In the final week of the year, teams from across the Elite League and National League combined for a festival of goalscoring. There is plenty to unpack in the latest edition of the British Ice Hockey Roundup as a result, starting with the latest twist in the top-flight title race.
Guildford Flames falter in Elite League title race
Is that the sound of the tides turning at the top of the Elite League?
The Guildford Flames finished 2022 with three losses on the bounce and were vaulted in the standings by the Sheffield Steelers on New Year’s Eve. Paul Dixon’s squad had their confidence knocked by a heavy defeat to the Manchester Storm on Boxing Day, before bouncing back with a shutout win over the Cardiff Devils six days later.
By contrast, the Steelers continued their fine form with statement wins over the Storm and Nottingham Panthers.
“That was one of the best first periods we’ve had in this building for quite a long time,” Aaron Fox said of Sheffield’s 7-1 win versus the Storm. “The fan support that we’ve received over the holiday period has been outstanding. We’re where we want to be at the 27-game mark and we’ve got to keep it up.”
The Steelers sit top of the table by a one-point margin. Will they maintain it in the second half of the season?
Goalscoring festival hits the Elite League
Monday, 26 December 2022
Goalscoring Festival: Paul Dixon, Guildford Flames (Image: Scott Wiggins)
- Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Nottingham Panthers
- Dundee Stars 3-2 Fife Flyers
- Glasgow Clan 3-4 Belfast Giants (OT)
- Coventry Blaze 2-3 Cardiff Devils (OT)
- Manchester Storm 8-1 Guildford Flames
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
- Nottingham Panthers 1-5 Sheffield Steelers
- Cardiff Devils 4-1 Coventry Blaze
- Fife Flyers 4-1 Dundee Stars
- Guildford Flames 5-6 Manchester Storm
- Belfast Giants 6-3 Glasgow Clan
Thursday, 29 December 2022
- Belfast Giants 3-1 Dundee Stars
Saturday, 31 December 2022
- Glasgow Clan 2-3 Dundee Stars (OT)
- Cardiff Devils 4-2 Guildford Flames
- Sheffield Steelers 7-1 Manchester Storm
- Nottingham Panthers 6-4 Coventry Blaze
- Fife Flyers 2-7 Belfast Giants
Sunday, 1 January 2023
- Guildford Flames 3-0 Cardiff Devils
- Manchester Storm 4-5 Sheffield Steelers
National League celebrates New Year with festival of goalscoring
Monday, 26 December 2022
- Basingstoke Bison 6-3 Swindon Wildcats
- Milton Keynes Lightning 2-4 Peterborough Phantoms
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
- Bees IHC 2-3 Raiders IHC
- Bristol Pitbulls 3-5 Telford Tigers
- Leeds Knights 4-0 Sheffield Steeldogs
- Peterborough Phantoms 2-6 Milton Keynes Lightning
- Swindon Wildcats 10-2 Basingstoke Bison
Wednesday, 28 December 2022 – Friday, 30 December 2022
Goalscoring Festival: Declan Balmer, Hull Seahawks (Image: Tony King)
- Raiders IHC 4-1 Bees IHC
- Sheffield Steeldogs 5-1 Hull Seahawks
- Telford Tigers 1-9 Bristol Pitbulls
- Hull Seahawks 1-4 Leeds Knights
- Milton Keynes Lightning 4-2 Basingstoke Bison
Saturday, 31 December 2022
- Sheffield Steeldogs 3-5 Leeds Knights
- Swindon Wildcats 7-6 Bristol Pitbulls
Sunday, 1 January 2023
- Basingstoke Bison 1-5 Milton Keynes Lightning
- Bristol Pitbulls 3-2 Swindon Wildcats
- Leeds Knights 7-2 Hull Seahawks
- Peterborough Phantoms 4-2 Raiders IHC
Finally… Happy New Year from everyone at British Ice Hockey! It’s an exciting time to be involved in the sport on these shores, not least with Liam Kirk’s move to Liiga, a home ice World Championship just around the corner, and scintillating title races in our top two divisions. In 2023, may the puck always bounce in your favour. It’s time for another year of hockey and we can’t wait to get started.
Goalscoring Festival: Did you watch any games over the festive season? Let us know where you went by tweeting @BritIceHockey.
