BILLINGHAM STARS 

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Founded in 1971, the Billingham Stars have established themselves as one of the most storied ice hockey teams in the region. Coaching duties are currently shared between Richard Thornton and Stephen Foster, who guide the squad from their home at the Billingham Forum Ice Arena. The club’s long franchise history traces back to its original incarnation as the Billingham Bombers, active from 1971 to 1982. Last season was one for the record books: the team won 33 out of 36 regular season games, suffering only 3 losses, clinched the league title, and continued their momentum to be crowned playoff champions.

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BLACKBURN HAWKS

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Founded in 1990, the Blackburn Hawks are guided by head coach Dominic Osman and call the Blackburn Arena their home. The current franchise marks the fourth chapter in the club’s history, beginning as the Blackhawks (1990–1992), then evolving into the Blackburn Hawks (1992–1997), followed by a brief transformation into the Lancashire Hawks for the 1997–1998 season, before reverting to the Blackburn Hawks name from 1998 to the present. The Hawks showcased their competitive edge last season by winning 29 games with one overtime win, losing just 6, and ultimately securing second place in the league, finishing as runners-up in the playoffs.

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DEESIDE DRAGONS

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Founded in 2012, the Deeside Dragons are led by head coach Mike Clancy and play their home games at Deeside Leisure Centre. The Dragons made headlines during the 2015/2016 season by capturing both the conference title and the playoff championship, marking a high point in the club’s history. Last season, the Welsh side finished in 4th place, their playoff campaign concluding at the semifinal stage. The Dragons recorded 19 wins and 14 losses throughout the regular season, with 3 additional victories coming in overtime.

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HULL JETS

Founded in 2013 and affiliated with the Hull Seahawks, the Hull Jets are under the guidance of head coach Andy Daintith and compete at the Hull Arena. The Jets capped last season with a solid 5th-place league finish, their playoff aspirations ending in the quarterfinals. Over the regular season, the Jets notched 18 wins, tallied 12 losses, earned 1 overtime win, and endured 5 overtime losses.

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LEEDS KNIGHTS 2

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Founded in 2019 and affiliates of the Leeds Knights, Leeds Knights 2 are under the leadership of head coach David Lawrence and play their home games at Planet Ice Leeds. Last season proved challenging for the team, as they recorded 6 wins, 26 losses, secured 1 win in overtime, and suffered 3 additional losses during overtime play.

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NOTTINGHAM LIONS

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Founded back in 2000 and currently celebrating their 25th anniversary, the Nottingham Lions are coached by Matt Bradbury and play out of the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. The Lions made history in 2009 as the inaugural winners of the English National Ice Hockey League playoffs. Last season, the Lions finished 7th in the league and advanced to the quarterfinals. Their regular season campaign concluded with 13 wins, 21 losses, 1 overtime win, and 1 overtime loss.

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SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS 

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Tracing their roots back to 1986, the Sheffield Scimitars are one of the league’s longest-standing franchises, despite a series of transformations over the decades. The original franchise ended in 2012, after which the team competed as the Senators for several seasons before reverting to the Scimitars name in 2020. Coached by Michael Szollosy and based at IceSheffield, the club faced a demanding campaign last season. The Scimitars finished 10th in the league, falling short of a playoff spot. Their season record included just 4 wins, 30 losses, 1 overtime victory, and 1 overtime defeat—a challenging chapter for this storied Sheffield side.

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SOLIHULL BARONS

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Founded in 2005 but tracing their franchise lineage back to 1965, the Solihull Barons are coached by Phil Lee and call Planet Ice Solihull their home. The Barons delivered an impressive campaign last season, finishing 3rd in the league and powering through to the semifinals. Their regular season record was formidable, amassing 23 wins, 10 losses, along with 2 overtime victories and a single overtime defeat.

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TELFORD TIGERS 2

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Telford Tigers 2 are the affiliate side of the Telford Tigers, established in 2017. The team benefits from a collaborative coaching team—Tom Lauder, Andrew Watt, and Jason Silverthorn—who share their knowledge and expertise to guide the squad at Telford Ice Rink. Last season, with the Whitley Warriors moving to the SNL, a spot opened in the NIHL 2 North Division, which Tigers 2 seized with impressive determination. They stormed through the league, finishing as league winners and crowning their campaign as playoff champions. Their remarkable record stood at 25 wins with just a single loss across 26 games, marking one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history.

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WIDNES WILD

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The Widnes Wild, established in 2013, compete from Planet Ice Widnes in the northwest under the direction of coach Richard Haggar. Notably, the club also supports a female affiliate team, the Widnes Wild Women, expanding hockey opportunities within the community. Last season proved a tough test for the Wild, as they finished 9th in the league and missed out on playoff contention. Their campaign concluded with 6 wins, 28 losses, and 2 overtime victories—a challenging record that leaves the team determined to regroup and aim higher in the upcoming season.

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