The EIHA has confirmed the format for NIHL South for season 2017/18.
The applications from former EPL sides Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Peterborough Phantoms and Swindon Wildcats were accepted and they will take their place in Division 1S next season.
There will be 12 teams in D1S, split into two conferences of six teams:
Conference A
Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bees
Cardiff Fire
Milton Keynes Thunder
Oxford City Stars
Solent Devils
Conference B
Chelmsford Chieftains
Invicta Dynamos
London Raiders
Peterborough Phantoms
Streatham IHC
Swindon Wildcats
Teams will play others in the own conference twice home and away, and teams out of conference once home and once away.
There will also be an NIHL S1 Cup with two groups:
Group A
Chelmsford Chieftains
Invicta Dynamos
Streatham IHC
London Raiders
Group B
Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bees
Peterborough Phantoms
Swindon Wildcats
The initial stage of the cup will have one home and one away against the others in their group.
NIHL South Division 2 reverts to a single division of 13 teams, playing one home and one away. Discussions on a NIHL S2 Cup will continue.
Basingstoke Buffalo
Bristol Pitbulls
Bracknell Hornets
Cardiff Fire 2
Chelmsford Warriors
Guildford Phoenix
Haringey
Invicta Mustangs
Lee Valley Lions
Oxford City Stars 2
Peterborough Phantoms 2
Slough Jets
Swindon Wildcats 2
The meeting also agreed that all NIHL South games ending in a draw after 60 minutes will go to five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime and penalty shots if required.
The NIHL season will begin on weekend of 2/3 September and is scheduled to end 7/8 April.
The issue of post season play will be discussed wider following the NIHL North section meeting, which is now scheduled for next weekend.
NIHL South League Manager Richard Carpenter said: “It was a long day, a difficult meeting, but we’ve reached agreement on the way forward for next season and beyond.
“There are no perfect answers or deals to such a highly complicated situation but we would like to thank all teams involved for reaching a deal today to the betterment of British Ice Hockey.
“There are wider whole-NIHL issues which will be discussed after the North section next week, but we’re pleased to have carried out this task of integrating the former EPL clubs into the NIHL structure and agreed a format.”
(Image permission: David Trevallion)
