2023–24 EIHL season
The 2023–24 EIHL season is the 20th anniversary season of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The regular season commenced on 23 September 2023, and the final match day will be on 8 April 2024; the playoff quarter-finals will be held over the weekend of 14 April and Playoff final weekend will be held the following weekend.[1]
| 2023–24 EIHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Elite Ice Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration |
|
| Number of matches | 330 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Regular season | |
| Challenge Cup | |
| Playoffs | |
Teams
The same ten teams that competed in 2022–23 competed in the 2023–24 season.
| Team | City/Town | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast Giants | Belfast | SSE Arena Belfast | 8,700 |
| Cardiff Devils |  Cardiff |
Vindico Arena | 3,088 |
| Coventry Blaze |  Coventry |
Coventry Skydome | 3,000 |
| Dundee Stars |  Dundee |
Dundee Ice Arena | 2,400 |
| Fife Flyers | Kirkcaldy |
Fife Ice Arena | 3,525 |
| Glasgow Clan | Glasgow |
Braehead Arena | 4,000 |
| Guildford Flames | Guildford |
Guildford Spectrum | 2,001 |
| Manchester Storm | Altrincham |
Altrincham Ice Dome | 2,351 |
| Nottingham Panthers | Nottingham |
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham | 7,500 |
| Sheffield Steelers | Sheffield |
Utilita Arena Sheffield | 9,300 |
Regular season
League standings
Each team will play 54 games, playing each of the other nine teams six times: three times on home ice, and three times away from home.[2] Points will be awarded for each game, where two points were awarded for all victories, regardless of whether it was in regulation time or after overtime or game-winning shots. One point was awarded for losing in overtime or game-winning shots, and zero points for losing in regulation time. At the end of the regular season, the team that will finish with the most points was crowned the league champion, and qualify for the 2024–25 Champions Hockey League. The top eight teams qualified for the playoffs.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield Steelers | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 10 | +14 | 12 | Qualification to playoffs |
| 2 | Nottingham Panthers | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 16 | +8 | 10 | |
| 3 | Belfast Giants | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 8 | |
| 4 | Cardiff Devils | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 8 | |
| 5 | Manchester Storm | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 7 | |
| 6 | Fife Flyers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 12 | −1 | 5 | |
| 7 | Glasgow Clan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 21 | −6 | 3 | |
| 8 | Coventry Blaze | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 24 | −7 | 3 | |
| 9 | Dundee Stars | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 3 | |
| 10 | Guildford Flames | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 17 | −11 | 2 |
Rules for classification:
- In-season: 1) Points; 2) Fewest games played; end of season criteria as below.
- End of season: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of games played on 22 October 2023.[3] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Kristo | Coventry Blaze | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Mathieu Lemay | Nottingham Panthers | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | +1 | 0 |
| Kobe Roth | Coventry Blaze | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | +1 | 0 |
| Mitchell Balmas | Sheffield Steelers | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | +6 | 0 |
| Patrick Watling | Sheffield Steelers | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | +5 | 2 |
| Michael Pelech | Glasgow Clan | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | +2 | 2 |
| Tyler Busch | Cardiff Devils | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | +2 | 2 |
| Hugo Roy | Nottingham Panthers | 6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +1 | 0 |
| Marc-Olivier Vallerand | Sheffield Steelers | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +5 | 4 |
| Westin Michaud | Nottingham Panthers | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | +4 | 2 |
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes, at the conclusion of games played on 22 October 2023.[4]
| Player | Team(s) | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Greenfield | Sheffield Steelers | 7 | 423:33 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 93.55% | 1.42 |
| Tyler Beskorowany | Belfast Giants | 4 | 245:00 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 92.79% | 1.96 |
| Ben Bowns | Cardiff Devils | 6 | 355:51 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 93.06% | 2.02 |
| Evan Weninger | Manchester Storm | 6 | 365:51 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 93.33% | 2.46 |
| Shane Owen | Fife Flyers | 4 | 245:00 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 94.24% | 2.69 |
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is split into two stages: an initial group stage where the league's ten teams are divided into three groups based on geographical distance – one group of four teams (Group A) and two groups of three teams (Groups B and C). The three group winners, along with the five best remaining teams on win percentage qualify for the knockout stage. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are held over two legs, with a one-off final.[5]
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast Giants (Q) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 11 | +16 | 12 | Qualification to knockout stage |
| 2 | Fife Flyers | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Glasgow Clan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 4 | |
| 4 | Dundee Stars | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 24 | −15 | 0 |
Rules for classification:
- In-season: 1) Points; 2) Fewest games played; end of season criteria as below.
- End of season: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff Devils | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 6 | Qualification to knockout stage |
| 2 | Guildford Flames | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 20 | −6 | 4 | |
| 3 | Coventry Blaze | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 4 |
Rules for classification:
- In-season: 1) Points; 2) Fewest games played; end of season criteria as below.
- End of season: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield Steelers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 5 | +17 | 8 | Qualification to knockout stage |
| 2 | Nottingham Panthers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 19 | −10 | 2 | |
| 3 | Manchester Storm | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 2 |
Rules for classification:
- In-season: 1) Points; 2) Fewest games played; end of season criteria as below.
- End of season: 1) Points; 2) Games won in regulation time; 3) Number of games won; 4) Head-to-head results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 5) Fewest regulation losses; 6) Away game results, ranked by criteria 1 to 3; 7) Goals scored; 8) Goal difference; 9) Fewest penalty minutes; 10) Drawing of lots.
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of games played on 22 October 2023.[6] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Cooper | Belfast Giants | 6 | 4 | 7 | 11 | +4 | 2 |
| Marc-Olivier Vallerand | Sheffield Steelers | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | +7 | 2 |
| Trevor Cox | Cardiff Devils | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | +3 | 0 |
| Ben Lake | Belfast Giants | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | +3 | 4 |
| Max Humitz | Fife Flyers | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | +2 | 2 |
| Mitchell Balmas | Sheffield Steelers | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | +5 | 4 |
| Teemu Pulkkinen | Fife Flyers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | +1 | 2 |
| Gary Haden | Glasgow Clan | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | +1 | 0 |
| Anthon Eriksson | Fife Flyers | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | –4 | 6 |
| Ara Nazarian | Belfast Giants | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | +5 | 10 |
| Quinn Preston | Belfast Giants | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | +5 | 0 |
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, provided that they have played at least 40% of their team's minutes, at the conclusion of games played on 22 October 2023.[7]
| Player | Team(s) | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Greenfield | Sheffield Steelers | 2 | 116:32 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 97.73% | 0.51 |
| Ben Bowns | Cardiff Devils | 2 | 120:00 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 95.08% | 1.50 |
| Tyler Beskorowany | Belfast Giants | 4 | 229:23 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 91.86% | 1.83 |
| Anthony Morrone | Sheffield Steelers | 2 | 120:00 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 92.45% | 2.00 |
| Jake Kielly | Glasgow Clan | 4 | 237:27 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 92.37% | 2.27 |
References
- "Gamecentre". EIHL. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- "Elite League Info". Nottingham Panthers. Nottingham Panthers Limited. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- "Statistics: Players - Elite Ice Hockey League 2023/2024". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "Statistics: Goalies - Elite Ice Hockey League 2023/2024". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "2023/24 Challenge Cup Format". Elite Ice Hockey League. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- "Statistics: Players - Challenge Cup 2023/2024". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "Statistics: Goalies - Challenge Cup 2023/2024". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 23 October 2023.