial problems.

Season structure
The English Premier Ice Hockey League season runs from the first week in September through late March. During the regular season, clubs play each other in a predefined schedule.

In the regular season, each team plays 54 games, 6 against each team. These are split evenly between Home and Away fixtures.

The EPIHL's regular season standings are based on a point system instead of winning percentages. Points are awarded for each game, where two points are awarded for a win, one point for losing in overtime or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points is crowned the league champion.

Current Teams

 * Notes
 * 1) Although the Telford Tigers joined the league in 2005. They did not play in the 2009–10 season due to financial issues.

League Champions

 * 1997–98 Solihull Barons
 * 1998–99 Solihull Barons
 * 1999–00 Chelmsford Chieftains
 * 2000–01 Swindon Wildcats
 * 2001–02 Invicta Dynamos
 * 2002–03 Peterborough Phantoms
 * 2003–04 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2004–05 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2005–06 Guildford Flames
 * 2006–07 Bracknell Bees
 * 2007–08 Guildford Flames
 * 2008–09 Peterborough Phantoms
 * 2009–10 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2010–11 Manchester Phoenix
 * 2011–12 Guildford Flames
 * 2012–13 Guildford Flames

Playoff champions

 * 1997–98 Solihull Barons
 * 1998–99 Solihull Barons
 * 1999–00 Chelmsford Chieftains
 * 2000–01 Romford Raiders
 * 2001–02 Invicta Dynamos
 * 2002–03 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2003–04 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2004–05 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2005–06 Milton Keynes Lightning
 * 2006–07 Bracknell Bees
 * 2007–08 Slough Jets
 * 2008–09 Peterborough Phantoms
 * 2009–10 Slough Jets
 * 2010–11 Guildford Flames
 * 2011–12 Slough Jets
 * 2012–13 Manchester Phoenix

English Cup champions

 * 1997–98 No Cup Competition
 * 1998–99 Milton Keynes Kings
 * 1999–00 No Cup Competition
 * 2000–01 No Cup Competition
 * 2001–02 Romford Raiders
 * 2002–03 Wightlink Raiders
 * 2003–04 Peterborough Phantoms
 * 2004–05 Romford Raiders
 * 2005–06 Bracknell Bees
 * 2006–07 Guildford Flames
 * 2007–08 Bracknell Bees
 * 2008–09 Peterborough Phantoms
 * 2009–10 Guildford Flames
 * 2010–11 Slough Jets
 * 2011–12 Guildford Flames
 * 2012–13 Guildford Flames

Knock-Out Cup champions

 * 2007–08 Peterborough Phantoms