Leeds Chiefs boss Sam Zajac hopeful NIHL National ‘Streaming Series’ can help salvage 2020-21 season

Due to spectators not being allowed into UK rinks because of Covid-19 rules, no competitive hockey has been possible this season, in fact since back in March when the 2020-21 season at all levels was brought to a shuddering halt as the coronavirus pandemic took hold across the world.

But, over the next three weekends, Sheffield Steeldogs, Milton Keynes Lightning and Swindon Wildcats will take part in a pilot series of six games which will all be played behind-closed-doors, while being streamed on the internet for paying fans.

The hope is that the series will prove popular enough in terms of paying viewers that it will put the second tier into a position where all 10 teams could be able to compete at some point early next year, subject to government approval.

All three teams involved have had to gain ‘Elite Sport’ status via the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in order to take part in the tournament, with the go-ahead being confirmed last week by government officials, despite the introduction of a second lockdown by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The full-time professional Elite League has effectively been wiped out for the entire season, with some of the GB game’s top stars heading to Europe in order to earn a living.

But, with their significantly lower playing budgets and far less reliance on import players, there is a growing belief that NIHL National teams and those below may still be able to rescue some kind of a season.

The ‘Streaming Series’ will prove a vital component of that being realised, with Zajac among many in the game watching on this weekend with understandable interest in whether the model proves successful and, therefore, financially viable to make it attractive to other second-tier clubs, including his own Chiefs team.

“I think every player in the league wishes they could get on the ice and play a proper game at the moment,” said Zajac. “Speaking to our guys, every one of them would love to be a part of it and I’m sure that is the same for players on all the other NIHL National teams who were signed up for playing this season.

“We’ll be watching keenly and wishing them all the best and hoping the figures make sense for them and that it all goes smoothly and it’s all safe.

“Hopefully, they break ground on something that can work financially and help the wider league and then get us all back playing sooner rather than later.

“Personally, I’ll be watching every stream and I’ll be intrigued to see how it goes.

“And I have to admit that there is definitely a touch of jealousy that we’re not a part of it – we’re all desperate to get back out there.

“We just hope it leads on to something that we can all be part of.”

The first game in the ‘Streaming Series’ takes place this Saturday between Swindon and Milton Keynes, with the Wildcats travelling to South Yorkshire the following day to take on the Steeldogs.

Tickets for watching the games live online can be bought by logging on to: https://www.nihl-national.co.uk/tickets/

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