French talks Playoffs

Elite League Director of Hockey Andy French has told skysports.com that the playoff finals are the spectacle of European ice hockey.

Tickets have gone on sale for the final four weekend, which takes place in Nottingham on April 4th and 5th.

The Nottingham Arena will again host two semi-finals on the Saturday before a junior international between England and Scotland and the playoff final on the Sunday afternoon.

The Elite League have announced that ticket prices will remain the same as last season and French said that he expected another great weekend.

“The playoff finals at Nottingham get huge crowds and always have,” French told skysports.com.

“It’s a big success. It’s very difficult to get tickets for it year in, year out and it’s very successful. It’s hard work but it is good. I enjoy it after doing a few playoff final weekends behind the scenes.”

Previously the road to the final four weekend involved two groups of four with the top two in each group qualifying. However, in recent years that has been replaced by a knockout format with quarter finals ties contested over two legs.

“I think we went to this new format and it’s created, in my opinion, a situation that’s way better than when we used to have the groups,” French added.

“I think it creates more interest for the fans and each club should get full houses (for the home playoff quarter final) especially if the first game is close.

“The next week (in Nottingham) you’re at what’s become the spectacle of Europe.”

The winning team last year was the Sheffield Steelers, who defeated Cardiff and Coventry en route to collecting their second playoff championship of the Elite League era.

The Steelers are the only team to win the trophy twice since the formation of the EIHL with Nottingham, Newcastle and Coventry also tasting victory.

EIHL: French talks Rivalry

Which teams are the biggest rivals in the Elite League?

There's no doubt that Sheffield-Nottingham games generate the highest attendances, but what about the most intensity? In other words, who hates who more?

Andy French, the Elite League's Director of Hockey, has an interesting take on the league and the rivalries within it.

“There’s a lot at stake, especially with Belfast and Coventry playing cup games against each other soon,” French said in an interview with skysports.com.

“It seems that there’s a bigger rivalry now between Belfast and Coventry than Cardiff and Coventry. I might be completely wrong, but that’s me looking from the outside in.”

After Wednesday's Challenge Cup semi final, the Giants and Blaze also face-off in the league in February, renewing a rivalry that French believes is now one of the hottest in the EIHL.

Belfast have been the only team in the last four years to break Coventry’s stranglehold on the league title.

However, the ascendancy of the Steelers has shaken things up at the top of the table and it’s also given French plenty to deal with following their fiery games with the Cardiff Devils.

“I think there’s a higher intensity now between Sheffield and Cardiff than Sheffield and Nottingham and that’s how it goes,” he said.

“It’s probably down to who signs who and who’s on the rosters from the previous year and they feel it’s going to go.”

And he says it's still to early to pick a winner.

“Almost everybody has beaten everybody else in the league this year,” French said.

“There are a lot of games to be played and I wouldn’t want to pick who’s going to win the league.”

check out elite hockey today in February to hear more
from EIHL Director Andy French