Away we go with the first Saturday of 2026, which has a full schedule of 10 games across the Elite Ice Hockey League. All games face off at 7pm.

League leaders Nottingham Panthers entertain Guildford Flames in a repeat of the teams’ final meeting before Christmas. On that night, the Flames came out 6-2 winners and have since been one of the form teams in the league, with three wins from four games, including two against Cardiff. The Panthers picked up two wins and an overtime point from their four games over the holiday period and sit top of the table by a single point.

Just behind them, Cardiff Devils will look to close that gap when they host Dundee Stars at the Vindico Arena. The teams have yet to meet in Cardiff this season but have faced each other twice in Scotland, splitting those games. The Devils’ win in Dundee later in December came by seven goals without reply. Dundee’s win over Fife ended a lengthy losing run, while Cardiff were beaten in both of their New Year fixtures against Guildford.

Sheffield Steelers will be looking to halt a run of three straight losses as they welcome Fife Flyers to the Utilita Arena. Sheffield were beaten by Manchester either side of New Year and then lost in Nottingham on 27 December. Fife arrive in good form after wins over Belfast and Dundee before picking up a point against the Stars on Hogmanay, results that lifted them off the foot of the table.

In Altrincham, fifth-placed Manchester Storm face fourth-placed Belfast Giants, with the teams separated by five points. Storm are one of the league’s in-form sides after back-to-back wins over Sheffield and a Boxing Day victory in Guildford. Belfast won three of their festive fixtures and only dropped a single point in a shootout loss in Fife.

The evening is rounded off in Glasgow, where Clan host Coventry Blaze at Braehead Arena. Clan picked up wins over Dundee either side of Christmas but took only one point from two games against Belfast, leaving them in the middle of the pack. Coventry took three of four points from their New Year series with Nottingham, moving five points clear of the playoff trapdoor.

Photo: Hayley Roberts