2019–20 EIHL season explained

2019–20 EIHL season
League:Elite Ice Hockey League
Sport:Ice hockey
Season:Regular season
Season Champ Name:League
Season Champs:No winner
Playoffs:Conference
Finals:Playoffs
Seasonslistnames:EIHL

The 2019–20 EIHL season was the 17th season of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The regular season commenced on 7 September 2019 and was due to end on 29 March 2020, with the playoffs following in April 2020. The reigning league champions were the Belfast Giants, who won the title on the final day of the regular season, in 2018–19.[1]

On 13 March 2020, two weekends before the regular season was due to end, league officials cancelled all remaining matches due to be held; this was as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[2] [3]

Teams

After having eleven teams for the 2018–19 season, the league reduced to ten for the 2019–20 season. This was due to the Milton Keynes Lightning – who had finished bottom of the league – returning to the National Ice Hockey League.[4] For the first time since 2011–12, the league did not feature Conference splits.

7,200
3,088
3,000
2,400
3,525
4,000
2,001
2,351
7,500
8,500

League standings at time of cancellation

Each team was scheduled to play 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, where two points are 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 would normally be crowned the league champion.

However, after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the season, it was agreed the season would finish without a league winner; Sheffield Steelers won the Challenge Cup; league leaders Cardiff Devils qualified for the 2020–21 Champions Hockey League.[5]

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points, at the conclusion of matches played on 8 March 2020.[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.

PlayerTeam
Nottingham Panthers46302959+1642
Cardiff Devils46292857+1130
Sheffield Steelers48262955+1686
Coventry Blaze47332154+418
Coventry Blaze48173552–1116
Sheffield Steelers40262551+1247
Coventry Blaze48212950+954
Coventry Blaze4394049+816
Sheffield Steelers42262147+1961
Cardiff Devils46133447+318

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average, at the conclusion of matches played on 8 March 2020, providing they had played 1080 minutes.[7]

PlayerTeam
Belfast Giants432445:10241797291.65%2.38
Nottingham Panthers372233:25221590491.78%2.42
Coventry Blaze241465:2015961392.68%2.50
Manchester Storm492914:181830137392.11%2.82
Cardiff Devils462763:313115130290.50%2.82

Notes and References

  1. News: Elite League: Cardiff Devils lose at Coventry Blaze to miss out on title. BBC Sport. BBC. 31 March 2019. 7 September 2019.
  2. News: EIHL cancels all matches for rest of season. Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  3. News: Coronavirus: Elite League ice hockey cancelled for the rest of 2019-20. BBC Sport. BBC. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  4. News: MK Lightning to drop out of Elite League. James. Gordon. British Ice Hockey. JDG Media Ltd. 16 March 2019. 7 September 2019.
  5. News: No League Champions in 2019/20 - Devils to enter CHL. Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 26 March 2020. 28 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Statistics: Players. Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 9 March 2020.
  7. Web site: Statistics: Goalies. Elite Ice Hockey League. Pendulum Management. 9 March 2020.