The countdown to the 2025–26 Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) season is officially on.
Pre-season games are underway across the country, rosters are taking shape, and fans are already debating which teams look ready to challenge for silverware.
Here’s a look at the key storylines before the puck drops in September.
New faces, new hopes
Recruitment has been brisk this summer, with teams reshaping their squads to stay competitive.
Belfast Giants have retained much of last year’s core while adding depth, bringing back Jackson Whistle in goal and reinforcing their forward lines with Brandon Whistle and Ciaran Long.
Cardiff Devils, meanwhile, have emphasised their blue line, signing Brandon Estes and Tyson Helgesen to provide experience and balance.
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Elsewhere, the Nottingham Panthers have opted for continuity, re-signing playmakers like Tim Doherty and Cooper Zech.
However, they will begin the season without long-time captain Sam Herr, who retired after the team's playoff success.
The Glasgow Clan turned heads with the capture of Canadian forward Brayden Burke, brought in to replace departed scorer Cole Ully, and Manchester Storm have embarked on a near-total rebuild, banking on newcomers Rais Francis and Bradley Jenion to settle quickly.
Guildford Flames are also quietly reshaping their roster.
With several veterans moving on, head coach Paul Dixon has recruited heavily on defence, bringing in Jake Gravelle and all-star blueliner Jamal Watson.
Flames fans will be hoping the new-look back line can provide the platform for another playoff push after last season’s inconsistent run.
The Fife Flyers face perhaps the steepest challenge of all.
After a difficult 2024–25 campaign, the club has overseen a major clear-out, with a host of familiar names departing Kirkcaldy.
In their place comes a raft of new signings, including several North American imports, as the Flyers attempt to lay the foundations for a fresh start.
With so much turnover, pre-season will be crucial in building chemistry—and in convincing supporters that a return to competitiveness is realistic.
Pre-season clues
Friendly fixtures against European and Canadian opposition are already giving fans a first glimpse of these revamped line-ups.
Cardiff’s clashes with French side Gap and Canadian visitors Concordia University have drawn strong attendances.
At the same time, Belfast’s double-header against Stavanger Oilers offers an early test of their Champions Hockey League credentials.
The Panthers and Coventry Blaze are also measuring themselves against North American university sides, while Glasgow Clan are off to Germany for the Warrior Pro Tournament -arguably the sternest test of the pre-season calendar.
These games, while not decisive, are often revealing: coaches get a chance to experiment with line combinations, imports have their first taste of British ice, and fans can judge whether summer optimism matches reality.
The bigger picture
Pre-season may only offer glimpses, but they are often telling ones.
Can Cardiff’s defensive rebuild hold firm?
Will Belfast’s depth give them the edge once again?
And how quickly can rebuilt rosters in Manchester and Glasgow gel?
By the time the league season begins, answers will start to emerge.
For now, pre-season is a chance for fans to dream, for coaches to tinker, and for players to stake an early claim before the serious business begins.
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