UK Ice Hockey Heats Up: Pre-Season Showdowns & Scottish National League Kick-Off (5–7 September 2025)

A fan’s guide to the weekend’s must-watch fixtures across the EIHL, NIHL, and SNL

Get your scarves ready, hockey fans! The puck drops on a thrilling weekend of UK ice hockey as pre-season matchups and the grand return of the Scottish National League fill rinks with excitement from 5 to 7 September 2025.

EIHL Pre-Season Fixtures: Early Tests and Old Rivalries

Nothing signals the new season like a slate of pre-season clashes. Here’s your breakdown:

·         5 September: Cardiff Devils vs. Nottingham Panthers

·         6 September: Dundee Stars vs. Fife Flyers

·         6 September: Glasgow Clan — Warrior Pro Tournament (Kaufbeuren, Germany)

·         6 September: Guildford Flames vs. Cardiff Devils

·         6 September: Manchester Storm vs. Sheffield Steelers

·         6 September: Nottingham Panthers vs. Coventry Blaze

·         7 September: Coventry Blaze vs. Guildford Flames

·         7 September: Fife Flyers vs. Dundee Stars

·         7 September: Glasgow Clan — Warrior Pro Tournament (Kaufbeuren, Germany)

Don’t miss the Glasgow Clan’s international campaign as they compete in the Warrior Pro Tournament in Germany throughout the weekend!

NIHL Pre-Season Fixtures: Intensity Across the Rinks

The National Ice Hockey League gears up for the season with these pre-season matchups:

·         5 September, 19:15 — Romford Raiders vs. Les Bisons de HC Neuilly-sur-Marne

·         5 September, 19:30 — Basingstoke Bison vs. Swindon Wildcats

·         6 September, 17:30 — Hull Seahawks vs. Leeds Knights

·         6 September, 18:30 — Swindon Wildcats vs. Basingstoke Bison

·         6 September, 18:30 — Edinburgh Capitals vs. Sheffield Steeldogs

·         6 September, 19:00 — Milton Keynes Lightning vs. Romford Raiders

·         6 September, 19:00 — Telford Tigers vs. Bristol Pitbulls

·         6 September, 19:00 — Peterborough Phantoms vs. Les Bisons de HC Neuilly-sur-Marne

·         7 September, 15:00 — Edinburgh Capitals vs. Sheffield Steeldogs

·         7 September, 17:00 — Bristol Pitbulls vs. Telford Tigers

·         7 September, 17:15 — Leeds Knights vs. Hull Seahawks

·         7 September, 17:15 — Romford Raiders vs. Milton Keynes Lightning

·         7 September, 17:30 — Peterborough Phantoms vs. Les Bisons de HC Neuilly-sur-Marne

Scottish National League: The Journey Begins

The SNL drops the puck for week one with these opening encounters:

·         6 September, 17:00 — Kilmarnock Thunder vs. North Ayrshire Wild (Kilmarnock)

·         6 September, 18:30 — Kirkcaldy Kestrels vs. Paisley Pirates (Fife)

·         6 September, 19:15 — Aberdeen Lynx vs. Whitley Warriors (Aberdeen)

Elsewhere in Europe: Champions Hockey League Action

While the UK scene buzzes, European club giants continue to battle in the Champions Hockey League, offering plenty more for hockey diehards to follow.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re cheering from the stands or catching updates from home, this weekend offers a feast of fixtures, fierce rivalries, and the electrifying anticipation only pre-season hockey can bring. Lace up, tune in, and enjoy every moment as UK ice hockey returns with a bang!