Two games on Friday night open Week 19 of the 2025/26 Elite Ice Hockey League season.
Belfast Giants host Sheffield Steelers for the first time this season as the teams begin a weekend double-header at the SSE Arena. The sides have met once so far, with the Steelers taking a 4-1 win at the Utilita Arena. Belfast head into the weekend two points clear of Sheffield, having played two games fewer. New Steelers signing Brett Ritchie is cleared to make his debut.
In 71 league meetings in Belfast, the Giants have recorded 45 wins to the Steelers’ 25, with one tie, a 4-4 draw in October 2003.
In Manchester, Glasgow Clan make their first visit of the season to the Storm Shelter. Clan won 3-2 in the opening league game of the season in September, before Storm responded with a four-goal shutout win in Glasgow in October. Storm sit fifth in the standings and have won four of their last home games. Clan are two places and four points back, having played one game more.
Special teams could be key, with Clan owning the league’s lowest power-play percentage at 12.28%, while Storm rank among the EIHL’s top three penalty-killing teams.
16th January has produced 26 games in league history, though none since 2022. Home teams have won 19 of those fixtures, with three of the last four games on this date requiring overtime to decide a winner.
Photo: Dean Wooley