2009–10 EIHL season

The 2009–10 EIHL season is the seventh season of the Elite Ice Hockey League. It began in September 2009 and concluded in April 2010.
==League business==
On 25 March 2009, Basingstoke Bison announced their decision to depart from the Elite Ice Hockey League to join the second tier English Premier League, citing considerable financial losses as their reason for withdrawing. In the build up to the 2008–09 season finale, rumours circulated over the possible exclusion from the league of the Edinburgh Capitals, Manchester Phoenix and Newcastle Vipers, and the EIHL operating with six teams. Although it was initially stated that the league would continue with nine teams, it was announced on 1 May 2009 that Manchester Phoenix would also play in the English Premier League.
The resulting change in the format will see teams play a 56 game schedule, facing each of their opponents 8 times (4 home, 4 away) during the course of the regular season.
==Champions==
League-Coventry Blaze
Playoffs-Belfast Giants
Challenge Cup-Nottingham Panthers
==Teams==
Team 	Arena(s)
Belfast Giants 	Odyssey Arena
Cardiff Devils 	Cardiff Arena
Coventry Blaze 	SkyDome Arena
Edinburgh Capitals 	Murrayfield Ice Rink
Hull Stingrays 	Hull Arena
Newcastle Vipers 	Whitley Bay Ice Rink
Nottingham Panthers	National Ice Centre
Sheffield Steelers 	Motorpoint Arena/IceSheffield
==Charity Shield==
The Charity Shield was played between the regular season and playoff champion from 2008-09, Sheffield, and the playoff runner-up, Nottingham. It was played on September 2, 2009, in front of 6500 spectators in Nottingham.
*Nottingham Panthers - Sheffield Steelers 6:6 (2:3, 2:2, 2:1), 1:2 SO
==Challenge Cup==
===Group stage===
====Group A====
 	Team 	P	W	T	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Belfast Giants 	6	4	1	1	30	17	9
2	Sheffield Steelers	6	4	0	2	28	21	8
3	Edinburgh Capitals	6	2	0	4	15	26	4
4	Newcastle Vipers 	6	1	1	4	13	22	3
====Group B====
 	Team 	P	W	T	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Nottingham Panthers	6	5	1	0	23	15	11
2	Cardiff Devils 	6	4	0	2	28	22	8
3	Coventry Blaze 	6	2	0	4	19	22	4
4	Hull Stingrays 	6	0	1	5	16	27	1
===Final stage===
;Semifinals
*Cardiff Devils - Belfast Giants 5:2, 3:5
*Nottingham Panthers - Sheffield Steelers 4:2, 3:1
;Final
*Nottingham Panthers - Cardiff Devils 4:2, 4:5
==Elite League Table==
Team positions determine seeding for Play Offs
Regular season standings	GP	W 	OTW	OTL	L 	Pts
Coventry Blaze 	56	33	5 	0 	18	76
Belfast Giants 	56	32	1 	5 	16	75
Nottingham Panthers 	56	29	5 	2 	20	70
Cardiff Devils 	56	25	6 	3 	22	65
Sheffield Steelers 	56	21	3 	6 	26	54
Edinburgh Capitals 	56	18	4 	8 	26	52
Newcastle Vipers 	56	17	4 	4 	31	46
Hull Stingrays 	56	14	5 	5 	32	43
GP=Games Played
W=Win,
OTW=Over Time Wins,
OTW=Over Time Loses,
L=Loses,
Pts=Points,
==Elite League Playoffs==
After two legged quarter finals the end of season playoffs were held at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham from April 3 to 4. 
The final was contested between the Cardiff Devils and the Belfast Giants. The match was 2-2 after all three periods and stayed 2-2 after 10 minutes of sudden death overtime. The match then went to a shootout which the Belfast Giants won in the sudden death stage of the shootout 1-0.
==20/20 Hockey Fest==
The 2009-10 Elite League Ice hockey season begun with a one day competition at Sheffield Steelers, Sheffield Arena. The tournament was called the 20/20 Hockey fest and was designed to make British Ice hockey more exciting. It contested of 2 periods of 20 minute non-stop clock. The tournament winners were the hosts the Sheffield Steelers.
Quarter Finals
Sheffield Steelers 5-1 Hull Stingrays
Belfast Giants 2-3 Cardiff Devils (After Penalty Shoot out) 
Edinburgh Capitals 0-1 Newcastle Vipers 
Coventry Blaze 6-0 Nottingham Panthers
Semi Finals
Sheffield Steelers 4-1 Cardiff Devils 
Newcastle Vipers 2-3 Coventry Blaze
Final
Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Coventry Blaze
==References==
Category:2009–10 in European ice hockey leagues
2009–10