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. Previously, the highest league has been the British National League (1954–60), the Premier Division (1983–96) and the Ice Hockey Superleague (1996–2003).

History

Prior to the formation of the British National League, England and Scotland each had their own competitions. The English League was founded in 1931 with the Scottish National League being formed a year later. The majority of English League clubs left to form the English National League in 1935, [cite web | url=http://www.azhockey.com/En.htm#EL | title=English League | work=A to Z Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey | accessdate=2008-06-10 ] leading the disbandment of the English League at the end of the 1935–36 season. The Scottish National League and English National League both continued until 1954. In that year the decision was taken to amalgamate the two leagues into one.cite book |author = Chambers, Michael A. (ed.) |title= Nottingham Panthers Factual Scrapbook 1939–2007 |publisher= |date= 2007-09-01 |isbn= 0953939812 ] The new competition initially fielded 12 sides in its inaugural season, four from England and eight from Scotland. The Dunfermline Vikings withdrew from the league in early 1955 and at the end of the season six of the seven remaining Scottish sides withdrew, leaving the league with five members. This fell to four following the closure of Harringay Arena in 1958 but increased again to five in 1959 following the admission of Streatham. The league was disbanded following the 1959–60 season.

Following the closure of the British National League, no league competition took place in the United Kingdom for the next six years. Instead clubs, some of which did not have a home rink, participated in rink tournaments. [cite web | url=http://www.ihjuk.co.uk/history.htm | title=Ice Hockey History | work=Ice Hockey Journalists UK | accessdate=2008-06-10 ] In 1966 the Northern League was formed. This league was made up of teams from Scotland and North East England and was the country's only league for four years. The Southern League was established in 1970 and was divided into the English League North and Inter-City League in 1978. The British Hockey League was formed in 1982 with the Premier Division being launched a season later. There has been a British league continuously since then, although there have been three different organizations and the number of teams taking part has varied from twelve between 1993 and 1995 to five in 2002–03. The current Elite Ice Hockey League was established in 2003.

In the 31 seasons in which a British league competition has been organized, a total of 39 clubs have taken part (although some clubs, such as the Ice Hockey Superleague's Newcastle franchise, have existed under different names). Of these 16 have won the league championship. The most successful clubs are the Sheffield Steelers and the now-defunct Durham Wasps, who have each won the title on five occasions. The Cardiff Devils have been champions four times, while the Coventry Blaze have won the title three times. Of the other teams currently playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the Belfast Giants have been champions twice while the Nottingham Panthers, the only club to have played in all 31 seasons, have won the title once. The Murrayfield Racers, a predecessor of the Edinburgh Capitals, won the championship on two occasions. The Durham Wasps, Murrayfield Racers, Cardiff Devils, Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze are the only sides to have successfully defended a title.

Champions

1954–60: British National League

2003–present: Elite Ice Hockey League

Multiple title winners

British ice hockey has run numerous other competitions in addition to the league. The following teams have won titles in addition to the league championship in a season.

Notes and references