Leeds Chiefs out in the cold as NIHL National rivals get ready to face off

On a day when English-based teams in the full-time Elite League admitted defeat in their attempts to put together some kind of 2020-21 season - after proposed government funding of £4m was revealed to be only available in the form of loans – there was positive news elsewhere when five teams revealed they will compete in the National League Spring Cup.

Starting later this month, it is essentially an extended version of the second-tier’s Streaming Series staged in November last year involving Sheffield Steeldogs, Swindon Wildcats and Milton Keynes Lightning, when all games were streamed online to a paying audience.

Sheffield and Swindon are again involved in the Spring Cup, along with Raiders IHC, Bees IHC and Telford Tigers. But the Lightning will not be taking part, with Leeds, Peterborough Phantoms and Basingstoke Biison also missing.

All four teams are based out of rinks owned by national rink operator Planet Ice.

Hull Pirates will also be missing, though that will largely is be down to their rink being scheduled to undergo a major refurbishment by the city council.

But while only half of the NIHL National teams will be involved in the tournament, the door has been left open for all 10 clubs to take to the ice in April and May, when it is hoped a much-shortened league season will be able to go ahead.

Because of national lockdown restrictions affecting sports events and rules over spectators, all games played in the Spring Cup will be played behind-closed-doors and, where possible, streamed online.

To enable early warning of any potential Covid-19 infections, all teams will be running weekly testing of all players.

“In developing this series, we have been heavily focused on safety, and our role as an Elite Sport during the current national lockdown,” said a statement from the NIHL National owners’ group. At all times, teams will comply with government regulations and the return to play rules from the EIHA.

“All in all, we are now at a key moment for NIHL National teams returning to the ice.

“If we are able to do this, it will provide a real boost to the mental health of players, coaches, staff and fans, and be another step towards the survival and wider return of our sport as the benefit of Covid vaccinations is seen across the country.”

News of the Chiefs’ absence from the Spring Cup, will come as a blow to their fans, who had quickly grown in numbers during the five weeks that Sam Zajac’s team were able to play out of Elland Road before the season was curtailed because of the pandemic in mid-March.

Shortly before Christmas, the Chiefs were given the green light to practise at their Elland Road rink after being granted ‘Elite Sport’ status by the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS), something also secured by Basingstoke and, ahead of the Streaming Series, Milton Keynes.

But with talks about a regular season seemingly having been put on hold, the Chiefs are not thought to have held any training sessions as of yet.

Zajac’s team have not played since March 14 when they lost 4-1 at Swindon, with the curtain being drawn on their inaugural season a few days later because of growing fears over Covid-19.

Including himself, Zajac announced nine signings last summer before it became obvious there would be no regular 2020-21 season. It would be no surprise if some of the Chiefs’ players temporarily jumped ship to teams involved in the Spring Cup.

The likes of forwards Kieran Brown and Liam Charnock, defencemen Lewis Baldwin, Jordan Griffin and Ross Kennedy as well as goaltender Sam Gospel would all be enhance rosters elsewhere. If that happened and the Chiefs then took part in the subsequent league campaign in April-May, it would be hoped those players would then return to West Yorkshire.

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