1996–97 ISL season

The 1996–97 Ice Hockey Superleague season was the inaugrual season of the Ice Hockey Superleague (ISL).

The league was formed by the owners of the Ayr Scottish Eagles, Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Cardiff Devils, Manchester Storm, Newcastle Cobras, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers. Ayr was the only new team with the rest of the teams having left the British Hockey League.

Benson & Hedges Cup

The Benson & Hedges Cup consists of the teams from the ISL and the top teams from the British Hockey League. Sixteen teams in total were split into four regional groups playing each team in their group at home and away. The top two teams of each group then progressed to the quarter finals where the teams were paired off and the winning team on aggregate (after playing home and away) progressed to the semi finals. Again the winning team on aggregate progressed to the one-off final game held at Sheffield Arena.

Group A

Group D

Group B

emi Finals

The finals weekend took place at Nynex Arena in Manchester.

Winner A vs Runner-Up B
*Cardiff Devils 2-5 Sheffield Steelers

Winner B vs Runner-Up A
*Nottingham Panthers 6-5 Ayr Scottish Eagles (after overtime)

Final

Winner A vs Winner B
*Sheffield Steelers 3-1 Nottingham Panthers

Awards

*Coach of the Year Trophy – Jim Lynch, Ayr Scottish Eagles
*Player of the Year Trophy – Stevie Lyle, Cardiff Devils
*Alan Weeks Trophy – Jason Stone, Cardiff Devils

All Star team

coring leaders

*Most points: 60 Dale Junkin (Bracknell Bees)
*Most goals: 28 Paul Adey (Nottingham Panthers)
*Most assists: 37 Vezio Sacratini (Cardiff Devils)
*Most PIMs: 149 Frank Kovacs (Sheffield Steelers)

References

* [http://www.ihjuk.co.uk/ Ice Hockey Journalists UK]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/index.html The Internet Hockey Database]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/malcolm.preen/hockey.html Malcolm Preen's Ice Hockey Results and Tables]