Ice hockey – Edinburgh back in Elite along with Clan, Flyers and Stars

Four Scottish clubs will compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) next season. Braehead Clan, Fife Flyers, Dundee Stars and Edinburgh Capitals all confirmed they are in and new teams, Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames, are included.

A EIHL board meeting confirmed the move and the previous two Conference system of five teams each has been replaced with three Conferences, each with four teams.

Tony Smith, the chairman, said: “I’m excited at how our league looks and it was important that we had all 12 clubs involved in this new set-up.

“We’ve made sure every team gets the best out of this layout and I’m sure it’s something the fans will get behind when they see how it’s all come together. It’s going to be a very competitive competition.”

Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife will form Conference One.

Newcomers Guildford Flames and Milton Keynes Lightning will join Coventry Blaze and Manchester Storm in Conference Two.

Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers will form Conference Three.

Each team will play teams in their own conference four times at home and four times away (12 home games plus 12 away games).

Each team will play teams in the other conference twice at home and twice away (16 home games plus 16 away games).

This will give each team a total of 28 homes games and 28 away games for a total schedule of 56 games – up four games from last year.

The Group Stage of the Challenge Cup will remain, with the 12 teams divided in to three groups.

Group A: Braehead Clan, Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers

Group B: Belfast Giants, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers

Group C: Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Guildford Flames and Milton Keynes Lightning

Each team will play against teams in their own group once at home and once away (total three home games plus three away games).

The top two in each group will advance to the quarter-final stage of the competition with two wild card teams completing the quarter final line up.

The wild cards will be made up of the two teams with the most points that do not automatically qualify.

The Elite League campaign will begin during the weekend of September 9 and 10.