The Elite Ice Hockey League last night announced a number of controversial changes ahead of the 2012/2013 season.
The biggest and most controversial of these changes came in the form of a league re-structure which will see the current ten strong top flight split into two conferences.
Though the make-up and names of the two conferences are to be officially revealed at a later date, it is has been confirmed by Cardiff Devils owner Paul Ragan and Belfast Giants GM Todd Kelman that the Stingrays will be assigned to a Northern conference alongside Scottish sides Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers, with the Southern group compromising of the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.
The 12/13 schedule will see teams face conference rivals four times home and away, and the teams in the opposite conference twice home and away, with the league winner the team with the best overall record throughout the year.
For those familiar with the sport, the structure - agreed upon at an EIHL board meeting on Monday - though a geographical split, also conveniently splits the ten team league into what has been regarded as the 'haves' and 'have nots' financially.
Regardless of that fact, as far as the Stingrays go, the split puts them in a tough position.
In the alleged Northern conference they would face significant increased travel costs and, likely, decreased attendances through away support. As two of the biggest fanbases and the two most local away trips, the loss of home fixtures against Nottingham and Sheffield - who bring vast followings - combined with extra fixtures against traditionally and understandably the four lowest away crowds is concerning and, likely, financially difficult for the Rays
With that said, were the Rays assigned to the Southern group - while they would benefit from healthy attendances thanks to extra games against Nottingham and Sheffield - the on-ice challenge would be massive. The club would likely struggle to compete with the other four clubs given their resources and because of that lack of competitiveness attendances would likely drop, nullifying the advantage of having the regular visits from large followings of Sheffield and Nottingham in particular
That increased competitiveness in both groups is seen to be one of the only positives to the new structure from a Stingrays perspective, as the split has aligned clubs run on similar finances. Though from initial impressions the consensus has been that Braehead could comfortably run away with a Northern group, that remains to be seen.
Another positive is that the league title winners would be the team with the best overall record from both conferences. Given the supposed five 'weaker' teams would potentially be in the same conference, playing each other more often than they would the Southern conference, the fight for a league title could potentially be blown wide open with any one of Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife or Hull challenging from the Northern conference.
The Stingrays appear to be the team most adversely affected by this decision given the increase in costs and decrease in away fan income. And while there are negatives and they do beg the question whether the club will receive some sort of financial support, the competitiveness and opportunity to gain on-ice momentum is a tough positive to argue against.
The press release also revealed that the import quota for the upcoming campaign had been lifted from a maximum of 10 imports to 11 due to a high "demand on local players" caused primarily by the departure of a number of GB internationals to Europe which has "stretched the talent pool available".
Similarly to the conference restructure, many have rightly questioned the EIHL on this decision believing that better British players can only be nurtured if they are given an opportunity in the top flight. By increasing the import limit, the league once again reduces the number of spots and amount of ice-time available to British players - particularly those up and coming players looking to make the step up - in the name of protecting their 'product' and the quality of hockey on show. The debate over imports v Brits and development v entertainment rages on and this decision is unlikely to end the arguments one way or another.
Perhaps less controversially, the league also revealed the Challenge Cup will feature all ten sides - split into two an as yet unknown but different combinations of five. Each team will face the other in their group once home and once away before a new two-legged quarter final stage between sides finishing 1st to 4th in the group.
The biggest and most controversial of these changes came in the form of a league re-structure which will see the current ten strong top flight split into two conferences.
Though the make-up and names of the two conferences are to be officially revealed at a later date, it is has been confirmed by Cardiff Devils owner Paul Ragan and Belfast Giants GM Todd Kelman that the Stingrays will be assigned to a Northern conference alongside Scottish sides Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers, with the Southern group compromising of the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.
The 12/13 schedule will see teams face conference rivals four times home and away, and the teams in the opposite conference twice home and away, with the league winner the team with the best overall record throughout the year.
For those familiar with the sport, the structure - agreed upon at an EIHL board meeting on Monday - though a geographical split, also conveniently splits the ten team league into what has been regarded as the 'haves' and 'have nots' financially.
Regardless of that fact, as far as the Stingrays go, the split puts them in a tough position.
In the alleged Northern conference they would face significant increased travel costs and, likely, decreased attendances through away support. As two of the biggest fanbases and the two most local away trips, the loss of home fixtures against Nottingham and Sheffield - who bring vast followings - combined with extra fixtures against traditionally and understandably the four lowest away crowds is concerning and, likely, financially difficult for the Rays
With that said, were the Rays assigned to the Southern group - while they would benefit from healthy attendances thanks to extra games against Nottingham and Sheffield - the on-ice challenge would be massive. The club would likely struggle to compete with the other four clubs given their resources and because of that lack of competitiveness attendances would likely drop, nullifying the advantage of having the regular visits from large followings of Sheffield and Nottingham in particular
That increased competitiveness in both groups is seen to be one of the only positives to the new structure from a Stingrays perspective, as the split has aligned clubs run on similar finances. Though from initial impressions the consensus has been that Braehead could comfortably run away with a Northern group, that remains to be seen.
Another positive is that the league title winners would be the team with the best overall record from both conferences. Given the supposed five 'weaker' teams would potentially be in the same conference, playing each other more often than they would the Southern conference, the fight for a league title could potentially be blown wide open with any one of Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife or Hull challenging from the Northern conference.
The Stingrays appear to be the team most adversely affected by this decision given the increase in costs and decrease in away fan income. And while there are negatives and they do beg the question whether the club will receive some sort of financial support, the competitiveness and opportunity to gain on-ice momentum is a tough positive to argue against.
The press release also revealed that the import quota for the upcoming campaign had been lifted from a maximum of 10 imports to 11 due to a high "demand on local players" caused primarily by the departure of a number of GB internationals to Europe which has "stretched the talent pool available".
Similarly to the conference restructure, many have rightly questioned the EIHL on this decision believing that better British players can only be nurtured if they are given an opportunity in the top flight. By increasing the import limit, the league once again reduces the number of spots and amount of ice-time available to British players - particularly those up and coming players looking to make the step up - in the name of protecting their 'product' and the quality of hockey on show. The debate over imports v Brits and development v entertainment rages on and this decision is unlikely to end the arguments one way or another.
Perhaps less controversially, the league also revealed the Challenge Cup will feature all ten sides - split into two an as yet unknown but different combinations of five. Each team will face the other in their group once home and once away before a new two-legged quarter final stage between sides finishing 1st to 4th in the group.
