Scottish team Solway Sharks in Planet Ice NIHL National Division
The Dumfries-based ice hockey team, Solway Sharks, became the latest addition to the Planet Ice NIHL National Division. The Sharks became the 11th team in the division and brought an additional level of excitement to the competition.
Speaking about the announcement, Solway Sharks new ownership team of John Strange, Phil Reilly and David McCarroll said, “We are very happy to join the Planet Ice NIHL National Division and compete against the existing members of the league. We are excited to showcase our talent on this national stage and look forward to the season ahead. We have worked hard to ensure we will be a sustainable operation and can’t wait to get started for our first season at National level.”
An NIHL National Owners Group spokesperson also expressed their excitement at the expansion of the league, stating, “We are very happy to have Solway Sharks join the Planet Ice NIHL National Division. The addition of a Scottish team is fantastic news for the league and we are excited to see the Sharks take to the ice this coming season. The ownership and coaching teams in Solway have worked hard to make this happen.”
Solway Sharks had a strong record in ice hockey, having won the NIHL Division 1 playoff title. Their inclusion in the league was expected to bring a new dimension to the competition in the division. The overall league remained at 27 games home and away, with each team dropping three home and three away fixtures against different opponents, similar to the previous season. There were no conferences.
The expansion of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division demonstrated the sport’s growing popularity across the country. The new season proved to be an exciting one for ice hockey fans, and the EIHA were delighted to welcome Solway to the league starting in September.