Ice hockey: Capitals back in the fold as Elite League agree shake-up

Published on Tuesday 7 April 2009 09:40

EDINBURGH Capitals are now back in ice hockey's Elite League following a spectacular U-turn at a meeting of the nine clubs yesterday only seven days after being left out in the cold.

Elite League chairman Eamon Convery revealed: "Representatives of the Edinburgh Capitals, Manchester Phoenix and Newcastle Vipers joined with their counterparts from the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Hull Stingrays, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers at a meeting.

"It is my pleasure to advise that all are committed to the future of the Elite League.

"The Elite League in 2009-10 will operate with some revisions to the previous formats and the clubs have agreed to a new maximum of ten import players per roster on any given game night."

The regular league season will see all teams meet each other three times home and away for a 48-game season and the Knockout Cup will cease but a new revised Challenge Cup will be unveiled. Work on the full format of the competition, leading to a one-game, neutral venue final, has already begun.

Convery said that the Elite League is also keen to introduce a new early-season tournament weekend and work on an exciting new three-day festival has already started.

The culmination of the season will be the post-season play-offs which were sold out at Nottingham last weekend.

Convery added: "We will confirm exact details of the revised Challenge Cup format and the early-season tournament as soon as possible.

"Everyone left the meeting in a positive frame of mind and determined to continue to work toward a bright and exciting future."