ICE HOCKEY: Guildford Flames to join Elite League

Their move from the English Premier League was ratified at an EIHL meeting earlier in the week and they will join EPL rivals Milton Keynes Lightning as new additions.

Since forming in 1992, they have won six league titles, five play-off competitions and seven cups and will make the step up to the top tier for the first time in their history. Guildford’s Chief Operating Officer Kirk Humphreys is delighted to see his team come on board and believes the time was right for the Flames to join the Elite League.

“To say the least, we, as a club, are exceptionally excited to have been given this opportunity by the league and its board members”, Kirk said. “There are many reasons for taking the club in this direction, but primarily we feel that the time is right to step up to a higher quality, faster on ice product.”

“We believe the jump to the Elite League level will be well received by our fans, and best suits our own objectives in promoting the most competitive, entertaining hockey we can put on the ice.”

“After a successful quarter century, we are the same club, same home building, same ties to the community, but now we have the chance to compete in the highest league available to us. We hope our fans are as thrilled as we are to begin our next steps at the very top of British ice hockey.”

Flames and Lightning will be added to the ten teams already competing in the Elite League.

And tonight at the SSE Arena the Belfast Giants take on the Fyfe Flyers. (Face-off 7pm).