Ice hockey clubs pencil in dates to start 2020-21 season

Ice hockey is aiming to get the 2020-21 season started before the end of the year

The Elite League has confirmed plans to begin pre-season games in November with a view to launching the regular season at the beginning of December.

All ten teams have given the green light to the new route map which remains subject to Government guidance.

The sport traditionally faces off at the start of September with teams hosting pre-season games in late August.

That has now been significantly delayed because of the restrictions on mass gatherings at indoor events.

The new timetable envisages warm-up games in November followed by the new Magic5 weekend on December 5-6.

It was planned after the loss of last season’s championship finals weekend, and the format saw all ten teams converging on Nottingham to play league games based around regional rivalries.

The delayed start would mean the play-offs, traditionally at the end of March, would be pushed back to May 1-2, and the finals weekend in Nottingham May 15-16.

A fixtures meeting has been tentatively scheduled for the beginning of September.

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Tony Smith, league chairman, believes the new schedule will give teams time to prepare.

He said: ““There are two factors that we need to consider with any return to play plan.

“We need six to eight weeks from the time we know we can play in order to complete our teams, get work visas in place, book flights, buy equipment, etc - and we need our fans. “

And he added: “We cannot play behind closed doors or with very limited capacity, it just isn’t an option.”

The league confirmed that all 10 clubs - including Scottish sides Fife Flyers, Glasgow Clan and Dundee Stars - are committed to icing for the 2020/21 season.

But it added the caveat that a final decision on being able to resume top-flight ice hockey games in December with crowds will be led by the guidance from the UK Government and devolved administrations.

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