Saturday: 4 Cup games on the schedule
Photo: James Assinder
It's a Challenge Cup start to the season for six more teams beginning their 2023/24 Elite Ice Hockey League seasons, while for two of them it's a repeat of opening night.
Cardiff Devils welcome Guildford Flames to the Vindico Arena for each team's first competitive games of the new season. Cardiff won their first six pre-season games in a row before last weekend's defeats to Sheffield, while Guildford beat Manchester in their only two warm-up games before starting. The Flames did not lose in Cardiff at all during last season's Challenge Cup.
Click here to watch Devils vs. Flames!
It's Part II of the Dundee-Belfast opening weekend double-header as both teams head to Dundee after Friday's game in Belfast. The Giants took that 4-1 after a scoreless opening 20 minutes, with the Stars now aiming for revenge on home ice. It will be Giants Associate Coach Jeff Mason's first trip back to Dundee after leaving as Head Coach last summer.
Click here to watch Stars vs. Giants!
The new era for both Glasgow Clan and Fife Flyers begins at Braehead Arena on Saturday night in what is expected to be a sell-out crowd. Both teams had mixed results in pre-season, but points are now in play as Jason Morgan and Tom Coolen take charge of competitive EIHL games for their respective teams. Fife famously reached the final of the Challenge Cup last season.
Click here to watch Clan vs. Flyers!
Manchester Storm have home-ice advantage as they look to start the new season with a win after losing all four fixtures they played in pre-season. Matt Ginn's team have yet to taste victory this season, but that could all change with the visit of Nottingham. For the Panthers, it will be Jonathan Parades' first taste of competitive EIHL action, and a first visit to the Storm Shelter.
