The 2024–25 EIHL season is 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 compete in the league, over a 54-game regular season, with the best eight teams qualifying for the second competition, the playoffs. The playoffs are 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 compete 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 with a 4–0 victory over the Cardiff Devils.[3][4]

Teams

The same ten teams that competed in 2023–24 remained for the 2024–25 season.

Team City/Town Arena Capacity
Belfast Giants Northern Ireland Belfast SSE Arena Belfast 8,700
Cardiff Devils Wales Cardiff Vindico Arena 3,088
Coventry Blaze England Coventry Coventry Skydome 3,000
Dundee Stars Scotland Dundee Dundee Ice Arena 2,400
Fife Flyers Scotland Kirkcaldy Fife Ice Arena 3,525
Glasgow Clan Scotland Glasgow Braehead Arena 4,000
Guildford Flames England Guildford Guildford Spectrum 2,001
Manchester Storm England Altrincham Altrincham Ice Dome 2,351
Nottingham Panthers England Nottingham Motorpoint Arena Nottingham 7,500
Sheffield Steelers England Sheffield Utilita Arena Sheffield 9,300

Regular season

League standings

Each team plays 54 games, playing each of the other nine teams six times: three times on home ice, and three times away from home. Points are awarded for each game, two points are awarded for all victories, regardless of whether it was in regulation time or after overtime or game-winning shots. One point is 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 finishes with the most points will be crowned the league champion, and may qualify for the 2025–26 Champions Hockey League. The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs.[5]

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belfast Giants (Q) 45 27 4 4 10 169 107 +62 66 Qualification to playoffs
2 Sheffield Steelers (Q) 46 28 2 3 13 178 119 +59 63
3 Nottingham Panthers (Q) 46 25 4 4 13 151 103 +48 62
4 Cardiff Devils (Q) 45 26 2 2 15 151 115 +36 58
5 Coventry Blaze 46 19 6 4 17 151 141 +10 54
6 Guildford Flames 46 19 3 6 18 154 149 +5 50
7 Glasgow Clan 45 17 5 3 20 141 148 −7 47
8 Dundee Stars 47 16 4 4 23 149 179 −30 44
9 Manchester Storm 45 14 3 2 26 138 172 −34 36
10 Fife Flyers (E) 45 3 1 2 39 92 241 −149 10
Updated to match(es) played on 9 March 2025. Source: Elite League
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.

(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of games played on 9 March 2025.[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
Alexis D'Aoust Manchester Storm 45 26 32 58 +1 26
Chase Gresock Coventry Blaze 46 26 25 51 +5 30
Cole Ully Glasgow Clan 42 25 24 49 +7 6
Josh MacDonald Cardiff Devils 43 23 26 49 +9 12
Scott Conway Belfast Giants 45 22 26 48 +32 34
Brendan Harms Dundee Stars 47 21 26 47 −4 38
Alessio Luciani Coventry Blaze 46 20 26 46 +7 21
Nick Seitz Coventry Blaze 46 23 22 45 +4 53
Michael Regush Coventry Blaze 46 13 32 45 +1 12
Mitchell Balmas Sheffield Steelers 46 17 27 44 +9 8

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 9 March 2025.[7]

Player Team(s) GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
Jason Grande Nottingham Panthers 23 1291:48 14 8 39 2 94.49% 1.81
Jackson Whistle Belfast Giants 24 1398:31 17 6 49 2 92.54% 2.10
Ben Bowns Cardiff Devils 22 1317:52 15 7 49 1 93.09% 2.23
Ryan Bednard Nottingham Panthers 23 1342:47 15 7 50 2 92.32% 2.23
Tom McCollum Belfast Giants 22 1315:12 14 8 50 2 91.38% 2.28

Challenge Cup

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).[8] 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.[9]

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Sheffield Steelers 10 5 2 2 1 38 30 +8 16 Qualification to semi-finals
2 Cardiff Devils 10 6 0 1 3 42 32 +10 13
3 Nottingham Panthers 10 4 2 1 3 32 29 +3 13 Qualification to play-in match
4 Coventry Blaze 10 3 2 2 3 32 35 −3 12
5 Manchester Storm 10 2 2 1 5 32 38 −6 9
6 Guildford Flames 10 2 0 1 7 23 35 −12 5
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.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Belfast Giants 12 8 2 1 1 49 24 +25 21 Qualification to semi-finals
2 Glasgow Clan 12 7 0 1 4 40 34 +6 15 Qualification to play-in match
3 Dundee Stars 12 3 1 1 7 38 41 −3 9
4 Fife Flyers 12 2 1 1 8 28 56 −28 7
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.

Knockout stage

Bracket

  • Play-in match
  • (January 2025)
  • Semi-finals
  • (February 2025)
  • Final
  • (March 2025)
1Belfast Giants303
4Nottingham Panthers54Nottingham Panthers022
5Glasgow Clan11Belfast Giants4
3Cardiff Devils0
2Sheffield Steelers516
3Cardiff Devils347

Play-in match

22 January 2025
19:30		Nottingham Panthers5–1
(2–0, 1–1, 2–0)		Glasgow ClanNottingham Arena
Game reference
Jason GrandeGoaliesLandon BowReferees:
Joe Sewell
Chris Wells
Linesmen:
Danny Beresford
Ryan Fraley
Sam Herr (PPG) – 13:331–0
Cooper Zech – 14:112–0
2–122:11 – Mitchell Heard
Mitch Fossier – 29:293–1
Matt Alfaro – 45:514–1
Hugo Roy – 50:225–1
2 minPenalties8 min
46Shots25

Semi-finals

As the highest seed from the group stage, the Belfast Giants selected the Nottingham Panthers to be their semi-final opponents,[10] with the Sheffield Steelers taking on the Cardiff Devils as a result of this.[11]

(1) Belfast Giants vs. (4) Nottingham Panthers
12 February 2025 Belfast Giants 3–0 Nottingham Panthers SSE Arena Belfast 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 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 Recap  
First period No scoring
Mitchell Balmas (PPG) – 10:21 Second period
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 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,[12] the Belfast Giants had home advantage for the final.[13]

12 March 2025
19:00		Belfast Giants4–0
(2–0, 2–0, 0–0)		Cardiff DevilsSSE Arena Belfast
Attendance: 6,149
Game reference
Jackson WhistleGoaliesMac CarruthReferees:
Chris Wells
Andy Dalton
Linesmen:
Nathan Carmichael
Ryan Fraley
Ciaran Long – 6:351–0
J. J. Piccinich – 19:042–0
Jordan Kawaguchi – 21:293–0
Mark Cooper – 22:454–0
10 minPenalties4 min
32Shots37

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of the Challenge Cup.[14] 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
Jordan Kawaguchi Belfast Giants 14 8 11 19 +12 4
Mark Cooper Belfast Giants 15 9 8 17 +8 6
Chase Gresock Coventry Blaze 10 7 9 16 +8 16
Deven Sideroff Glasgow Clan 13 8 7 15 +8 6
Scott Conway Belfast Giants 12 5 10 15 +10 10
Mitchell Heard Glasgow Clan 13 3 12 15 +9 55
Cole Sanford Cardiff Devils 12 11 3 14 +4 8
Phélix Martineau Fife Flyers 12 7 7 14 −5 6
Ryan Hughes Manchester Storm 10 5 9 14 −4 6
J. J. Piccinich Belfast Giants 15 6 7 13 +12 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 the Challenge Cup.[15]

Player Team(s) GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
Jackson Whistle Belfast Giants 10 605:51 8 2 15 4 94.30% 1.49
Ryan Bednard Nottingham Panthers 6 356:03 4 2 13 1 92.57% 2.19
Landon Bow Glasgow Clan 8 480:04 4 4 23 1 91.39% 2.87
Matt Greenfield Sheffield Steelers 10 605:03 8 2 29 0 89.18% 2.88
Mac Carruth Cardiff Devils 7 367:56 4 3 18 0 89.71% 2.94

References

  1. ^ "2024/25 Schedule Released!". EIHL. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Gamecentre". EIHL. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  3. ^ McKendry, Adam (12 March 2025). "Belfast Giants complete first part of treble push with Challenge Cup Final victory over Cardiff Devils". Belfast Telegraph. Mediahuis Ireland. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Belfast Giants win 2025 Challenge Cup!". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Standings 2024/2025 Elite Ice Hockey League". EIHL. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Statistics: Players – Elite Ice Hockey League 2024/2025". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Statistics: Goalies – Elite Ice Hockey League 2024/2025". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  8. ^ Crow, Allan (13 May 2024). "EIHL's new Challenge Cup format revealed after fans' survey criticism – and it still feels clunky". Fife Free Press. National World. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  9. ^ "New Challenge Cup format for 2024/25". EIHL. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Panthers against Giants in Cup semi-finals". Nottingham Panthers. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Devils trail Steelers after semi-final first leg". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Challenge Cup Final on 12 March 2025". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  13. ^ McKendry, Adam (26 February 2025). "Adam Keefe proud as Belfast Giants battle through adversity to set up Challenge Cup Final date with Cardiff". Belfast Telegraph. Mediahuis Ireland. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Statistics: Players – Challenge Cup 2024/2025". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Statistics: Goalies – Challenge Cup 2024/2025". Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024%E2%80%9325_EIHL_season
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