The following announcement has today been made by the Planet Ice National League management committee:-
“Planet Ice NIHL National Division welcomes Scottish team Solway Sharks for 2023/24 season.
“Dumfries-based ice hockey team, Solway Sharks, are the latest addition to the Planet Ice NIHL National Division ice hockey league for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
“The Sharks will become the 11th team in the division and are sure to bring an additional level of excitement to the competition.”
Speaking about the announcement, Solway Sharks new ownership team of John Strange, Phil Reilly and David McCarroll said,
“We are very happy to join the Planet Ice NIHL National Division and compete against the existing members of the league. We are excited to showcase our talent on this national stage and look forward to the season ahead. We have worked hard to ensure we will be a sustainable operation and can’t wait to get started for our first season at National level.”
An NIHL National Owners Group spokesperson also expressed their excitement at the expansion of the league, stating, “We are very happy to have Solway Sharks join the Planet Ice NIHL National Division. The addition of a Scottish team is fantastic news for the league and we are excited to see the Sharks take to the ice this coming season. The ownership and coaching teams in Solway have worked hard to make this happen.
“Solway Sharks have a strong record in ice hockey, having won the NIHL Division 1 playoff title last year. Their inclusion in the league is expected to bring a new dimension to the competition in the division. The overall league will still be 27 games home and away, with each team dropping 3 home and 3 away fixtures against different opponents similar to this season. There will not be conferences. Further info will be shared when fixtures are released in the coming weeks.”
“The expansion of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division ice hockey league demonstrates the sport’s growing popularity across the country. The new season is set to be an exciting one for ice hockey fans, and we are delighted to welcome Solway to the league starting in September.”
“Welcome to the Solway Sharks team and fans!”
