Coventry Blaze play hosts to Nottingham Panthers for the 2026 EIHL Challenge Cup Final, in one of the most bizarre, poorly structured, arrogantly designed and contrived league tournaments to date.
Not a lot of platitudes would be given to the Official EIHL team and board for this, as unpopular the tournament is, the decisions of late and not just for this season, have been taken with utter contempt for the fans that they need to buy in to it.
The flagrant misuse of public trust and attempt of extracting hard earned money has been in the most simplest of terms, diabolical.
The lack of communication.
The lack of appropriate planning.
The lack of logical scheduling.
The way the competition has been set up with a 10 team league.
It is beyond reproach. Maybe that was the end game. They liked the previous format, knew they were under pressure to change, so made the most illogical methods possible to attempt a steer back to have it their way.
If it was a genuine attempt at change for good, it just highlights how inept those that make these decisions truly have become.
It now extends beyond the competition and tournament parameters. It is now a question of ‘are the right people running the show’ and ‘should club owners/GM’s be the ones to make these decisions?’.
Simple answer to both is NO.
The entire format and even playoff target of leading sales for tickets through a questionable booking agency dressed up as a package tour comes to mind.
That is an article for another day, whether those that be like it or not, the proof has been the decisions and I will only reflect on what has been, to say it has been disappointing is an understatement, echoed league wide by every fan, patron and investor.
The ‘Logic’
So, what about this years’ final?
The ‘hosts’ with the highest win percentage cannot play the final in their own barn, despite having the ability to host it and to run the show from their own media team.
They were given options to make it more home like, except for having priority on all seating in the opponents’ arena.
Even at this point, you just want to throw the entire competition in the bin.
Blaze play Panthers at the home of the Panthers in what should be an exciting event for the league.
In the last 10 years, Giants have won 5 times, Devils once, Panthers once and Steelers twice. Could Panthers get a 2nd straight title and be the next, earning a Challenge Cup 10 years after their last or could Blaze cause the biggest of upsets and kick in the guts to the league who have provided every advantage to the ‘visitors’ possible?
Lets break it down.
The Run In
From the group that somehow has the most teams of a split league, Blaze finished 2nd overall, with Panthers once again needing to play a single quarter final leg, because that is exactly what it is.
Three teams in that group won the most in regulation with 5, yet Blaze managed just 4 wins and 2 in OT to notch up the win% factor.
It was actually meant to be set out like that. Not through most points, but highest win%. Which went forgotten before the campaign even started.
This was realised once Giants lost the first game and panic stations alaramed in EIHL HQ – should Blaze get to the final, they would have to televise it at the Skydome.
A building not too far off the Vindico Arena which hosted for consecutive years until the pandemic outbreak. So, it simply makes no logical sense to redirect to the Arena in Nottingham.
So, had Glasgow Clan won vs Panthers in the single leg quarterfinal, would hosting rights be switched? Imagine if Stars kept up their record vs Giants at the start of the season, then making the Final. It would be a nightmare for the EIHL, but ecstasy for their fans.
That is what this is about.
Head to Head
Head to Head, Panthers have beaten Blaze twice in the group stage, going 6:2 overall with one shut out. The form should be on their side.
Panthers have also played a lot more hockey, with an extra game in the cup and then hosting a Continental Cup Final with another asterix (*).
In the league itself, Panthers have dominated vs Blaze, picking up 4 wins, losing just twice and outscoring them 25:16. A lot of games need more than 3 goals for a win.
As for the latest records in general, Blaze have a 2 – 2 – 1 record in their L5GP, one of those losses vs Panthers.
Panthers suffered a heavy defeat in Wales just a few days ago, with a 4 – 0 – 1 record in their own L5GP.
The odds are genuinely stacked in the favour for Panthers.
History will be made for many reasons. They anticipate one of their largest ‘away’ crowds – despite that crowd being the official hosts.
Like the Continental Cup, they have a chance to win again for the first time in a decade, almost like the Playoffs. It would be a considerable driving force for them, in their own barn, ‘against the odds’ of finishing a lower seed in a, checks the game notes, seeded final.
For Blaze, they haven’t won the Challenge Cup since 2007, so this is momentous for them, their last major trophy was the playoffs in 2015, so again, roughly a decade in the making for another chance.
Ones to Watch
Both teams feature a player each in the top 10 for the top skaters at this stage of the season in regular play, with Tim Doherty (48pts) 2nd overall and just outside the top 5, Grant Mismash (44pts), which puts them in a tantalising contest.
Mishmash with 19 goals is more likely to score, however, he is also joined by Matt Gleason at the foot of the top 10 in goal scorers. Amazingly, despite their reputation, Panthers dont have a skater inside the top 10 (currently) for goals.
One player who likes to come up in big moments is Mitch Fossier, who had an injury this season that has slowed down his prowess. Despite this, he is almost a point per game in terms of pace in the league and should never be overlooked.
As for in net, Robson is the clear favourite to start, with Kevin Carr for Panthers.
The Sources
The above link will take you to the official change in process re: win% for this years’ competition. As highlighted, all group games results will count toward win percentage.
Meaning, the way to pay the group stage was to get not just wins, but wins in regulation.
There was no additional mentions of should the highest seed finalist have an arena ‘X’ amount, then the league will invent an excuse to relocate for a more ‘marketable venue’ by virtue of broadcasting and ticket sales.
https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/3920-new-challenge-cup-format-for-2024-25
This link covers the logically redundant method for this competition, from a 10 team league, with a caveat of a single leg quarterfinal knockout game.
https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/4642-fixtures-for-2025-26-published
The official fixtures, with no mention of movements of venue should certain teams make or not make the final, including a provision end date to the semi-finals. Something they had to wait for nearly a month to conclude, despite ease of rescheduling.
https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/tie-breaking-criteria
The official tie-breaking criteria, with no mention of relocation, aside from transport based provisions (EIHL assuming the opponent would either travel to Belfast or the Giants would have to travel to the mainland).
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