Report from IHUK Board Meeting PRESS RELEASE

6th February 2009

The latest meeting of the Board of Officers of Ice Hockey UK convened in Edinburgh on Thursday for a scheduled regular meeting to review the season to date and the future.

Amongst in attendance were James Anderson, Chairperson of Scottish Ice Hockey, Ken Taggart, Chairperson of the English Ice Hockey Association and Eamon Convery, Chairperson of the bmibaby Elite League.

Mr Convery advised that everyone present at the meeting agreed it was, “a unique opportunity for all concerned to get together, review and discuss the future of the game of ice hockey within the British Isles.”

Convery continued, “All parties were of the same mind that they are happy with the current structures and league levels, and everyone is committed to continue steady improvement and refinement of the operation of the sport in Britain.”

Newspaper reports published in Edinburgh on Thursday suggested that discussions of an almost clandestine nature have taken place between a number of clubs from both England and Scotland with a view to the formation of a new league.

Mr Convery dismissed the reports saying, “Any reports of a new league should be considered and treated as being mischievous and with no foundation. The Board of Officers are unanimously agreed that only the current league structures in place are sanctioned for operation under the auspices of Ice Hockey and that will be the position going forward. Expansion of the ENL Northern League, which is a development league, is under consideration. The league would apply the current regulation of having a maximum of 2 ITC players per team with only 1 being on the ice at any one time.” 

With a number of teams representing Great Britain preparing for World Championship competitions in the forthcoming months, Convery closed by stating, “The GB Senior, Under-18’s and University teams will all be flying the GB flag in the near future and Ice Hockey UK is fully supportive of all their efforts to raise both the level of competition and future success at all levels. One of our paramount goals is to progress the game on both a national and international front and we believe the structures and policies being adhered to currently will achieve this aim.”