At a time when most of the UK’s Elite League’s teams would be gearing up for a brand new season, the sad but inevitable decision to suspend the 2020-21 campaign was taken.

All ten Elite League teams unanimously agreed that they simply couldn’t afford to commit to a season beginning on December 5th, 2020, as previously planned.

As per the official Elite League Statement, League Chairman Tony Smith spoke on behalf of the ten-member teams:

“We’ve been very open that we need to have fans back in our arenas for us to begin playing again. We operate around 75% to 100% capacity at our venues and this is the level of crowds we would need in order to go ahead at any point, which isn’t a realistic option right now.

“Government compliance along with the safety of our players, officials, staff and fans is paramount to this decision.

“If government guidance and support were to change, some teams may be ready to revise their plans to return to play and would need a minimum of eight weeks to prepare.

“We are looking into the possibility of some form of top-level ice hockey in the UK potentially taking place in early 2021. This could start in late January or early February and go through into late June, but may not include all teams and again this is dependent on crowds being allowed back inside venues.

https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/927-eihl-board-suspend-2020-21-season

The UK hockey family has shown very little discord at the decision to suspend the season and in fact, the only frustration was that many believe it should be cancelled with planning put in place to protect all teams and ensure the league has a future beyond this year.

With many of the top overseas players from the Elite League and members of the Great Britain National team having already seized opportunities elsewhere, the wisdom of still hoping to concoct a part season in the new year without all teams being able to compete does appear slightly bewildering and highly optimistic at best. 

Just the fact of having teams from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England presents its problems with the different rules put in place throughout those countries with the UK shorn of a decisive message and plan across the board.

Many Elite League teams have furloughed or released staff. 

They would have to be rehired along with a long list of other logistics put in place for hockey to take place in January or February.

With local lockdowns seemingly a weekly occurrence and the government’s daily inclination to change the rules of what can and cannot be allowed to take place, it’s a folly to believe professional hockey in the UK will take place soon. A cancelled season after a restart would no doubt be a financial disaster that few teams could sustain.

The future is worrying and uncertain in British hockey and it couldn’t come at a worse time with attendances on the rise and the success of the national team.

If the Elite League can survive this crisis and return in the autumn of next year with all ten teams still able to compete then that should be considered a win