The British Hockey League was the top-flight
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
league in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
from 1980 until 1996 (with a short break between 1981 and 1982),
when it was replaced by the
Ice Hockey Superleague
The British Ice Hockey Superleague (BISL, also known as the Sekonda Ice Hockey Superleague from 1998 to 1999 for sponsorship reasons) was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2003. Devised in 1995, it replaced ...
and the
British National League. The league replaced three regional leagues: the
Inter-City League in southern England, the
English League North
The English League North was the top-flight ice hockey league in northern England from 1978, when it alongside the English League South it replaced the Southern League. In 1982, it was replaced by the British Hockey League, running on a national ...
in northern England and the
Northern League in Scotland.
The league was sponsored by
Heineken
Heineken Lager Beer ( nl, Heineken Pilsener), or simply Heineken () is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star.
History
On 15 Febr ...
until 1993 and during this period was best known as the ''Heineken League''.
The league changed format several times. The top level Premier Division was formed in 1983, and a second tier Division One was formed in 1986, being split into North and South conferences for the 87/88 and 93/94 seasons. The third tier Division Two was founded in 1987, renamed English Division One the following season and split from the league in 1992 and later dissolved. In 1996 a major reorganization of the league structure led the two remaining divisions to split into different leagues; resulting in the dissolution of the British Hockey League and the creation of the Ice Hockey Superleague to replace the premier division, and the British National League to replace division 1, respectively.
Durham Wasps
The Durham Wasps were an ice hockey team located in Durham and was one of England's most well-known names in ice hockey. The team was bought by Sir John Hall and moved to the neighbouring city of Newcastle Upon Tyne in August 1996. The Newcas ...
and
Whitley Warriors
Whitley Warriors are an ice hockey team based in Whitley Bay in the north east of England. Founded in 1957 as the Bees, they changed their name to Whitley Warriors in 1964. Warriors played at the highest level of British ice hockey for much of ...
were the only two teams to consistently feature in the top division of the BHL throughout the duration of the league's history.
Premier Division
Teams
*
Altrincham Aces
The Altrincham Aces are a semi-professional and amateur ice hockey team of the English National Ice Hockey League, based out of the Altrincham Ice Dome, situated on Oakfield Road in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England.
The team was initia ...
(1982-1983)
*Aviemore Blackhawks
(1980-1981)
*
Ayr Bruins
The Ayr Bruins were an ice hockey club based in Ayr, Scotland between 1939 and 1992. Established in 1939 under the name Ayr Raiders, the club played their home games at the Ayr Ice Rink (Beresford Terrace) between 1939 and 1972 and at Ayr Ice R ...
(1980-1981, 1982-1992)
*
Basingstoke Bison
The Basingstoke Bison are an English Ice Hockey club from Basingstoke. They currently compete in the NIHL National League and have previously been members of the Ice Hockey Superleague and its successor the Elite Ice Hockey League.
History ...
(1993-1996)
*
Billingham Stars
The Billingham Stars are an ice hockey team from the town of Billingham in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. They are currently members of the National Ice Hockey League playing in its Moralee Conference. The Stars play their ...
(1980-1981, 1982-1987, 1990-1994)
*
Blackpool Seagulls
Blackpool Seagulls are an English ice hockey team, founded in 1951, who played at the Pleasure Beach Ice Rink, Blackpool. They folded in 1993.
In 2011, the Seagulls were re-formed as a recreational ice hockey team, playing home games at the S ...
(1982-1983)
*
Bracknell Bees
The Bees Ice Hockey Club are an ice hockey team from Slough, Berkshire, UK. They compete in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) National League, the second tier of English Ice Hockey.
History
Early years
The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1 ...
(1991-1995)
*
Cardiff Devils (1989-1996)
*
Dundee Rockets (1982-1989)
*
Durham Wasps
The Durham Wasps were an ice hockey team located in Durham and was one of England's most well-known names in ice hockey. The team was bought by Sir John Hall and moved to the neighbouring city of Newcastle Upon Tyne in August 1996. The Newcas ...
(1980-1981, 1982-1996)
*
Fife Flyers
Fife Flyers is the oldest professional ice hockey club in the UK, established in 1938. The Flyers play their home games at Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy which has a capacity of just over 3000 (seated and standing).
They joined the EIHL in 2011. ...
(1980-1981, 1982-1991, 1992-1996)
*Glasgow Dynamos
(1980-1981, 1982-1983)
*
Humberside Seahawks
Humberside Seahawks later known as Humberside Hawks and then Kingston Hawks, were an English ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull. Founded in 1988, the club played their home games at Hull Arena. The club went through several name changes due ...
(1991-1996)
*
Milton Keynes Kings
Milton Keynes Kings were an Ice Hockey team based in Milton Keynes.
History
The MK Kings originally played in various divisions of the British Hockey League (BHL) from 1990 until 1996. In 1998, two seasons after the closure of the BHL, they joi ...
(1994-1996)
*
Murrayfield Racers (1980-1981, 1982-1995)
*
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League. Their main team sponsor is the Nottingham Building Society.
The Nottingham Panthers have won four ...
(1982-1996)
*
Peterborough Pirates
The Peterborough Pirates were an English ice hockey team. It was established in 1982, as the senior adult semi-professional team of the newly formed Peterborough Ice Hockey Club.
''The Pirates'', based at the East of England Ice Rink, Peterboro ...
(1985-1986, 1987-1995)
*
Richmond Flyers
The Richmond Flyers were an ice hockey team who were founded in 1977 as the London Phoenix Flyers, changing their name to Richmond Flyers in 1980. They competed in the Inter-City League between 1980 and 1982, the British Hockey League between 19 ...
(1982-1983)
*
Sheffield Steelers
The Sheffield Steelers are a professional ice hockey team located in Sheffield, England. They were formed in 1991 (see 1991 in sport) and play their home games at the Utilita Arena. They are currently a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League. ...
(1993-1996)
*
Slough Jets
Slough Jets are an ice hockey team from Slough, Berkshire, England playing in the NIHL South Division 1. The team was founded in 1986 after the construction of the Slough Ice Arena in Montem Lane in Slough and joined the first division of the Br ...
(1995-1996)
*
Solihull Barons
The Solihull Barons are an English ice hockey team from the town of Solihull who play at Solihull Ice Rink on Hobs Moat Road. The current team, which is the third incarnation of the Barons, was formed in 2005; they are named after the original te ...
(1986-1991)
*
Southampton Vikings
The Southampton Vikings were an ice hockey team from Southampton, England. Their home venue was Southampton Ice Rink.
The Vikings were established following the collapse of French side Club Francais Volants. The name 'Vikings' was adopted due ...
(1982-1983, 1984-1985)
*
Streatham Redskins
Streatham IHC (formerly Streatham Redskins and RedHawks) is a British ice hockey club based in Streatham, London, England. Amongst the oldest British ice hockey teams still in existence, they were founded in 1932 as Streatham, and added the na ...
(1982-1989)
*
Sunderland Chiefs (1982-1983)
*
Whitley Warriors
Whitley Warriors are an ice hockey team based in Whitley Bay in the north east of England. Founded in 1957 as the Bees, they changed their name to Whitley Warriors in 1964. Warriors played at the highest level of British ice hockey for much of ...
(1980-1981, 1982-1996)
Champions
*1980/81 Murrayfield Racers
*1981/82 N/A
(competition not held)
*1982/83 Dundee Rockets
(section A) / Durham Wasps
(section B) / Altrincham Aces
(section C)
*1983/84 Dundee Rockets
*1984/85 Durham Wasps
*1985/86 Durham Wasps
*1986/87 Murrayfield Racers
*1987/88 Murrayfield Racers
*1988/89 Durham Wasps
*1989/90 Cardiff Devils
*1990/91 Durham Wasps
*1991/92 Durham Wasps
*1992/93 Cardiff Devils
*1993/94 Cardiff Devils
*1994/95 Sheffield Steelers
*1995/96 Sheffield Steelers
Division One
Teams
*Altrincham Aces
(1983-1985)
*Aviemore Blackhawks
(1987-1988)
*Ayr Bruins
(1992-1993)
*Basingstoke Bison
(1990-1993)
*Billingham Stars
(1987-1990, 1994-1996)
*
Blackburn Hawks
The Blackburn Hawks (formerly known as the Blackhawks and the Lancashire Hawks) are a British ice hockey team based in Blackburn, Lancashire. They are currently members of the EIHA Moralee Conference (NIHL N1), and have previously played in the ...
(1991-1992, 1993-1996)
*Blackpool Seagulls
(1983-1985, 1986-1988)
*Bournemouth Stags
(1983-1985, 1986-1987)
*Bracknell Bees
(1990-1991, 1995-1996)
*Cardiff Devils
(1987-1989)
*
Chelmsford Chieftains
The Chelmsford Chieftains are an Ice Hockey team based in Chelmsford, Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshir ...
(1993-1996)
*Deeside Dragons
(1983-1985, 1987-1989)
*
Dumfries Vikings
The Dumfries Vikings are a defunct professional ice hockey team based in Dumfries, Scotland, which played in the British Hockey League from 1993 to 1996 (playing their final season as the Dumfries Border Vikings).
References
{{British i ...
(1993-1996)
*Fife Flyers
(1991-1992)
*Glasgow Dynamos
(1983-1985, 1986-1989, 1990-1991)
*Grimsby Red Wings
(1983-1985)
*
Guildford Flames
The Guildford Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Guildford, Surrey and they play their home games in the Guildford Spectrum. They compete in the top-tier of hockey in the United Kingdom, the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Founded in ...
(1993-1996)
*Humberside Seahawks
(1989-1991)
*Irvine Wings
(1986-1987)
*
Kirkcaldy Kestrels
Kirkcaldy Kestrels are a Scottish ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called ho ...
(1986-1988)
*
Lee Valley Lions
The Lee Valley Lions are an ice hockey team based in Leyton, East London where they play at the Lee Valley Ice Centre. They are the senior Ice Hockey team at the rink, with other users including the affiliated Lee Valley Lions Junior Ice Hock ...
(1984-1985, 1986-1995)
*
London Raiders
The Raiders are an ice hockey team based in Romford, participating in the National Division of the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL), the second tier of British ice hockey.
They were known as the Romford Raiders when they were based at the Ro ...
(1988-1989, 1990-1995)
*
Manchester Storm (1995-1996)
*
Medway Bears
Medway is a unitary authority district and conurbation in Kent, South East England. It had a population of 278,016 in 2019. The unitary authority was formed in 1998 when Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with the Borough of Gillingham to fo ...
(1986-1991, 1992-1996)
*Milton Keynes Kings
(1991-1994)
*Murrayfield Racers
(1995-1996)
*
Oxford City Stars (1986-1987, 1993-1994)
*
Paisley Pirates
The Paisley Pirates were founded in 1946 and are one of the oldest ice hockey clubs in Scotland and the UK (the oldest being the Fife Flyers). The Pirates were the epitome of the game in Scotland during the 1950s. In season 1953–54 they won t ...
(1993-1996)
*Peterborough Pirates
(1983-1985, 1986-1987, 1995-1996)
*
Richmond Flyers
The Richmond Flyers were an ice hockey team who were founded in 1977 as the London Phoenix Flyers, changing their name to Richmond Flyers in 1980. They competed in the Inter-City League between 1980 and 1982, the British Hockey League between 19 ...
(1983-1985, 1986-1989)
*Sheffield Steelers
(1992-1993)
*Slough Jets
(1986-1995)
*Solihull Barons
(1983-1985, 1993-1996)
*Southampton Vikings
(1983-1984, 1986-1988)
*Streatham Redskins
(1989-1990, 1993-1994)
*
Sunderland Chiefs (1983-1985, 1986-1989)
*
Swindon Wildcats
The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They play in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL). Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 1600-capacity Link Centre ...
(1986-1996)
*
Telford Tigers
The Telford Tigers are a National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) ice hockey team that formed in 1985. After initially closing in 1999, a new team, under the name 'Telford Wild Foxes', was formed in 2001; and re-adopted the original name in 2005.
The t ...
(1986-1996)
*Trafford Metros
(1986-1992, 1993-1995)
Champions
*1983/84 Southampton Vikings
*1984/85 Peterborough Pirates
*1985/86 Solihull Barons
*1986/87 Peterborough Pirates
*1987/88 Telford Tigers
(north) / Billingham Stars
(south)
*1988/89 Cardiff Devils
*1989/90 Slough Jets
*1990/91 Humberside Seahawks
*1991/92 Fife Flyers
*1992/93 Basingstoke Bison
*1993/94 Milton Keynes Kings
(north) / Slough Jets
(south)
*1994/95 Slough Jets
*1995/96 Manchester Storm
English Division One
Teams
*Basingstoke Bisons
(1988-1990)
*Birmingham Eagles
(1987-1989)
*Blackburn Hawks
(1990-1991)
*Bournemouth Stags
(1987-1988)
*Bracknell Bees
(1987-1990)
*Bristol Phantoms
(1987-1988)
*Chelmsford Chieftains
(1987-1992)
*Deeside Demons
(1987-1988)
*
Harringay Racers
Harringay Racers refers to multiple British ice hockey teams based in Harringay, London, United Kingdom.
Harringay Racers
The first team to use the Harringay Racers moniker was founded in 1936 and initially played alongside Harringay Greyhou ...
(1990-1992)
*Humberside Seahawks
(1988-1989)
*London Raiders
(1987-1988, 1989-1990)
*Medway Bears
(1991-1992)
*Medway Marauders
(1987-1988)
*Milton Keynes Kings
(1990-1991)
*Oxford City Stars
(1987-1992)
*Peterborough Titans
(1987-1989)
*
Richmond Flyers
The Richmond Flyers were an ice hockey team who were founded in 1977 as the London Phoenix Flyers, changing their name to Richmond Flyers in 1980. They competed in the Inter-City League between 1980 and 1982, the British Hockey League between 19 ...
(1990-1991)
*Richmond Raiders
(1987-1988)
*Sheffield Sabres
(1989-1992)
*Solihull Barons
(1991-1992)
*Solihull Knights
(1987-1989)
*Southampton Knights
(1987-1988)
*Streatham Bruins
(1987-1988)
*Streatham Redskins
(1991-1992)
*Sunderland Chiefs
(1989-1992)
*
Wightlink Raiders (1991-1992)
Champions
*1987/88 London Raiders
*1988/89 Humberside Seahawks
*1989/90 Bracknell Bees
*1990/91 Milton Keynes Kings
*1991/92 Medway Bears
See also
*
British ice hockey league champions The British ice hockey league champions are the winners of the regular season of the highest ice hockey league in the United Kingdom, currently the Elite Ice Hockey League. Previously, the highest league has been the British National League (1954†...
References
{{British ice hockey
Defunct ice hockey leagues in the United Kingdom
Sports leagues established in 1982
1982 establishments in the United Kingdom
1996 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Defunct multi-national ice hockey leagues in Europe