EIHL Game Notes

Welcome to the EIHL Game Notes, a new feature to bring a broader insight and analysis for the EIHL and fans of UK ice hockey.

Each week will have an update of the action around the league, including key points such as tale of the tape, trends, patterns and a break down of what to expect, including box scores, statistics and how to interpret the data and information, as well as a rounded, professional product.

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EIHL Game Notes Edition 1; Giants Collect Full Points as Rivals Miss Opportunities

Belfast Giants

Giants needed to take full advantage of having 3 games in game week 18 of the 2025/26 EIHL season and didn’t fail in their pursuit.

They faced down Stars on the road midweek, a team that have proven to be a thorn in their side early on across both EIHL competitions, with a late surge in an attempt to fashion a smash and grab comeback for the home team.

It was very much short lived, as the dependable Goodwin and Kawaguchi dialled up their focus to secure the first two of 6 points on the road.

It has been a tale of repeated patterns for the hosts, as Stars struggle to get themselves into games, finding a second wind in the third to try and rally late on. Giants were equal to this and kept their foot on the gas, cementing a comfortable win.

They backed this up with a comfortable, asserted victory on home ice vs league leaders Panthers, taking over Devils to go 2nd overall, then repeated the feat vs Storm, who travelled on the back of a hard earned victory over their rivals the night before.

It was a slate of fixtures where secondary scoring was bolstered by the blue liners, all 6 claiming at least a point, with 6 of the 15 goals scored from defensemen, half of which were scored by Bo Hanson (3). Hanson claimed 4 points for the week, matching Reid Irwin (1G, 3A), as Gabe Bast had 3 points from a goal and two helpers.

Nottingham Panthers

As mentioned, Panthers got soundly defeated in Belfast, losing some ground at the top of the table after claiming the spot back from a brief hold for the Devils.

They responded in Fife to utterly ransack the Auld Barn at 7:3, a result for the home team that nearly wiped out a famous win the night before, vs Steelers (7:4), which also dented their contention for the title.

It was a much needed and emphatic win for the 2026 IIHF Continental Cup hosts, who go into the tournament Wednesday evening, sitting 5 points clear of their bitter rivals in 4th and 3 ahead of the more realistic contenders, Devils and Giants.

Sheffield Steelers

Steelers also claimed a heavy victory over Stars, winning 6 zip, salvaging a disastrous road trip to Scotland, much the same as Devils encountered earlier on in the season.

It goes to prove that the Scottish Triple header is not a fixture set that will be easy, as they have claimed big scalps across the season.

Steelers lost their first two games, including a 7:4 rout vs Fife, firmly derailing any momentum they had hope to build to challenge strongly for the EIHL crown.

News of former NHL’er Brett Ritchie arriving this week is welcome news for the Yorkshire club, a player that has struggled since making the move to Europe to continue their career.

Cardiff Devils

The Cardiff Devils have also had a mixed weekend, losing on the road in a tight single goal outcome to Storm, before defeating Clan at home by a single goal in s shutout.

They briefly made the summit, but have since seemed to have developed some burns along the way, dropping 3 games from 5, with goal scoring drying up along the way.

In that space, they have slipped to 3rd overall, helped by the drop off from Steelers, but with 2 games in hand, destiny is once again with Belfast to try and claim that top spot.

Joey Martin was injured from the week before and hopes to rejoin his team this weekend, with question marks of Ben Bowns, who has had a spectacular season so far. He picked up an injury vs Storm, which saw him eventually swapped out after Dudek crashed the net on a power play.