Earlier this week the Elite League announced further, but not all, details of the Hocktoberfest tournament, which will take place on Sunday October 4 at Sheffield Arena.The tournament, which is seen as hockey's version of cricket's Twenty20 Cup, in as much as it is a shortened, more entertaining form of the game, will feature all eight EIHL sides as they go head to head in a single day, knockout cup competition.
Whilst further details of the day are being held back, it is known that each game will feature two, twenty minute periods with a running clock and that all eight EIHL sides will be drawn into quarter final matchups with the winner going on to the semis and then final.
The event has been received in a largely positive manner by fans, mainly due to the £25 ticket prices, which will allow fans to see seven games in what, league chairman, Eamon Convery calls "a brand new idea for the ice hockey world".
Kicking off at 11am, with doors opening at 10am, the event will incorporate autograph sessions and a whole host of events which will see a festival of hockey hopefully pack the 8,000 capacity Sheffield Arena, with one side being crowned the inaugural EIHL Hocktoberfest champions.
"Hocktoberfest is about bringing all 8 teams to one building for a great fun day, but also to win a trophy and send one set of fans home extra happy," said Convery.The draw for the quarter finals is set to take place on Friday September 4, live on Steelers Hockey on BBC Radio Sheffield between 7pm and 8pm, whilst it may also be streamed live on the internet.
Tickets went on sale today from Sheffield Arena box office at 9am and are priced at £25 for adults and £20 for concessions.
Further information on the tournament is expected in the next few weeks but early speculation suggests that this will be a big opportunity for the league's smaller teams, such as the Stingrays, to claim their first competitive Elite League silverware.
