Canadian-born Ice Hockey player Mark Simpson recently made a shock signing to the British Ice Hockey team, the Sheffield Steelers.
He has already publicly stated that he is keen to make an immediate impact and leave his mark in his opening season in the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League).
The profile of the Elite Ice Hockey League is increasing. Attendances across the league totalled 1,000,000 for the first time since the 2018/2019 season. A broadcast deal with Premier Sports brings the league to those at home, too. Arguably, the British hockey is missing video-game representation. While console and PC games are more expensive to produce for studios – either at the league’s direction or through simple licensing agreements – mobile gaming has proven to be a great opportunity for film and television franchises to reach their audiences, which it could work well for smaller sports leagues like the EIHL. Online casinos like Unibet Canada and indie game developers have proven the market is fertile ground for expansion and brand growth.
Who is Mark Simpson?
Mark Simpson is a 28-year-old, Canadian-born men’s professional Ice Hockey player who recently joined the Sheffield Steelers, the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side.
The Centre/Left Wing player was both in Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada, in April 1995. He spent ten years playing in Canada and had spells at Saint John Vitos U18 AAA, Woodstock Slammers, Dieppe Commandos, and Moncton Wildcats.
Other Canadian teams he has played for include the Beaverlodge Blades, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and the University of New Brunswick. In the US, he played for Stockton Heat, and more recently, he has played for KalPa in Finland’s Liiga before playing only eight games for Italian side Asiago in the ICEHL.
He eventually signed for the Sheffield Steelers in time for the 2023/24 campaign, which is scheduled to get underway in September.
He will be one of the league’s tallest players, which will be a massive advantage for the Steelers on the forward line. He didn’t manage to leave his mark playing for Asagio or KalPa and is hoping that he can start off on the right foot for the Steelers.
What is the Elite Ice Hockey League?
The Elite Ice Hockey League (or EIHL, for short) is a men’s professional Ice Hockey league that was formed in the United Kingdom in 2003. There are ten teams in the league. Usually, 54 regular season games are played throughout the season.
How did the 2022/23 season end?
The most recent champions are the Belfast Giants. In the 2022/23, the league standings at the end of the season were the following:
- Belfast Steelers
- Guildford Flames
- Sheffield Steelers
- Cardiff Devils
- Coventry Blaze
- Manchester Storm
- Nottingham Panthers
- Glasgow Clan
- Fife Flyers
- Dundee Stars
The Belfast Giants also happen to be the most successful team in the EIHL, having won no less than six titles. The Sheffield Steelers are the second most successful team in the league, having won five league titles.
Simpson will be hoping to help take the Steelers to their sixth league title to equal rivals the Belfast Giants, but only time will tell how much of an impact he can make.
Upcoming fixtures
The Sheffield Steelers’ first game of the season is a home game on Saturday, September 9th, when they play host to the Nottingham Panthers at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield.
Their next game on Saturday, September 16th, is also a home game, this time against the Cardiff Devils.
What other Ice Hockey Leagues is it possible to place a wager on?
Some of the other top Ice Hockey Leagues and tournaments from around the world that you can also generally find a wide range of markets for are the Champions Hockey League, the World Championship, the Liiga (Finland, the SHL (Sweden), and the Ice Hockey League (Austria).
Other popular leagues you can bet on are the top leagues in Germany, Norway, and Switzerland. However, to place wagers, you must be at least the legal minimum age in your country, which could be 18, 19, 20, or 21, depending on which country you live in.
