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2024–25 EIHL season
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The 2024–25 EIHL season was the 21st season of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the highest level of domestic ice hockey played in the United Kingdom, with three separate competitions played for between September 2024 and April 2025.[1][2]
Ten teams competed in the league, over a 54-game regular season, with the best eight teams qualifying for the second competition, the playoffs. The playoffs were then held over three knockout rounds with aggregated quarter-finals, and one-off matches for the semi-finals and final – with the last two rounds played over the finals weekend at the Nottingham Arena. Teams also competed in the Challenge Cup, involving group play and one-off knockout rounds to crown its winner. The defending champion in all three competitions are the Sheffield Steelers, having completed a Grand Slam in 2023–24.
The first silverware of the season went to the Belfast Giants, who won the Challenge Cup for the sixth time overall, and a fifth time in seven seasons, with a 4–0 victory over the Cardiff Devils.[3][4] The Giants then added a record seventh regular season title, prevailing over the Steelers by three points, after both teams had entered the final day of the season with an opportunity to finish top of the table.[5] The Devils stopped a Grand Slam with a 5–0 win over the Giants in the playoff semi-final,[6] progressing to the final against the Nottingham Panthers.[7] In a final where both teams had a game-winning overtime goal overturned via coach's challenge, the Panthers won 4–3 in double overtime for their first playoff title since 2016.[8]
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Teams
The same ten teams that competed in 2023–24 remained for the 2024–25 season.
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Regular season
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League standings
Each team played 54 games, playing each of the other nine teams six times: three times on home ice, and three times away from home. Points were awarded for each game, 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 finished with the most points was crowned the league champion, and qualified for the 2025–26 Champions Hockey League.[9] The top eight teams qualified for the playoffs.[10]
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 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.
(C) Champion
Rules for classification: 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.
(C) Champion
Statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the regular season.[11] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
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 the regular season.[12]
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Playoffs
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Bracket
In the two-legged quarter-finals, the highest-ranked team met the lowest-ranked team, the second-highest-ranked team met the second-lowest-ranked team and so forth. The winners of each tie was determined by aggregate scoring over the two games. In the semi-finals, the highest remaining seed was matched against the lowest remaining seed, with the other two teams facing off. The winners of the semi-finals progressed to the Final, with the losers playing in the third-place match.
Quarter-finals (11–13 April) | Semi-finals (19 April) | Final (20 April) | ||||||||||||||
1 | Belfast Giants | 5 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||
8 | Dundee Stars | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||
1 | Belfast Giants | 0 | ||||||||||||||
4 | Cardiff Devils | 5 | ||||||||||||||
2 | Sheffield Steelers | 1 | 4 | 5 | ||||||||||||
7 | Glasgow Clan | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||
4 | Cardiff Devils | 3 | ||||||||||||||
(Pairings are reseeded after the first round) | ||||||||||||||||
3 | Nottingham Panthers | 4 | ||||||||||||||
3 | Nottingham Panthers | 2 | 6 | 8 | ||||||||||||
6 | Guildford Flames | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||
2 | Sheffield Steelers | 3 | Third place | |||||||||||||
3 | Nottingham Panthers | 4 | ||||||||||||||
4 | Cardiff Devils | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | Belfast Giants | 8 | |||||||||
5 | Coventry Blaze | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Sheffield Steelers | 7 |
Quarter-finals
(1) Belfast Giants vs. (8) Dundee Stars
12 April 2025 | Belfast Giants | 5–2 | Dundee Stars | SSE Arena Belfast Attendance: 6,812 |
Recap | |||
Jordan Kawaguchi – 5:11 | First period | 14:54 – Kyle Pouncy | ||||||
Second period | No scoring | |||||||
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Third period | 18:15 – Cole MacDonald | ||||||
Jackson Whistle (29 shots / 27 saves) | Goalie stats | Jarrett Fiske (36 shots / 31 saves) |
13 April 2025 | Dundee Stars | 1–3 | Belfast Giants | Dundee Ice Arena Attendance: 1,957 |
Recap | |||
No scoring | First period |
| ||||||
No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
Spencer Naas – 13:51 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Jarrett Fiske (31 shots / 28 saves) | Goalie stats | Jackson Whistle (28 shots / 27 saves) |
Belfast Giants win 8–3 on aggregate. | |
(2) Sheffield Steelers vs. (7) Glasgow Clan
11 April 2025 | Glasgow Clan | 3–1 | Sheffield Steelers | Braehead Arena Attendance: 2,764 |
Recap | |||
Mitchell Heard – 5:37 | First period | No scoring | ||||||
No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
|
Third period | 13:39 – Daniel Ciampini | ||||||
Landon Bow (30 shots / 29 saves) | Goalie stats | Matt Greenfield (44 shots / 41 saves) |
13 April 2025 | Sheffield Steelers | 4–1 | OT | Glasgow Clan | Sheffield Arena Attendance:8,468 |
Recap | ||
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First period | No scoring | ||||||
Kevin Tansey (PPG) – 1:45 | Second period | 17:14 – Steven Seigo | ||||||
No scoring | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Patrick Watling – 2:23 | First overtime period | No scoring | ||||||
Matt Greenfield (26 shots / 25 saves) | Goalie stats | Landon Bow (40 shots / 36 saves) |
Sheffield Steelers win 5–4 on aggregate. | |
(3) Nottingham Panthers vs. (6) Guildford Flames
12 April 2025 | Guildford Flames | 3–2 | Nottingham Panthers | Guildford Spectrum Attendance: 1,954 |
Recap | |||
Jack Jacome – 3:31 | First period | 16:21 – Tim Doherty | ||||||
Daniel Tedesco – 15:42 | Second period | 14:02 – Tim Doherty (2; PPG) | ||||||
Ethan Strang – 11:08 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Eamon McAdam (45 shots / 43 saves) | Goalie stats | Jason Grande (33 shots / 30 saves) |
13 April 2025 | Nottingham Panthers | 6–3 | Guildford Flames | Nottingham Arena Attendance:6,666 |
Recap | |||
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First period | No scoring | ||||||
|
Second period |
| ||||||
Third period | 8:56 – Brett Ferguson (PPG) | |||||||
Jason Grande (39 shots / 36 saves) | Goalie stats | Eamon McAdam (30 shots / 25 saves) |
Nottingham Panthers win 8–6 on aggregate. | |
(4) Cardiff Devils vs. (5) Coventry Blaze
12 April 2025 | Coventry Blaze | 0–2 | Cardiff Devils | Coventry Skydome Attendance: 2,219 |
Recap | |||
No scoring | First period | No scoring | ||||||
No scoring | Second period |
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No scoring | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Mat Robson (34 shots / 32 saves) | Goalie stats | Ben Bowns (34 shots / 34 saves) |
13 April 2025 | Cardiff Devils | 6–3 | Coventry Blaze | Ice Arena Wales Attendance: 3,110 |
Recap | |||
Brad Schoonbaert – 14:49 | First period |
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Ryan Barrow – 12:26 | Second period | 1:22 – Alessio Luciani | ||||||
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Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Ben Bowns (33 shots / 30 saves) | Goalie stats | Mat Robson (34 shots / 28 saves) |
Cardiff Devils win 8–3 on aggregate. | |
Semi-finals
Following the conclusion of the quarter-final matchups, the schedule for the Finals weekend was confirmed.
19 April 2025 15:00 | Belfast Giants | 0–5 (0–1, 0–4, 0–0) | Cardiff Devils | Nottingham Arena |
19 April 2025 19:00 | Sheffield Steelers | 3–4 (OT) (1–0, 1–1, 1–2, 0–1) | Nottingham Panthers | Nottingham Arena |
Third-place match
20 April 2025 13:00 | Belfast Giants | 8–7 (3–4, 2–1, 3–2) | Sheffield Steelers | Nottingham Arena |
Final
20 April 2025 17:00 | Nottingham Panthers | 4–3 (2OT) (1–0, 2–1, 0–2, 0–0, 1–0) | Cardiff Devils | Nottingham Arena |
Statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the playoffs.[13] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
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 the playoffs.[14]
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Challenge Cup
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The Challenge Cup was split into two stages: an initial group stage where the league's ten teams were divided into two groups based on geographical distance – one group of six teams (Group A) and a group of four teams (Group B).[15] The teams in Group A (the five English teams and the Cardiff Devils) played each of the other teams twice for a total of ten games, while the teams in Group B (the three Scottish teams and the Belfast Giants) played each of the other teams four times for a total of twelve games.
The top two teams in Group A and the winners of Group B qualified for the semi-finals. The runners-up in Group B faced the third-placed team in Group A in a one-off game, held at the arena of the team with a higher group stage points percentage, to determine the final semi-finalist.[16]
Group stage
Group A
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 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.
Rules for classification: 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 B
Source: Elite League
Rules for classification: 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.
Rules for classification: 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.
Knockout stage
Bracket
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|
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1 | Belfast Giants | 3 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||
4 | Nottingham Panthers | 5 | 4 | Nottingham Panthers | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||
5 | Glasgow Clan | 1 | 1 | Belfast Giants | 4 | ||||||||||
3 | Cardiff Devils | 0 | |||||||||||||
2 | Sheffield Steelers | 5 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||
3 | Cardiff Devils | 3 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||
Play-in match
22 January 2025 19:30 | Nottingham Panthers | 5–1 (2–0, 1–1, 2–0) | Glasgow Clan | Nottingham Arena Attendance: 3,813 |
Semi-finals
As the highest seed from the group stage, the Belfast Giants selected the Nottingham Panthers to be their semi-final opponents,[17] with the Sheffield Steelers taking on the Cardiff Devils as a result of this.[18]
(1) Belfast Giants vs. (4) Nottingham Panthers
12 February 2025 | Belfast Giants | 3–0 | Nottingham Panthers | SSE Arena Belfast Attendance: 6,283 |
Recap | |||
|
First period | No scoring | ||||||
No scoring | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
Jordan Kawaguchi – 7:48 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Jackson Whistle (31 shots / 31 saves) | Goalie stats | Jason Grande (30 shots / 27 saves) |
26 February 2025 | Nottingham Panthers | 2–0 | Belfast Giants | Nottingham Arena Attendance: 5,263 |
Recap | |||
No scoring | First period | No scoring | ||||||
Zsombor Garát (PPG) – 12:17 | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
Cooper Zech – 0:37 | Third period | No scoring | ||||||
Jason Grande (32 shots / 32 saves) | Goalie stats | Jackson Whistle (29 shots / 27 saves) |
Belfast Giants win 3–2 on aggregate. | |
(2) Sheffield Steelers vs. (3) Cardiff Devils
5 February 2025 | Sheffield Steelers | 5–3 | Cardiff Devils | Sheffield Arena Attendance: 6,277 |
Recap | |||
|
First period | No scoring | ||||||
Mitchell Balmas (PPG) – 10:21 | Second period |
| ||||||
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Third period | 10:03 – Cole Sanford (2) | ||||||
Matt Greenfield (16 shots / 13 saves) | Goalie stats | Mac Carruth (40 shots / 35 saves) |
12 February 2025 | Cardiff Devils | 4–1 | Sheffield Steelers | Ice Arena Wales Attendance: 3,110 |
Recap | |||
|
First period | No scoring | ||||||
Zach O'Brien – 10:45 | Second period | No scoring | ||||||
Joey Martin – 2:52 | Third period | 7:25 – Mitchell Balmas | ||||||
Mac Carruth (29 shots / 28 saves) | Goalie stats | Matt Greenfield (30 shots / 26 saves) |
Cardiff Devils win 7–6 on aggregate. | |
Final
As the highest remaining seed,[19] the Belfast Giants had home advantage for the final against the Cardiff Devils.[20]
12 March 2025 19:00 | Belfast Giants | 4–0 (2–0, 2–0, 0–0) | Cardiff Devils | SSE Arena Belfast Attendance: 6,149 |
Statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the Challenge Cup.[21] If two or more skaters are tied (i.e. same number of points, goals and played games), all of the tied skaters are shown.
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 the Challenge Cup.[22]
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References
External links
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