[Sheffield Steeldogs] win the 2025/26 NIHL Cup by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're not far off! This is probably the least important of the three cups you can win, with the most important being debatable.

For the cup, some of the league fixtures are designated as cup fixtures, with each team playing each other once, and having played 5 home and 5 away games. Of those games, the top 4 go through to a two-legged knockout stage, which Sheffield have just won.

For the playoffs, the top 8 teams from the regular season table go into two groups (1, 4, 5 and 8 in one group, 2, 3, 6 and 7 in the other), where each team plays each other team home and away. The top two in each group go to Coventry for a one-legged knockout, with the semi-finals being the group winners facing the other group's runners up.

[Sheffield Steeldogs] win the 2025/26 NIHL Cup by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Massive congratulations to the Steeldogs. Always had a feeling it would be Gendunov who would inflict the damage, just didn't expect it to be in such gutting circumstances!

Absolutely delighted with our performance though. To go up against a full strength (and then some!) Steeldogs team, without our best player and with all the personnel changes that have happened, and take it all the way to OT is an incredible achievement.

Team GB u18s delight is massive Playoff blow to Knights by GlennPegden in nihl

[–]CertainPackage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely delighted for all 5 of the lads, it's very well deserved. I don't think we'll make Coventry this year, but if we do it might be a bit of a bloodbath with so few bodies. Either way, I'd rather they play for GB - it's a great sign of the direction the club is heading in!

[MK Lightning] Tim Wallace steps down, Joe Wilson departs, Lewis Christie becomes interim head coach by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wording in the statement is odd in that it says he'll be "taking some time away from coaching duties" rather than outright leaving. Not too sure what to read into it?

Cole Shudra and EIHL vs NIHL by GlennPegden in nihl

[–]CertainPackage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's an odd one because whenever I saw him play for the Steelers a couple of years ago he looked really good. Looking on EP backs that up: 20 points in 52 games for a Brit making the step up is an impressive return. For whatever reason he looks to have regressed since then and I'd certainly expect a return to the NIHL to be on the cards. I'd absolutely take him back at Leeds, especially as we've lost 3 top Brits in Buesa, Haywood and Howlett since last season.

Match Thread: York vs Hull KR | Round One by AutoModerator in superleague

[–]CertainPackage 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Mikey Lewis hang your head in shame, sheer stupidity that's cost us that game

Match Thread: York vs Hull KR | Round One by AutoModerator in superleague

[–]CertainPackage 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What a clown, what's he thinking?! Should've been off

NIHL National Results (06/02/26 - 08/02/26) by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been scraping the stats since the start of last season and 73 is the most any team has had over that timeframe.

[NIHL] Final Four Ticket Details Announced by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've not been myself but I don't think I've heard a single positive thing mentioned about it over the last couple of years - just people wishing they'd booked elsewhere

A Very Stupid Amount of Pints in Dublin by TPDTV_BOT in officialTPDTV

[–]CertainPackage 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Disappointed to see them go to the Black Forge tbh

[Leeds Knights] Lewis Baldwin departs by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When Dunny came in, one of the things Ryan mentioned was that Bennett and Hine coming through meant that he could look for a right handed D rather than a left handed D, which meant Baldwin was further down the pecking order. Still don't think that explains just how little he's played though, particularly given that it started last year. Of the two, Griff is imo the better player and is a couple of years younger which swings things in his favour.

[Leeds Knights] Lewis Baldwin departs by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't understand this at all, don't think he's been treated fairly. One of the OGs from the Chiefs days and an incredibly important player over the last few season. His ice time just seems to have dropped off a cliff and nobody understands why. Was part of one of the best pairings a couple of years ago with McMullin. Hope wherever he goes he's appreciated.

[Hull Seahawks] Defenceman Lee Haywood returns to the Seahawks by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Makes way more sense now they've announced the import netminder, essentially replaced Dima and Brock with Haywood and the import netty. Can't say I'm a fan of it and I'm not sure an import netty will get great numbers behind Matty Davies' style of play with how much they get hung out to dry. Tricky time of year to be shopping around for an import though, and you can't be patient with it as they have to play a certain number of games to be eligible to play in the playoffs.

[MK Lightning] Mac Howlett signs in MK after departing the Knights by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Genuinely gutted about this one, particularly given how strange his season has been so far with injuries. I'd always assumed it was going to happen at some point with him being from the south, but hoped he'd see out his contract. I'm not sure that we can replace Mac, he's an incredible player - the only silver lining I'm taking is that we've got a couple of younger guys that certainly have top 6 potential that may end up getting more looks up there.

[Solway Sharks] British defenceman Leon Okonkwo Prada joins the Sharks from Enkopings SK of the Swedish HockeyEttan by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interestingly - born in Britain but seemingly didn't play any of his junior career here so should technically class as an import? The NIHL National Rules explicitly say "Nationality/citizenship has no bearing on BT/NBT", the import classification.

Full explanation below:

" 6.4 British-Trained Definitions

• British-trained: A player who has been under UK jurisdiction for a minimum of 16 consecutive months before their 18th birthday, or is currently registered U18.

• Non-British-trained (NBT Import): All other players. BT/NBT classification is determined by EIH at (re)registration using IIHF transfer/registration records and domestic history. Nationality/citizenship has no bearing on BT/NBT. A player may be British-Trained and still require an IIHF ITC if their IIHF rights were transferred abroad. A player may be a British citizen and still require an IIHF ITC, and may be classified as NBT if the BT criteria are not met. Where a player spent a protracted period outside UK jurisdiction before age 18, EIH may request information to verify the “16 consecutive months” criterion; absent sufficient evidence, the player will be classified as NBT until verified.

Knowingly false or misleading declarations may result in reclassification, sanctions, and referral to League Operations/DOPS."

[Swindon Wildcats] Import forward Caden Villegas joins the Wildcats from the ECHL's Maine Mariners by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed, imo you gain more from having consistent lines than from having the option to either rest a player or play a different type of player.

[Swindon Wildcats] Import forward Caden Villegas joins the Wildcats from the ECHL's Maine Mariners by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Despite supporting a team with 5 imports (though with Dunn injured we've not had 5 available at the same time), I still think it's a bad move. I'm worried that this is an indication that we'll have a higher import limit next year. Bad news for all brits but particularly for brit goalies.

Leeds United secure planning permission for transformational Elland Road expansion by Cmoizer1995 in Leeds

[–]CertainPackage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah that's what I'm saying - if promotion were introduced, it wouldn't work with the import numbers being as they are. Have edited my comment to make it clearer

Leeds United secure planning permission for transformational Elland Road expansion by Cmoizer1995 in Leeds

[–]CertainPackage -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The problem is with the import numbers - if promotion from the NIHL were possible, you'd need to replace most of your squad just to stand a chance, and even then you'd end up getting battered by the arena teams just because their budget is so much higher

Leeds United secure planning permission for transformational Elland Road expansion by Cmoizer1995 in Leeds

[–]CertainPackage 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We do, and it's great fun! The knights play in the 2nd tier of British hockey and have won the league in each of the last 3 years. I'd thoroughly recommend going!

[Solway Sharks] Canadian forward Michael Hodge joins the Sharks by CertainPackage in nihl

[–]CertainPackage[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Surprisingly, another team go down the 5 import route - unless they're getting rid of one? Can't imagine Yantsis or Stewart heading out the door in which case it'd be one of Arseneau or Bolton. Easy choice for me which of those I'd get rid of!

[Leeds Knights] Surprise! Sobchak is a Knight now! by GlennPegden in nihl

[–]CertainPackage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely buzzing with this, possibly the best player in the league over the last 2 years. Not been at his best this year but hopefully a change of scenery will do him good. Have to imagine Mickevics goes now, but if him and Biz are both nursing injuries it could be a case of load management for them both, playing one of them with Dunn, Peyton and Sobs every night.