Live UK Elite Ice Hockey League TV & Broadcast Schedule

The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) is the highest level of professional ice hockey in the United Kingdom, featuring ten franchises representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Running from September through April, the league showcases a fast-paced, physical brand of hockey, relying on a mix of North American imports, European professionals, and top British talent. Teams compete across three parallel competitions—the Elite League Championship, the Challenge Cup, and the season-ending Playoffs—creating a grueling campaign where silverware is fiercely contested.

Top teams

The battle for UK hockey dominance is split across multiple champions, with the Belfast Giants defending their regular-season League Championship title. Their primary threat comes from the Nottingham Panthers, the reigning Challenge Cup holders following a dramatic 3–2 overtime victory against the Coventry Blaze, and the Cardiff Devils, who enter the season as the defending Playoff Champions after defeating league heavyweights Sheffield Steelers 5–2 in the grand final.

Format

The ten franchises play a 54-game regular-season schedule to crown the league champions. The top eight teams in the final standings qualify for the post-season playoffs, competing in two-legged, aggregate-score Quarter-finals. The final four teams advance to the iconic Playoff Finals Weekend at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham, playing single-elimination semi-finals and a grand final on consecutive days. The Challenge Cup runs parallel to the league, featuring group-stage play before knockout rounds.

Viewership

British ice hockey commands a passionate and rapidly expanding fan base, packing regional arenas like Belfast's SSE Arena and Sheffield's Utilita Arena. Digital webcasts have significantly increased international interest, with fans in Canada and the United States tuning in to track former NHL, AHL, and NCAA players who continue their professional careers across the Atlantic.

Streaming options in the UK

In the United Kingdom, fans can stream the vast majority of the regular-season schedule live and on-demand via the league's centralized digital service, EIHL TV, which offers pay-per-view webcasts for individual games. Major marquee events, including the Challenge Cup Final and the Playoff Finals Weekend, are televised live on Premier Sports.

Streaming options in the US

For hockey fans in the United States, every regular-season EIHL game can be streamed live via the official EIHL TV platform. Webcasts are available on a pay-per-view or team pass basis, allowing American viewers to follow their favorite former collegiate and minor-league players competing in the UK.

Streaming options in Canada

Canadian viewers can follow all the action live through the official EIHL TV webcasting portal. The digital network offers high-definition, team-produced streams of all regular-season contests, giving Canadian fans direct access to major junior and university alumni playing overseas.

International streaming options

Globally, the entire EIHL season is broadcast live via the official EIHL TV platform. Major tournament broadcasts carried by Premier Sports can also be accessed internationally via local sub-licensing partners or by using VPNs to connect to UK servers for official stream access.

Current season

The 2026/27 EIHL campaign officially faces off in September 2026, running its 54-game regular-season schedule through late March 2027. The post-season playoffs and the parallel Challenge Cup knockout rounds will run through April 2027, with the Belfast Giants, Nottingham Panthers, and Cardiff Devils defending their respective titles.