Hockey in the UK │ EIHL

Hello everyone & welcome back to my channel!
Today we're talking UK pro hockey - the playoffs are coming up over here so it's something that's certainly on my mind. This is a quick intro into the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL), how it's structured and the things I love (& would change) about it.
Make sure to subscribe & like for more hockey content from across the pond!

[@liambiggar5658]

I grew up in Manchester and supported Storm before they went bust and wanted to play. I was lucky enough to be there when Storm sold out the MEN for a game against the Steelers. Our biggest problem is that it's just not really accessible, it's so expensive. I learned to skate, eventually had my own, but getting hold of everything else was impossible and I was involved in other sports. Just getting to the rink was an effort. I see people playing beer league in Canada on KZbin and I am insanely jealous.

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Visiting a friend in the UK, and in the spirit of Anglo-Canadian cultural exchange, he's taking me to see the Cheltenham Saracens RFC and I'm taking him to see the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL. I will of course be sporting my Leafs jersey. Cardiff fans might not recognize it, but half the players on the ice will.

[@evanhutchinson9206]

I'm Canadian, born and raised in Montreal. I've been enjoying finding out about hockey leagues around the world other than those I already know about outside North America (DEL, KHL, Swiss, Czech, Swedish and Finnish leagues). I'm always delighted to see the sport played in places I didn't know had more serious / pro leagues. I'd love to attend a game in the UK on day (especially in Scotland). Live sports with a good ambiance are extremely fun and it's not juste all about skill level or league prestige imo. I attended soccer (football) games in my country, the US and the Czech Republic. The quality of the game was uncomparable to the Premier League but the fun and the sense of community was there. In both cases, I just want to watch goals being scored and have a steady access to beer and enjoy the thing and cheer. Really. The CWHL was a league I really enjoyed attending games because every single thing (from tickets, to beer, to merch) was so dirt cheap and teams were pretty much built with players from the US and Canada's national women's teams. Not everyone was an olympics gold medalist there of course but the teams had very talented cores. Even if the NHL is the best league, there is so much fun to get from following smaller pro leagues. Thanks for your video! Now I gotta go plan some vacation in Scotland...

[@dobryden.6241]

I agree that hockey should expand beyond the big six - Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, which is happening, but really only in Europe. I think British hockey would benefit from a league format like other European countries (with relegation and promotion) rather than a closed league format. Otherwise I agree that Czech football is different to the Premier League, not least because there are only three teams that are rich and can compete with the European giants. Greetings from the Czech Republic.

[@jackl52]

Marketing is a key part of a sports league’s success and its presence on television is important. Infrastructure is also key for hockey to thrive. Being from St. Louis, Missouri, the infrastructure here is great. But there isn’t a lot of marketing of big stars around the league outside of St. Louis. Most people care about their own team.

[@davidedwards3838]

I live in ontario. I had a teacher when i was a kid who played for the Nottingham Panthers. His is Jim Keyes if you wanted to look him up. It was back in the 80's.

[@Cradien]

Fellow Dundee fan here! GO STARS GO!

[@TW5147]

The on ice officials are definitely something that needs improvement. The quality varies and sometimes you see some shocking calls (or lack of when they miss something). It's not helped by some rinks having a poor quality of video to play back. Down in Guildford we have one camera that follows the puck, with no streaming.

[@VictoriaStewart]

Yes totally agree!

[@jimcummings4392]

Hi Victoria. Loved this one. There is a 'them and us' in the U K definitely. I am a Belfadt fan and to be honest am quite surprised hockey has survived over here as long as it has. We do have a great arena here which helps and there is a good fan base which is always boosted when you have a successful team as we have had this year. Have been to Dun deep

[@jimcummings4392]

Have been to Dundee a few times and have always enjoyed. It is a pity more major cities have a try at hosting what is a great sport. Keep up the good work. Thanks

[@VictoriaStewart]

Thanks so much! Hopefully the league can balance out - at least playoffs this year has ended up with two ‘underdogs’!

[@BloominFleury29]

The giants weren’t even told they’d last more than a few seasons

[@makingtheday6928]

Definitely support sheffield steelers! Good videos by the way 👌🏻

[@footballmontage6368]

I think the league is pretty good. you can see the difference between teams like sheffield and there arena in comparison to other arenas, i have been to a few games as a casual its a great atmosphere. it does need more publicity to keep pushing on, doing things like podcasts and stuff with clubs would be good.

[@rubicca]

Blethering ....Love it!! Another great video thank you!!

[@VictoriaStewart]

Thanks so much!

[@theoffensivezone3408]

Great job Victoria. These vids are amazing.

[@VictoriaStewart]

Thank you so much!😊

[@westsideisdabest7825]

Just came back from Croatia. Spoke to a bunch of hockey players from St Louis. They were suprised to find a British hockey fan ahaha. What I find mad is out of all the American sports, Hockey is easily the best one for our lot to understand. No weird point system and alot of action.

[@dobryden.6241]

Well, maybe because it's a Canadian sport

[@Tyork42]

Hockey in the UK has the capacity to be so much bigger but due to the issues you mention it isnt, there are so many cities that have arenas capable of hosting teams. (Eg. Liverpool and Newcastle even Manchester could be bigger).

[@VictoriaStewart]

Definitely!

[@Blobber.t]

Manchester were the great. Just funding. They hold the record for the most spectators ever in the uk

[@ultimateextremewrestling3490]

Manchester used to play at the Manchester arena, but new owners didn't want a team there and kicked them out

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

Manchester Storm aren't even in Manchester. Maybe that's normal in North America but I don't think it's normal in the UK for a sports team to play outside it's city.

[@Tyork42]

@@chesterdonnelly1212 i know, they play in Altrincham a rink I’ve played on and is comparable to Leeds

[@jonathanhamel]

Thanks for the informative video. Cheers from Montreal !

[@johndimarco9364]

Nicely done Victoria. Great insight to UK professional hockey. We hope to see you in our great city of Toronto one day. All the best. #goleafsgo

[@VictoriaStewart]

Thank you! Definitely I'll get there as soon as I can

[@deathtoluke]

I enjoyed this video 😊 Watching from NZ

[@Newbonic]

About the arena teams usually finishing in the top 3 (apart from the Nottingham Panthers of course) - it's the same in other sports, e.g. in Scotland it's either Celtic or Rangers at the top of he SPL. Or Liverpool, Man U etc dominating the EPL. And good luck to the Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup final in Belfast in March.

[@tudormiller8898]

Hi Victoria. TBH i don't watch EIHL, shame on me. After watching your informative video, I'll give it a go. A Swiftie & a hockey fan ? ❤

[@MrBennettJB]

How do you feel about Jeff Mason being the Coach and GM of the stars do you think he will continue to build upon what Omar Pacha did with his time at Dundee or do you think he will take the club in a different direction? Cool video subscribed my mother's a Maple Leafs fan and I'm a Florida Panthers fan aswell as a Nottingham Panthers fan as it's my home team 🤘

[@Blobber.t]

In my opinion. The only team to be lacking in sponsors is Guildford. Watching this 5 weeks into the new season, holy crap

[@CanaWorld2024]

Is there a team called … Bellington Bulls 🧐 Would love to see some video of the local team if possible 💯👍🏻🍻

[@Hockey-mad25]

Here we go Dundee here we go

[@inourpassports]

New Belfast Giants fan here, but I’m so confused as to the structure / schedule of the games / cups… could you point me towards some info on that incase you’ve already covered it?

[@joelcarson2165]

We have three cups in the league the Challenge cup, league cup and playoff cup. In the playoffs the top 8 teams qualify so team 9 and 10, better luck next year. In the playoffs team 1 plays team 8 team 2 plays team 7 etc… the rest of the season good luck. The league cup goes to the team with the most points, that’s either given out to team 1 at the end of season or when the other teams are unable to overtake team 1 in points. For the challenge cup I don’t understand it as much l, all I know is the top seed team hosts the final. I know this is a bit confusing but it’s the easiest way I can explain it.

[@blazebritany320]

If I had a magic wond I would probably fix the Coventry zambi

[@andrew070374]

Dundee did welll this season

[@nathandoherty1999]

As a giants fan who only started watching hockey mostly this year I think the elite league is great! The competitiveness of all teams in the league is great, Highlight has to be Malcolm Camerons post game interviews! Top quality It is great to see local players come through, such as the Giants starting 6 last Friday night all being from the UK. With 3 17 year old from Jnr Giants which is impressive due to there only being 1 rink outside of the SSE in the whole of Ireland

[@lochy0475]

Blaze are better and we are gonna beat you tomorrow

[@nathandoherty1999]

Couldn't beat the Giants way the top line drinking pints singing in Boomerang Corner! But anything can happen! Playoff hockey n all that

[@lochy0475]

@@nathandoherty1999 I was at the game today we destroyed your team

[@allyboorman612]

@@lochy0475 How did it turn out by the end of today?

[@lochy0475]

@@allyboorman612 😭😭😭😭 we did so well was at the game yesterday we almost beat u guys good luck in playoffs

[@billshogun7068]

😂All Leafs fans are great!!!

[@shaneellis7555]

The elite league didn't start in 2003 and the Pro Ice hockey league didn't even start when?

[@stevencharbonneau8815]

Hello I'm new to your channel. I did Subscribed :) I like your Hockey Knowledge. I did see you are a Leaf fan so I'm sad for you :( maybe I can help you pick a better team like The Ottawa Senators. 😁

[@sportbilly9815]

This aged well Guilford have been the stand out team this year, also Premier or whatever they are called are major league sponsors. The reason the streams are the same as tickets is cheaper streams made attendences drop as it was cheaper than going and for tickets going its the same for everything gas/elec has doubled in the last 12 months but hockey is still way cheaper than Football. SHEFFIELD ICE HOCKEY approx £400 Chelsea F C £1200 for half as many games

[@blairbailey6199]

Hello pretty woman Go Leafs Go 😎

[@allyboorman612]

Chose the Belfast Giants instead

[@lochy0475]

Nope blaze is better

[@VictoriaStewart]

Hahaha nope sorry no chance!

[@allyboorman612]

@@VictoriaStewart going to be a good game this weekend, hoping for a Belfast win of course but if Dundee win then it will definitely be earned

[@jermainegiles631]

ᑭᖇOᗰOᔕᗰ