1997–98 ISL season

The 1997–98 Ice Hockey Superleague season was the second season of the Ice Hockey Superleague (ISL).

There were no changes in the teams taking part during the season – Ayr Scottish Eagles, Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Cardiff Devils, Manchester Storm, Newcastle Cobras, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.

The league season was reduced to twenty-eight rounds in the hope of organising a European tournament. However, this failed to materialise so the league arranged a new cup competition to meet the shortfall in fixtures. [ [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.walch/Years/97-98.htm#LEAGUE 97-98.htm ] ] With the sponsorship of the "Daily Express" newspaper the Express Cup was launched.

Ayr Scottish Eagles won a of all available trophies.

Benson & Hedges Cup

The Benson & Hedges Cup consisted of the teams from the ISL and the top teams from the British National League. In the 1997–98 season, twelve teams in total were split into two regional groups playing each team in their group once at home and once away. The top four 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

emi finals

1st place (Ayr) vs 4th place (Sheffield)
*Nottingham Panthers 4–4 Ayr Scottish Eagles
*Ayr Scottish Eagles 12–4 Nottingham Panthers (Ayr win 16–8 on aggregate)

"'2nd place (Sheffield) vs 3rd place (Bracknell)
*Bracknell Bees 3–1 Sheffield Steelers
*Sheffield Steelers 4–4 Bracknell Bees (Bracknell win 7–4 on aggregate)

Final

Winner A vs Winner B
*Ayr Scottish Eagles 3–2 Bracknell Bees

League

Each team played two home games and two away games against each of their opponents. All eight teams were entered into the playoffs.

emi Finals

Winner B vs Runner-Up A
*Cardiff Devils 5-4 Sheffield Steelers
*Sheffield Steelers 2–6 Cardiff Devils (Cardiff win series 2–0)

Winner A vs Runner-Up B
*Ayr Scottish Eagles 5–3 Manchester Storm
*Manchester Storm 2-7 Ayr Scottish Eagles (Ayr win series 2–0)

Third place playoff

Loser A vs Loser B
*Sheffield Steelers 5–2 Manchester Storm

Final

Winner A vs Winner B
*Cardiff Devils 2-3 Ayr Scottish Eagles (after overtime)

Awards

*Coach of the Year Trophy – Jim Lynch, Ayr Scottish Eagles
*Player of the Year Trophy – Rob Dopson, Ayr Scottish Eagles
*Alan Weeks Trophy – Stephen Cooper, Manchester Storm

All Star teams

coring leaders

The scoring leaders are taken from all league and Express Cup games.

*Most points: 58 Tony Hand (Sheffield Steelers) and Mark Montanari (Ayr Scottish Eagles)
*Most goals: 29 Jamie Steer (Ayr Scottish Eagles)
*Most assists: 44 Tony Hand (Sheffield Steelers)
*Most PIMs: 224 Rob Trumbley (Newcastle Cobras)

Footnotes

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]