2007–08 EIHL season
Encyclopedia
The 2007–08 Elite Ice Hockey League season began September 5, 2007 and ran until April 6, 2008. It was the fifth season of Elite League
competition.
The defending league champions
were the Coventry Blaze
, who were also the holders of the Challenge Cup
. The Nottingham Panthers
looked to defend the Play Off Championship
they won for the first time in eighteen years in 2007.
" style game between the 2006–07 league champions
and Challenge Cup
winning Coventry Blaze
and the playoff champions
Nottingham Panthers
at the National Ice Centre. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 7-6 to win the inaugural event.
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
competition.
The defending league champions
British ice hockey league champions
The British ice hockey league champions are the winners of the highest ice hockey league in the United Kingdom, currently the Elite Ice Hockey League...
were the Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
, who were also the holders of the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup (UK Ice Hockey)
The Challenge Cup, hosted annually by the Elite Ice Hockey League, is a cup competition for ice hockey clubs in the United Kingdom. It is one of three competitions ran each season by the Elite League, the others being the league championship and the playoff championship...
. The Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
looked to defend the Play Off Championship
British Championship
The British Championship is the most prestigious ice hockey cup competition in the United Kingdom, and also the longest established ice hockey competition. It has been run under various formats and titles since 1930 and contested annually since 1966...
they won for the first time in eighteen years in 2007.
Movements between Elite League teams
| Player | From | To | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Pavel Gomenyuk |
Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992... |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
April 19 |
| Sergiy Rublivsky |
Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992... |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
April 24 |
 Mark Richardson |
Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
May 1 |
| Ashley Tait |
Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
May 9 |
| Jonathan Weaver Jonathan Weaver Jonathan Weaver is a British professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Coventry Blaze of the British Elite Ice Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
May 9 |
 Doug Shepard |
Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison The Basingstoke Bison are an English Ice Hockey club from Basingstoke. They currently compete in the English Premier Ice Hockey League and have previously been members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and its successor the Elite Ice Hockey League- History :... |
Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
May 10 |
| Slava Koulikov |
Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992... |
Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison The Basingstoke Bison are an English Ice Hockey club from Basingstoke. They currently compete in the English Premier Ice Hockey League and have previously been members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and its successor the Elite Ice Hockey League- History :... |
May 14 |
| Phil Hill |
Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
May 17 |
| Russ Cowley |
Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
May 29 |
| Derek Campbell |
Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in... |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
May 31 |
| Paul Moran |
Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
May 31 |
 Johan Molin |
Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in... |
Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
June 4 |
| Marc Levers |
Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
June 6 |
 Matus Petricko |
Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
June 6 |
| Curtis Huppe |
Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
June 12 |
| Jeff Hutchins |
Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
July 3 |
| Jeremy Cornish |
Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
July 16 |
Charity Shield
The season began on September 5, 2007 with a "Charity ShieldFA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
" style game between the 2006–07 league champions
British ice hockey league champions
The British ice hockey league champions are the winners of the highest ice hockey league in the United Kingdom, currently the Elite Ice Hockey League...
and Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup (UK Ice Hockey)
The Challenge Cup, hosted annually by the Elite Ice Hockey League, is a cup competition for ice hockey clubs in the United Kingdom. It is one of three competitions ran each season by the Elite League, the others being the league championship and the playoff championship...
winning Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze
Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:...
and the playoff champions
British Championship
The British Championship is the most prestigious ice hockey cup competition in the United Kingdom, and also the longest established ice hockey competition. It has been run under various formats and titles since 1930 and contested annually since 1966...
Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
at the National Ice Centre. The Panthers defeated the Blaze 7-6 to win the inaugural event.
| September 5 | |||||
| Nottingham | 7 – 6 | Coventry | National Ice Centre (19.30) | ||
| First period | Ref: Michael Hicks | ||||
| 0-1 Cloutier (Weaver, Ndur) 00.52 | Att: 3,500+ | ||||
| 0-2 Huppe (Cloutier, Cowley) 05.44 | |||||
| 1-2 McAslan (Pelletier, Drouin) SH 13.19 | |||||
| 1-3 Martin (Moore) PP 13.57 | |||||
| 2-3 Drouin (McAslan, Neilson) SH 15.42 | |||||
| 3-3 Drouin (Meyers, Richardson) 18.45 | |||||
| Second period | |||||
| 4-3 Pelletier (Myers) 25.15 | |||||
| 4-4 Stewart (Martin, Moore) 4-on-4 32.12 | |||||
| 4-5 Cowley (Stewart, Moore) 35.15 | |||||
| 5-5 Stancok (Richardson) PP 36.25 | |||||
| Third period | |||||
| 5-6 Carlson (Weaver) SH 40.38 | |||||
| 6-6 Neilson (Drouin) PP 41.18 | |||||
| 7-6 Drouin (Neilson, McAslan) PP 48.56 |
Challenge Cup
For the preliminary round, teams were divided into two groups of five with teams playing each of their opponents once with two homes games and two away games. The home and away games for each club were determined by a random draw. The top two in each group advanced to the semi finals of the competition.Group A
| Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 5 |
| 3 | Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison The Basingstoke Bison are an English Ice Hockey club from Basingstoke. They currently compete in the English Premier Ice Hockey League and have previously been members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and its successor the Elite Ice Hockey League- History :... |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 3 |
| 5 | Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 1 |
Group B
| Team | P | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 2 | Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
| 3 | Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in... |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 11 | 4 |
| 4 | Edinburgh Capitals Edinburgh Capitals The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League.They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh... |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 4 |
| 5 | Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992... |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 0 |
Winner A (Nottingham) vs Runner Up B (Newcastle)
| Date | Home | Away | Result | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 20 | Nottingham Panthers 5 | Newcastle Vipers 4 | Final | National Ice Centre | ||
| 2 | November 30 | Newcastle Vipers 1 | Nottingham Panthers 5 | Final | Metro Radio Arena | ||
| Nottingham won 10–5 on aggregate | |||||||
Winner B (Sheffield) vs Runner Up A (Cardiff)
| Date | Home | Away | Result | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 28 | Cardiff Devils 4 | Sheffield Steelers 4 | Final | Cardiff Bay Ice Rink | ||
| 2 | December 5 | Sheffield Steelers 2 | Cardiff Devils 0 | Final | IceSheffield IceSheffield IceSheffield is an ice arena in the Lower Don Valley, Sheffield, England. It was completed in May 2003 at a cost of £15 million. It consists of two Olympic-size ice rinks with seating for 1,500 people... |
||
| Sheffield won 6–4 on aggregate | |||||||
Final
| Date | Home | Away | Result | Venue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 23 | Sheffield Steelers 3 | Nottingham Panthers 6 | Final | Sheffield Arena | ||
| 2 | February 20 | Nottingham Panthers 3 | Sheffield Steelers 4 | Final | National Ice Centre | ||
| Nottingham won 9–7 on aggregate | |||||||
League
| Regular season standings | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze Coventry Blaze are an ice hockey team based in Coventry, England. They currently compete in the British Elite Ice Hockey League .-Club history:... |
54 | 41 | 11 | 2 | 217 | 157 | 85 |
| Sheffield Steelers Sheffield Steelers The Sheffield Steelers are a British ice hockey club, from Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 and play their home games at the Sheffield Arena. They are currently members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
54 | 38 | 14 | 2 | 190 | 128 | 78 |
| Nottingham Panthers Nottingham Panthers The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League... |
54 | 33 | 18 | 3 | 172 | 133 | 69 |
| Belfast Giants Belfast Giants The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast.... |
54 | 33 | 19 | 2 | 184 | 150 | 68 |
| Newcastle Vipers Newcastle Vipers The Newcastle Vipers were an ice hockey club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Former members of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the club previously held membership in the British National League.- History :... |
54 | 28 | 22 | 4 | 159 | 174 | 60 |
| Cardiff Devils Cardiff Devils The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena... |
54 | 26 | 25 | 3 | 164 | 174 | 55 |
| Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in... |
54 | 23 | 28 | 3 | 162 | 179 | 49 |
| Edinburgh Capitals Edinburgh Capitals The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League.They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh... |
54 | 19 | 32 | 3 | 155 | 208 | 41 |
| Basingstoke Bison Basingstoke Bison The Basingstoke Bison are an English Ice Hockey club from Basingstoke. They currently compete in the English Premier Ice Hockey League and have previously been members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and its successor the Elite Ice Hockey League- History :... |
54 | 16 | 33 | 5 | 172 | 222 | 37 |
| Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays Hull Stingrays are a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. They were formed in 2003 and play their home games at Hull Arena.The Stingrays replaced previous clubs Hull Thunder 1999–2002, Kingston Hawks 1996–1998, Humberside Hawks 1993–1995, and Humberside Seahawks 1988–1992... |
54 | 13 | 34 | 7 | 119 | 197 | 33 |