MK Lightning

Rooted to the bottom of the Elite League, Lightning will ply their trade in the new division, announced by the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) earlier this month, and will sit above the existing NIHL Division 1 North and South.

Lightning owner Graham Moodysaid: “I’m very excited and optimistic about the Lightning competing in this new league. It’s going to be a combination of clubs who have faced each other previously and some who haven’t, in teams comprising a majority of British talent and two imports. Some old rivalries will be revived - and new ones formed!

“We appreciate that some of our supporters would have preferred us to retain Elite status. However the long-term financial viability of the Lightning franchise is incredibly important to us - and it became unsustainable to compete at that level. Milton Keynes is a hockey town and we are determined to maintain senior hockey here.

“Nobody wanted this season to be more successful, than we did. We acknowledge that mistakes were made - but it would have been a bigger mistake to try and continue in the Elite League before strengthening the already solid foundations with extra sponsorship agreements and higher attendances first.

“Joining the new National Ice Hockey League means we will be able to compete sustainably again and put a genuinely competitive team onto the ice for our fans.”