Hogging The Ice

  EIHL Midweek Showdowns: Panthers vs. Storm Headlines a Crucial Night in the Title Race Hockey fans, get ready—tonight’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) schedule is packed with high-stakes matchups that could have a huge impact on both the title race and the playoff battle. At the Motorpoint Arena , the Nottingham Panthers host the Manchester Storm (7:30pm face-off) in a game that could see the Panthers pull level on points with leaders Belfast Giants. Meanwhile, the Storm are fighting for their playoff lives, sitting just four points behind Dundee Stars in the race for the final postseason spot. Elsewhere, the Glasgow Clan take on the Guildford Flames , while the Belfast Giants host the Fife Flyers , as the Giants look to hold onto their top spot in the league standings. Let’s dive into tonight’s key matchups and what’s at stake. Panthers vs. Storm – Title Race vs. Playoff Push Nottingham’s Jason Grande was the star of the show in their last outing, making 36 saves in a ...

It was a weekend to remember for Sheffield Steelers fans as their team put on a masterclass in both attack and defense, securing four crucial points and claiming the top spot in the Elite League—at least for now. A stunning 10-2 demolition of the Glasgow Clan on Friday night, followed by a composed 4-1 victory over the Manchester Storm at home on Saturday, ensured that the Steelers remain firmly in the title race. Friday Night Frenzy: A 10-2 Statement Win in Glasgow Long road trips can often lead to unpredictable performances, but the Steelers showed no signs of travel fatigue as they dismantled the in-form Glasgow Clan in their own arena. Right from the opening faceoff, Sheffield stamped their authority on the game, scoring just 13 seconds in when Mikko Juusola capitalised on a slick pass from Brandon Whistle. That set the tone for what was to come. Daniel Leavens doubled the lead just two minutes later, pouncing on a turnover, before adding his second of the night to make it 3-0 befo...

  EIHL Weekend Preview: Title Race Battles, Playoff Scraps & Individual Award Contenders With the EIHL season reaching its climax, the stakes have never been higher. The title race remains a three-way battle , the fight for the final playoff spot is heating up , and individual awards are still up for grabs. Every game this weekend carries serious implications. Let’s break it all down. Title Race: Belfast, Nottingham & Sheffield Fight for the Top At the top of the table, Belfast Giants, Nottingham Panthers, and Sheffield Steelers are locked in a tense battle for the EIHL crown . A single misstep could be the difference between lifting the trophy or finishing second best. Cardiff Devils vs. Belfast Giants (Friday Night) The Cardiff Devils face a tough task against the league-leading Belfast Giants . Cardiff has yet to beat Belfast this season , and their last encounter ended in heartbreak, with a Challenge Cup final loss . Adding to their frustration, a midweek defe...

 Panthers vs. Devils: A Crucial Night in the EIHL Title Race The Nottingham Panthers and Cardiff Devils are set for a massive Wednesday night showdown at the Motorpoint Arena, with both teams chasing vital points in the tightest Elite League title race in years. The Panthers, currently third in the standings with 66 points, are just three points behind league leaders Belfast Giants (69 points) and one behind arch-rivals Sheffield Steelers (67 points). A win tonight would see Nottingham leapfrog Sheffield into second place, putting them just a point off the top with the final stretch of the season approaching. Meanwhile, the Devils sit six points behind the Panthers in fourth place, but with a game in hand, they know a strong finish could still put them in the mix for a higher playoff seeding. With so much at stake, this is shaping up to be a crucial encounter for both teams. A Goaltending Duel in the Making? If their last meeting was anything to go by, this could be another battle ...

  Sheffield Steelers' Goal Scoring Woes: A Deeper Dive With just six games remaining in the EIHL season, the Sheffield Steelers find themselves in a tense battle at the top of the table. Sitting in second place, just two points behind the Belfast Giants, they still have a strong chance of claiming the league title. However, despite leading the league in total goals scored with 184, the Steelers have a glaring issue—no players among the top 10 in league scoring. This lack of individual firepower has raised concerns about their ability to consistently find the net, especially in crucial games. The team’s top scorer, Mikko Juusola, has managed just 23 goals so far, making him the only Steelers player to break the 20-goal mark this season. Beyond him, Mitchell Balmas (17 goals) and the departed Maxim Golod (15 goals in just 24 games) round out the team's highest-scoring players. Golod’s impressive tally in half a season only further highlights the team’s struggles, as no one has co...

  EIHL Weekend Recap: Title Race Tightens as Clan Shake Up the Standings The EIHL title race is heating up as we enter the final three weeks of the regular season. What was once an eight-point lead for the Belfast Giants over the Sheffield Steelers has now been cut to just two points. With every game carrying massive implications, fans are in for an exciting finish to the season. Title Race: Giants, Steelers, and Panthers Battling for the Top The weekend saw the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers secure all four points available, while the Belfast Giants dropped one in a shootout loss to the Glasgow Clan. The current standings reflect how tight things have become: Position Team GP PTS W OTW L OTL/SOL GF GA PTS % 1 x - Belfast Giants 47 69 28 4 10 5 174 112 0.73 2 x - Sheffield Steelers 48 67 29 3 13 3 184 123 0.70 3 x - Nottingham Panthers 48 66 27 4 13 4 164 107 0.69 With such a close race at the top, every remaining fixture will be crucial. The Giants still hold a slight ...

  EIHL Weekend Preview: The Final Stretch Begins With just four weeks remaining in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) regular season , the stakes are higher than ever. Whether it’s chasing the league title, securing a favourable playoff seeding, or fighting for that final eighth-place spot , every team has something on the line. This weekend is particularly demanding for Manchester Storm and Coventry Blaze , both playing three games in three days due to rearranged fixtures. Meanwhile, the Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants continue their battle for the league crown , with the Giants fresh off their Challenge Cup victory midweek. With so much to play for, let’s break down the key storylines ahead. Manchester Storm: A Playoff Push or Too Little, Too Late? For Manchester Storm , the situation is clear— it’s now or never. Sitting eight points behind the Dundee Stars for the final playoff spot, but with two games in hand , this weekend is a make-or-break moment for their ...

What Could UK Ice Hockey Achieve with a £2bn Investment? In March 2025, Manchester United unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2bn, 100,000-seater stadium , a project expected to generate 92,000 jobs and 17,000 new homes across Greater Manchester. While football continues to dominate UK sports investment, this raises an interesting question: what could UK ice hockey achieve with the same level of financial backing? Using Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena as a benchmark—the last major ice rink built in the UK, which opened in April 2000 for £43 million (around £50m today with inflation adjustments) —a £2bn investment could fund 40 new arenas across the country. The potential impact on British ice hockey would be game-changing. Expanding the UK Ice Hockey Map Currently, top-tier ice hockey in the UK is limited to a handful of established markets, including Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Belfast. Many other cities and large towns lack professional-standard ice facilities, limiting bot...

  Elite Ice Hockey League Weekend Drama: Playoff Races Heat Up! The past weekend in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) delivered high-stakes drama, thrilling comebacks, and playoff-shaping results. With just weeks remaining before the postseason, every point matters, and the league standings are as tight as ever. Here’s a breakdown of all the major action from Saturday and Sunday’s fixtures. Saturday Showdowns: Playoff Implications Everywhere Panthers Edge Steelers in Shootout Classic Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers closed out their season series with an instant classic in front of a packed Motorpoint Arena. The Steelers struck first, controlling play early, but the Panthers fought back in the third period to tie the game at 1-1. Overtime saw close calls at both ends before a shootout decided things, with Panthers’ Kris Kontos, Tim Doherty, and Cooper Zech securing the win, sending the home fans into raptures. Devils Survive Blaze Comeback in Coventry Cardiff Devils book...

With no Friday night action this week, all eyes turn to a packed Saturday and Sunday schedule , featuring some season-defining matchups . With teams battling for playoff positioning and crucial points on the line, this weekend could have major implications for the final standings. Panthers vs Steelers: A Battle for Second Place One of the biggest games of the season takes place on Saturday night in Nottingham , as the Panthers host the Sheffield Steelers in a rivalry clash that carries huge playoff implications . Just one point separates these two teams , meaning a win for the Panthers would see them leapfrog their local rivals into second place. On the flip side, a loss could put Nottingham under real pressure from Cardiff Devils , who are sitting five points behind with a game in hand . The Steelers have historically dominated this fixture , but this season has been a much closer affair . Every meeting between these teams has been decided by just one goal , showing just how tig...

  EIHL Midweek Battles: Playoff Pressure, Title Race, and a Clash in Fife As we barrel toward the business end of the EIHL season, Wednesday night brings us three crucial matchups—two of which could have major implications for both the playoff race and the battle for the league title.— Manchester Storm vs. Dundee Stars in a crucial playoff race showdown, Nottingham Panthers vs. Glasgow Clan in a battle of two in-form teams, and Fife Flyers hosting Cardiff Devils. Buckle up, hockey fans—this midweek action is set to bring high-intensity, must-win hockey ! Manchester Storm vs. Dundee Stars – Playoff Dreams on the Line It’s do-or-die time in Altrincham , as 9th-place Manchester Storm take on the 8th-place Dundee Stars in a true playoff-style battle . Storm trail Dundee by five points, but with two games in hand, a win here would cut the gap to just three points and put them in prime position to overtake the Stars for the final EIHL playoff spot . Momentum is on Manchester’s side af...

The latest round of EIHL fixtures delivered another weekend of intense action, shock results, and major implications for both the title race and the playoff battle. With Belfast Giants still leading the way, Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers remain hot on their heels, while the fight for the remaining playoff spots continues to intensify. Friday Night Drama – A Tough Start for the Giants The weekend got off to a flying start as Manchester Storm pulled off a shock 4-3 victory over league leaders Belfast Giants. This was a massive result for Manchester, who have struggled for consistency this season but showed resilience to edge out the Giants in a tightly contested game. Alexis D'Aoust was the star of the night, breaking the 50-point mark with a 3-point game (1G, 2A). Elsewhere, Glasgow Clan delivered a statement win with a commanding 4-1 victory over Cardiff Devils. The result sent a message that Glasgow are determined to fight for a strong playoff position, while Cardiff ...

  Last night's 6-0 defeat to Coventry Blaze was not just a loss—it was an embarrassment. In what was arguably the worst performance I’ve ever seen from this team, the Steelers looked nothing like title contenders. After Belfast’s slip-up against Manchester the night before, this was a golden opportunity to put ourselves right back in the hunt. Instead, we got a performance that lacked urgency, intensity, and, quite frankly, effort. Starting with the Positives… Well, there weren’t as many boos as I expected. That’s about it. A Lack of Urgency, A Lack of Fight When you’re chasing a league title, these are the games where you need to show up. The Steelers should have come out flying, with the kind of energy we’ve seen in flashes this season and had in abundance last year. Instead, they started flat, stayed flat, and never looked like getting going. This wasn’t just an off night—it was a complete collapse. From the first puck drop, there was no intensity, no physicality, no battle. Co...