This weekend the Raiders start their NIHL (National Ice Hockey League) Spring Cup competition with a doubleheader against the Telford Tigers. There has been no ice hockey in Romford since the coronavirus outbreak back in March 2020 so the Raiders will be hoping for success as they make their long-awaited return.
Last week the EIHA (English Ice Hockey Association) and NIHL announced the first phase of the Return to Play for senior hockey, fixtures for the Spring Cup. The seven weeks of action began this past weekend, with the Sheffield Steeldogs doing the double over the Swindon Wildcats.
The Competition
Last year the Spring Cup was cut short because all sports were stopped due to the global pandemic and because of the effects still disrupting sports the competition has a different structure to normal.
There are five teams involved, each team will play each other home and away over seven weekends each team playing each other three times for a total of 12 games each. The points will be allocated using the usual league rules, with the top-placed team at the end of the competition awarded the cup.
If fixtures cannot be played as first scheduled, the teams involved will work with the EIHA (Elite Ice Hockey League) to determine the appropriate award of points or if possible, reschedule the game.
Changes to the Roster
With EIHL teams not included in the return to play scheme, many players from the elite league are keen to get back on the ice and have made transfers to take part in the competition.
The Raiders last week signed Elite League defenceman Zach Sullivan ahead of the Spring Cup. He has been given a contract for the seven-week series after training with the team in recent weeks, to give coach Sean Easton more options for the roster.
Additions to the team are being welcomed, because of the lasting effects of coronavirus, the Raiders do not have their first choices available. Lukas Sladkovsky and Novak Nable Raiders forwards are both not returning for the Spring Cup, but both intend to be back in the lineup come September.
When and how can you watch?
On Saturday the Raiders will take to the ice at 6:30pm in Telford and then again on Sunday back home in Romford face-off against the Tigers is at an earlier time of 5pm.
Unfortunately, due to restrictions in place fans are unable to attend games, all games are being played behind closed doors but for £11 you can watch the action live on a stream.
Links to the streams for Raiders games can be found here: http://raidersicehockey.com/streaming-links
