Leeds Chiefs’ debut season brought to early end over coronavirus pandemic

Leeds Chiefs, pictured after a loss to Sheffield Steeldogs on opening night at Elland Road. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss. | Dean,Rose..

AS EXPECTED, the inaugural NIHL National season is over for Leeds Chiefs after the governing body toight cancelled all competitive games through until May 31 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The ruling covers all leagues governed by the English Ice Hockey Association and Scottish Ice Hockey.

It means the Chiefs’ final game of their debut campaign was Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Swindon Wildcats.

The latest announcement comes on the back of the latest government advice released last night by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and succeeds Friday’s announcement by the EIHA/SIH which had allowed all weekend games to go ahead.

Leeds Chiefs' player-coach Sam Zajac. Picture: Dean Woolley

A total of four games were played on Saturday in NIHL National, but Leeds saw their scheduled home game on Sunday cancelled after opponents Milton Keynes Lightning opted not to travel given their players’ growing concerns over the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The top-tier Elite League cancelled their season on Friday in the wake of reports that a number of players had gone into self-isolation having shown coronavirus symptoms.

A joint statement issued last night by the EIHA and SIH, said: “All competitive activity sanctioned by the EIHA and SIH up to and including 31st May 2020 is cancelled from Tuesday 17th March 2020 with a further statement on 1st May 2020 for all competitive activities after 31st May 2020.”