The wait for the new Planet Ice National Ice Hockey League season is nearly over, with the 2026/27 fixture schedule now confirmed.

The new campaign gets underway on Friday 18th September, with the opening game of the season seeing the Leeds Knights host the Hull Seahawks in a Yorkshire derby. The two sides will open the league campaign with local bragging rights and the first points of the season up for grabs.

The rest of the league joins the action over the weekend, with a full programme of fixtures on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September. One of Saturday’s standout fixtures sees the Milton Keynes Lightning welcome the Leeds Knights, who face a quick turnaround following their opening night clash with Hull.

The Swindon Wildcats begin the defence of their league title on home ice against the Peterborough Phantoms. As the reigning champions, the Wildcats will be aiming to make a positive start, while the Phantoms will be looking to spoil the occasion. Elsewhere, the Basingstoke Bison host the Telford Tigers in what promises to be a competitive contest between two sides looking to start the season strongly.

The Bristol Pitbulls welcome the Romford Raiders, with both teams eager to pick up their first points of the new campaign.

There is also a significant occasion in Dumfries, as Solway IHC plays its first NIHL fixture as the league’s newest franchise. They begin life in the competition at home against the Sheffield Steeldogs, marking an important milestone for the club and its supporters.

The opening weekend concludes on Sunday with another full slate of fixtures. The Romford Raiders begin their home campaign against the Bristol Pitbulls, completing a home-and-away double-header across the opening weekend.

Telford Tigers welcome the Milton Keynes Lightning in a fixture that has produced some memorable contests over the years, while the Sheffield Steeldogs play their first home game of the season against the reigning champions, the Swindon
Wildcats, at Ice Sheffield.

The Peterborough Phantoms also return to home ice for the first time as they host the Basingstoke Bison, while the Hull Seahawks open their home schedule at Hull Ice Arena against the league’s newest side, Solway IHC.

With the fixture schedule now confirmed, clubs and supporters can begin the countdown to another exciting NIHL season.

The opening weekend offers a mix of established rivalries, the start of a title defence, home openers across the league and the introduction of a new team to the competition, setting the stage for what promises to be another competitive campaign.

The season culminates with our Play Off campaigns commencing over the weekend of 27 th & 28 th March culminating with our Final 4 weekend at the Coventry Skydome on the weekend of 17th & 18th April 2027.

You can download our fixtures here.

New Operator Approved in Planet Ice NIHL National League

The Planet Ice NIHL National Division are pleased to confirm that its club owners have approved the admission of a new operating company for the team playing out of Dumfries Ice Bowl in the 2026/27 campaign.

The decision was reached following diligence reviews and discussions at the recent owners’ meeting after which the members voted in favour of admitting the new organisation.

Board Director Gary McCracken commented on behalf of the new operating company:

“I would like to thank the NIHL National management team and the owners’ group for their support throughout this transition period. Without their backing, this announcement—and indeed the future of the team—would not have been possible”.

“After months of hard work behind the scenes, we are delighted to finally confirm that National League hockey in Dumfries will continue. We couldn’t be happier to share this news”.

McCracken continued, “we fully understand the frustrations of fans regarding the lack of updates in recent months, but it was important that we followed the correct processes and ensured the club’s future was secure before making any announcements. We look forward to welcoming teams and fans back to our home, Dumfries Ice Bowl, for the upcoming season”.

Fixture planning is in full swing with the new organisation successfully admitted into the League and the club are fully engaged in building a competitive roster ready to compete in September.

The Planet Ice NIHL National ownership group are pleased that a team from Dumfries will continue to ice out of the Dumfries Ice Bowl as this represents continuity of eleven teams and is a positive step for the continued growth and development of ice hockey across the UK.

The Romford Raiders are delighted to confirm that #29 Jake Sylvester will return for the second year of his deal and his testimonial season with the club.

A player who continues to cement his place in Raiders history, Jake once again proved why he remains one of the most dangerous British forwards in the league last season. Jake’s impact on the Raiders organisation over the years has been nothing short of outstanding, and his career numbers continue to climb the all-time rankings.

A proven goal scorer, leader, and fan favourite, we’re excited to see Jake back in Raiders colours for another huge season.

Baker enjoyed an outstanding campaign in the NIHL last season, recording an impressive 70 points in 64 appearances, including 27 goals and 43 assists. His exceptional two-way play made him one of the league’s standout performers and a fan favourite at the Sapphire.

The club is thrilled to welcome Jarrett back to the gold and blue and looks forward to seeing him continue to make an impact in a Raiders jersey for the upcoming season.

The Romford Raiders are delighted to announce the re-signing of netminder Cole Ceci for the 2026/27 season, securing one of the club’s key players for another campaign.

Ceci returns following an impressive first season with the Raiders, where his consistency, composure and work ethic quickly established him as a fan favourite and a vital presence within the locker room. Renowned for his strong positional play and ability to make key saves at crucial moments, Ceci will once again be entrusted with anchoring the Raiders’ defence as the club looks to build a competitive squad heading into the new season.

Last season Ceci won the defenceman of the year and the coveted Players Player of the year Awards and broke 3 records for the Raiders in his debut season. He had most minutes in goal during a season (3,578), most shots faced (2,238) and most saves (2,207). Ceci has also become involved with the Raiders Junior Academy and we are delighted to welcome him back to the Raiders family.

Speaking on the re-signing, the club said:

“Cole was a priority for us. He brings professionalism, quality and a calm presence that gives confidence to the entire team. We’re absolutely delighted to have him back in Romford for another season.”

Ceci added:

“I’m really excited and honoured to be back with the Raiders again next season. Romford is a fantastic place to be and I’m looking forward to getting back in front of the fans”

The Romford Raiders would like to thank supporters for their continued backing and look forward to announcing further signings as preparations for the 2026/27 season continue. Season tickets remain on sale, reserve your seats today.