Clan addition prompts new format for Elite League

The current four home and away fixture set-up between sides, will be reduced to three home and away games per series, thereby producing a 48-game regular season - eight less than this year.

Whereas some excitement has been taken out of this year's play-off chase with all eight teams automatically qualifying anyway, next season will see added competition with only six of the nine teams qualifying for the end-of-season play-offs.

The revised format will see them pitched into a round robin situation with sides finishing first, second and third in the regular season benefitting from playing three of their five games on home ice, while those in fourth, fifth and sixth will play three matches on the road.

The top four in the play-off pool will then qualify for the traditional play-off finals weekend on April 2-3 at Nottingham's National Ice Centre, with the usual schedule of two semi-finals on the Saturday being followed by Sunday's final.

Elite League chairman, Eamon Convery, said the addition of newcomers Braehead for the 2010-11 had given the league an opportunity to revamp a number of things.

"Play-offs are always one of the most important and exciting times in the season and this new longer format will excite every hockey fan," said Convery.

"There's now an added emphasis on the league season with nine teams battling it out for six spots and then jostling for position in the top three, to claim that all important extra home game."