10 Best NHLers To Play In The Elite Ice Hockey League

The UK's Elite Ice Hockey League sees a large number of North American hockey players join its ranks every season. Though most of these players are either recent NCAA graduates or career minor-leaguers, there have been a number of NHL regulars or even superstars in the National Hockey League that have taken their talents across the pond...
Here's my list of the 10 best NHLers to play in the Elite Ice Hockey League!
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[@steelheadplayer]

Ken Priestlay , Stanley Cup winner, came to the Sheffield Steelers at only 28 yrs of age, 98 points in 36 games.

[@tannersaint703]

Paul Bissonnette is a Cardiff Devils legend

[@haydonhockey]

The Crosby of Cardiff

[@Hockey4321]

You should do a video on best former nhl”ers in all around Europe

[@kaylsbro]

I would love to see more videos about the elite league you don’t see it mentioned very often and we do have a good league here in the uk

[@LTH.pod1]

Matt belesky came to the elite league as a 4th liner then returned to the league as a 3rd or 2nd line scorer and was possibly the most successful player during that lockout and he stayed the longest

[@eihlcompilations8228]

Love the EIHL videos.

[@raymondbednar2812]

I enjoy watching full games of the EIHL and the NIHL during lockdown 2021.greetings from central Illinois.

[@davidharrison4632]

and don't forget David Ling but to be honest, The Elite League has benefited from the big stars in the past and will continue to possibly do so in the future. Love the video :)

[@eihlcompilations8228]

Theo was unreal for us even though he was 3 stone overweight.

[@cleworthuk]

Great list, saw them all play. Few other's I remember standing out Scott Nichol, Steve McKenna and Ric Jackman (Stanley Cup Champion)

[@alexlikeinit]

Only player that springs to mind that you missed is Aaron Johnson in Sheff, guy played 291 games so a longer stint than some in the bigs

[@gemmamartin5157]

RIP AJ x

[@joelcarson2165]

In the 21/22 season we ( the Belfast Giants) had three NHLer’s Tyler Beskorowany 59th overall, Dallas Stars, 2009 And Griffin Reinhart 4th overall, New York Islanders, 2012

[@sammybeaver9130]

Fun fact: at one point, Mario lemieux was supposed to join the eihl as a player for the Nottingham Panthers. Now imagine how good the panthers would be then

[@conradgray17]

Imagine the scenes

[@joelcarson2165]

Now that would be sick but it just depends what year because the EIHL was not around until 2003

[@ajblowers]

Hell yes more videos about the EIHL please! (Not just asking because it's also my national league...)

[@ajblowers]

Also maybe good to get some North American eyes on the Champion's Hockey League too!

[@tommikoskinen760]

Very good

[@gjbeaudry1484]

Musta been like watching him in Salt Lake when he played for Calgary's IHL affiliate Golden Eagles... I swear it seemed like he scored a hat trick a game, and he was only 5'6"!!! He was tough as nails though, and everyone watching him knew he was going to be a huge success!!! I remember those days fondly, and was so proud of him for winning a Cup with Calgary!!! Anyone with any hockey knowledge at all will tell you he was the primary reason Calgary won the Cup in '89, when they couldn't in '86!!! Love you Theo!!! Thanks for the video OMR!!!

[@Drew-qm5si]

Can you do a whatever happened to Matt pumpel or Victor Fasth

[@beavonryan]

Deffo more vids on the EIHL

[@bluebear1985]

Although I don't follow the EIHL as much as I should, I did first hear of it in the Canadian edition of Reader's Digest. There was an article in there about the Belfast Giants, and it amazed me of how popular hockey was there. I was surprised when I found out their first head coach, David Whistle, is from my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He would later coach the Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers. He would later coach junior 'A' and 'AAA' hockey in British Columbia.

[@eihlcompilations8228]

bluebear1985 Whistle was a great coach. His son Jackson later played for Belfast for a few seasons winning a challenge cup before moving to Sheffield and later Nottingham. However it’s highly rumoured that he’s combing this off season to play in Belfast.

[@jonathanhalleman1277]

Do one of the big european leagues, the best players off all time from that league or something like that!

[@JDMM92]

Will never forget watching theo climb over the penalty box vs us Coventry to fight with a fan

[@philrawlings1688]

David Ling ? In 84 league games for Nottingham scored 46 goals and 85 assists for 131 points plus 130+ PIMS. 1993 NHL draft pick 90+ NHL games and not a word.

[@edwardburek1717]

Great video, you should definitely do more vids about the Elite League. Hell, Neil from Post2Post has done more videos about the Elite League. Wade Belak remains a legend in Coventry, I think he was the main reason why we won the Grand Slam (along with the acquisition of Neil Martin) - as you said, RIP big guy. Regarding Theo Fleury, I was at the game where he lost his shit during a game against the Blaze in 2006. Apparently, that incident made it all the way to the pages of The Hockey News. It is very unlikely that a 1,000 game NHL veteran will ever play in the Elite again, but we have the next best thing - the Skydome's bar is named after Sidney Crosby... Honourable mentions include the days before the Elite League. Former NHL iron man Garry Unger played for Streatham for a season in the 1980's, as did a certain Gretzky - Brent Gretzky, that is. And let's not forget the days when the likes of Bobby Bauer, Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Conn Smythe used to play some hockey up in Durham in between service duties for the RCAF during World War 2.

[@croceyzx2433]

You should do top 10 players that were drafted into the NHL but play/played in the EIHL or/and NIHL. (Max Birbraer & Robin Kovar - Swindon Wildcats & MK Lightning)

[@sportbilly9815]

You mention the likes of Tom Sestito but miss guys like Ken Priestly who won 2 Stanley Cups with the Pens who came to the UK

[@lb_75]

One question to you OMR, which EIHL team do you support?

[@anon9848]

Wouldn't mind seeing more EU hockey talk. Kinda hard for me to dig deep into it when I live in the US and very close to Canada.

[@BeMaC]

I mean in Switzerland only 6 Exports are allowed. The Elite Ice Hockey League has a long way to go. but very cool what they do over in the UK.

[@Smiler_Fangirl619]

Top 3 EVER: Probably David Ling, Theo Fleury, Ed Courteney

[@milliemeaton9271]

as a coventry fan we’ll never forget wade👏

[@callumbates3468]

Nick Boynton, came in as an NHL all-star the year before & went on to win the Stanley cup

[@pucepre634]

Maybe do a tony hand video or a video on hockey in the UK. I'm from the states so they never ever cover the uk let alone any league that isn't the NHL or ahl.

[@Smiler_Fangirl619]

Good list, but it's missing Barry Nieckar and Nick Boynton!

[@lb_75]

This vid has made me even more proud to be a panther!

[@jeanmi1954]

Made more video on this league !

[@Maxthethird3]

Honourable mentions - Noah Clarke and Jared Staal

[@pennsylvanianrrfoamer]

How did Theo Fleury end up getting 270 PIM"s in his season with Belfast?

[@boydieboydie8243]

Big up eihl

[@Yomasi]

Fleury must have had a lot it fun absolutely obliterating noobs in the EIHL w that kind of season

[@sporticus4549]

You also missed a coupke of stanley cup winners from pittsburgh 1991 team Leach & Priestley both deserved to be on this

[@SaskTransfer]

Being an aspiring Canadian broadcaster, I would love to do colour in the EIHL at some point in my career

[@Mrmhibbert]

Jay Rosehill would have been a good shout

[@rhysbolton7521]

What about Craig Weller?

[@viktor2204]

Do nhlers in SHL

[@wandfr]

What about Tim Wallace?

[@user-cv2gx5bb2z]

What about geoff walker

[@adamgray289]

Scott Nichols Racers 04 Nick Boynton 04

[@BoyNamedSue4]

Man, lot of former Ducks

[@SRSpoony]

no Dennis Vial, no Paul Kruse ?

[@sporticus4549]

Exactly 👍

[@mikeyc4467]

Where’s Biz?

[@ExotopiaCraft]

so many ads on this video! 5 ads wtf is wrong with youtube i might as well switch to another platform like twitch god damn

[@johnplomin771]

I dated a girl for like a year, online, who lived in the UK and was a fan of the Nottingham Panthers. So even a decade later I have a little soft spot for them and the league and would love to see more videos on them

[@rhysevans4253]

Ryan Russel?

[@tambomc6866]

Yeah you definitely missed the best one out... Ken priestly who played for the dundee stars.. he's won the Stanley Cup twice with the penguins... top player

[@benpeters8849]

You for got Scot Nichol

[@gjbeaudry1484]

That's because it's around the fourth round that teams are willing to waste a pick on an enforcer!!!

[@DirtyDadDingus]

First of all players aren’t immediately labeled as enforcers this isn’t nhl 20. Second these so called “wasted” picks would skate circles around you and make you trip over your own skates.

[@Blobber.t]

Brian McGrattan and Matt Nickerson were best bros

[@tealarmy6789]

Patty Dwyer has to be my favourite. Sorry Theo and Big Jim!

[@steveciancone8941]

27 pts in the NHL for McGratton not 17

[@Blobber.t]

Abrupt 19/20 season

[@jeanmi1954]

My cousin is the best player (in points) of the Dundee Stars ! and the 11 best players in the league 😅

[@timothyfitz3692]

Make a video on the worse team ever in the elite league

[@peterphillips9541]

10+17=27...i think

[@trollnoobs178]

UK have hockey fans?????????

[@harry1144]

First

[@harry1144]

WOLF ACER 2000 Whatever...

[@demianseale501]

Why is this guy SHOUTING?

[@DTPark94]

Paul Bissonnette is NOT a "lesser known player" lol

[@rhysevans4253]

It’s biasty because he’s a panther fan and they don’t like the cardiff devils who bisso played for

[@austinhockey11]

paul bissonnette should be number 1

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

without watching i can tell you the best one was Biznasty

[@willharris1299]

For any non eihl fans, Nottingham are awful and nowhere near as good as this dude is making out. They are one of the most supported clubs in the UK and always disappoint. He has missed out some of Sheffields (his teams rivals) best modern players.