2009–10 EIHL season

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. ==Teams==

Team positions determine seeding for Play Offs 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 3 to 4 April. 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==