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.
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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.[1] 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.[2] Although it was initially stated that the league would continue with nine teams,[3] it was announced on 1 May 2009 that Manchester Phoenix would also play in the English Premier League.[4]
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.[5]
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
The elite league playoff final was contested on the 4th of April, 2010 at the National Ice Arena in Nottingham. It 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.
P1-Cardiff 0-0 Belfast P2-Cardiff 2-2 Belfast P3-Cardiff 0-0 Belfast (2-2 in total) OT-Cardiff 0-0 Belfast (2-2 in total) Penalties-Cardiff 0-1 Belfast (Belfast win)
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