1997–98 ISL season

The 1997–98 Ice Hockey Superleague season was the second season of the Ice Hockey Superleague (ISL).

There were no changes in the teams taking part during the season – Ayr Scottish Eagles, Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Cardiff Devils, Manchester Storm, Newcastle Cobras, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.

The league season was reduced to twenty-eight rounds in the hope of organising a European tournament. However, this failed to materialize so the league arranged a new cup competition to meet the shortfall in fixtures. With the sponsorship of the Daily Express newspaper the Express Cup was launched.

Ayr Scottish Eagles won a Grand Slam of all available trophies.

Express Cup
All eight teams in the league competed in the new competition for the Express Cup. The first round was a round-robin league with each team playing their opponents twice at home and twice away. The top four teams progressed to the semi finals. The semi finals were home and away games with the winner on aggregate progressing to the one off final game.

Semi finals
1st place (Ayr) vs 4th place (Sheffield)
 * Nottingham Panthers 4–4 Ayr Scottish Eagles
 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 12–4 Nottingham Panthers (Ayr win 16–8 on aggregate)

'''2nd place (Sheffield) vs 3rd place (Bracknell)
 * Bracknell Bees 3–1 Sheffield Steelers
 * Sheffield Steelers 4–4 Bracknell Bees (Bracknell win 7–4 on aggregate)

Final
Winner A vs Winner B
 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 3–2 Bracknell Bees

League
Each team played two home games and two away games against each of their opponents. All eight teams were entered into the playoffs.

Playoffs
All eight teams in the league took part in the playoffs. Group A consisted of Ayr, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield while Group B consisted of Basingstoke, Bracknell, Cardiff and Manchester. The top two teams from each playoff group qualified for the semi finals, which was a home and away series with the winners on games progressing to the final and the losers progressing to the third place playoff.

Semi Finals
Winner B vs Runner-Up A
 * Cardiff Devils 5-4 Sheffield Steelers
 * Sheffield Steelers 2–6 Cardiff Devils (Cardiff win series 2–0)

Winner A vs Runner-Up B
 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 5–3 Manchester Storm
 * Manchester Storm 2-7 Ayr Scottish Eagles (Ayr win series 2–0)

Third place playoff
Loser A vs Loser B
 * Sheffield Steelers 5–2 Manchester Storm

Final
Winner A vs Winner B
 * Cardiff Devils 2-3 Ayr Scottish Eagles (after overtime)