The wait for the new Planet Ice National Ice Hockey League season is nearly over, with the official 2026/27 fixture schedule now confirmed. The Telford Tigers, in conjunction with the NIHL, are thrilled to unveil their complete campaign trail as they prepare for what promises to be another highly competitive and explosive year of British ice hockey.
The league-wide campaign officially gets underway on Friday 18th September, with the opening game of the season seeing the Leeds Knights host the Hull Seahawks in a fiery Yorkshire derby.
Tigers Launch Away to Bison
While local bragging rights are contested on Friday, the rest of the league joins the action over a packed weekend on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September.
The Tigers face a thrilling, high-stakes opening weekend to test their mettle immediately:
- The Away Opener (Saturday 19th Sept): The Telford Tigers travel south to face the Basingstoke Bison in what promises to be a fiercely competitive contest between two sides eager to start the season strongly.
- The Home Opener (Sunday 20th Sept): The Tigers return to the home ice at Telford Ice Rink to welcome the Milton Keynes Lightning, a blockbuster fixture that has produced some truly memorable, high-scoring contests over recent years.
Around the League: A Historic Opening Weekend
The opening weekend offers a brilliant mix of established rivalries, a title defence, and a historic milestone for British ice hockey:
- The Champions Return: The Swindon Wildcats begin the defence of their league title on Saturday on home ice against the Peterborough Phantoms. On Sunday, the Wildcats travel to Ice Sheffield for the Sheffield Steeldogs’ home opener.
- Welcome to the NIHL: There is a significant occasion in Dumfries as Solway IHC plays its first NIHL fixture as the league’s newest franchise, debuting at home on Saturday against the Sheffield Steeldogs before travelling to the Hull Seahawks on Sunday.
- Quick Turnarounds: The Leeds Knights face a rapid turnaround on Saturday as they travel to face the Milton Keynes Lightning, while the Bristol Pitbulls and Romford Raiders trade blows in a standard home-and-away double-header.
- Sunday Slates: The Peterborough Phantoms also return to home ice to host the Basingstoke Bison.
The Road to the Final 4
With the 54-game fixture schedule now set in stone, the countdown officially begins. Teams will battle across a gruelling 27-week regular season to secure a coveted top-eight finish.
The season will culminate with the post-season Playoff campaigns commencing over the weekend of 27th & 28th March 2027, all driving toward the spectacular Final 4 Weekend at the Planet Ice Coventry Skydome on 17th & 18th April 2027.
Ticket & Match Night Information
Individual match tickets will be available soon.
The full, interactive schedule, including all 54 Tigers home nights and away trips, will be live later this morning. Fans can view the complete list, sync the dates directly to their calendars, and secure their spots by visiting the Telford Tigers Fixtures Page.