1997 Benson & Hedges Cup

The 1997 Benson & Hedges Cup was the 15th edition of the Autumn Cup as a British-wide competition. 12 teams participated in the tournament, which was won by the Ayr Scottish Eagles.

Format
The Benson & Hedges Cup consists of the teams from the Ice Hockey Superleague and the top teams from the British National League. In the 1997–98 season, twelve teams in total were split into two regional groups playing each team in their group once at home and once away. The top four teams of each group then progressed to the quarter finals where the teams were paired off and the winning team on aggregate (after playing home and away) progressed to the semi finals. Again the winning team on aggregate progressed to the one-off final game held at Sheffield Arena.

Quarter finals
Quarter final A: Winner A (Manchester) vs 4th place B (Bracknell)
 * Bracknell Bees 2–2 Manchester Storm
 * Manchester Storm 5–4 Bracknell Bees (Manchester win 7–6 on aggregate)

Quarter final B: 3rd place A (Ayr) vs 2nd place B (Nottingham)
 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 4–2 Nottingham Panthers
 * Nottingham Panthers 3–4 Ayr Scottish Eagles (Ayr win 8–6 on aggregate)

'''Quarter final C: 2nd place A (Newcastle) vs 3rd place B (Basingstoke)
 * Newcastle Cobras 1–1 Basingstoke Bison
 * Basingstoke Bison 1–5 Newcastle Cobras (Newcastle win 6–2 on aggregate)

'''Quarter final D: 4th place A (Sheffield) vs Winner B (Cardiff)
 * Sheffield Steelers 2–3 Cardiff Devils
 * Cardiff Devils 5–2 Sheffield Steelers (Cardiff win 8–4 on aggregate)

Semi finals
'''Winner QF A (Manchester) vs Winner QF B (Ayr)
 * Manchester Storm 4–4 Ayr Scottish Eagles
 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 4–2 Manchester Storm (Ayr win 8–6 on aggregate)

'''Winner QF C (Newcastle) vs Winner QF D (Cardiff)
 * Cardiff Devils 6–2 Newcastle Cobras
 * Newcastle Cobras 3–2 Cardiff Devils (Cardiff win 8–5 on aggregate)

Final
The final took place at Sheffield Arena between Ayr Scottish Eagles and Cardiff Devils.


 * Ayr Scottish Eagles 2–1 Cardiff Devils