The 2012–13 Elite Ice Hockey League season was the tenth season of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The regular season began on Saturday 8 September 2012 and ended on Sunday 24 March 2013, followed by the Play-Offs which culminated in the end-of-season Play-Off Finals on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April 2013.[1]

Quick Facts League, Sport ...
2012–13 EIHL season
LeagueElite Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationSeptember - March
Regular season
ChampionsNottingham Panthers
Playoffs
ChampionsNottingham Panthers
Challenge Cup
ChampionsNottingham Panthers
Conferences
Gardiner championsBraehead Clan
Erhardt championsBelfast Giants
EIHL seasons
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This season saw the introduction of a new two conference format, in which the ten participating teams were split into two conferences of five teams. The Gardiner Conference, named after former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Charlie Gardiner, comprised the five northernmost mainland teams (Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers and Hull Stingrays) and the Erhardt Conference, named after the captain of the British 1936 Winter Olympics gold medal winning team Carl Erhardt, comprised the four southernmost mainland teams (Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers) and one team from Northern Ireland (Belfast Giants).[2] The most prestigious honour remained the overall League Championship, awarded to the team with the most points gained from all league games (conference and inter-conference games). The season also included the end-of-season Play-Offs and the Challenge Cup.

Nottingham Panthers proved to be the dominant team of the season, clinching the Elite League Championship – their first British League Championship title for 57 years – when they defeated their nearest challengers Belfast Giants 5–3 at the Odyssey Arena on Friday 15 March 2013. However, the Giants would prevent the Panthers achieving a regular season double of League and Conference titles by shading a very close Erhardt Conference title race on regulation time wins after both teams finished level on points. The Gardiner Conference proved even more exciting with all five teams never being more than a few wins apart, at one stage towards the end of the season only one point separating first and last place. Braehead Clan eventually ran out Conference Champions in a very successful first season for the new two-conference format.

The Challenge Cup was won for the fourth successive season by Nottingham Panthers, clinching their second honour of the season by defeating Sheffield Steelers 5–3 on aggregate in the two-legged final. The Panthers then overcame a big scare at the hands of Fife Flyers in the Play-Off Quarter-Finals to defeat Cardiff Devils in the semi-finals and then Belfast Giants 3–2 in overtime in the Final. This third successive Play-Offs victory also gave them the treble of League Championship, Play-Offs and Challenge Cup, the first time the treble has been won since Coventry Blaze's success in 2004–05.

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This season was the 10th Anniversary of both the EIHL League and the EIHL Play-Offs. In what is referred to as the 'Final Four Weekend', the semi-finals and Final of the Play-Offs were played on consecutive days at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April 2013.

Team information

Regular season

The League Championship was played for over 52 games, each team playing teams in their own conference eight times (four home and four away) and teams in the other conference four times (two home and two away).

The Conference Championships were played for over 32 games, each team playing teams in their own conference eight times (four home and four away).

Teams were awarded two points for a win (in regulation time, overtime or shoot-out), one point for a tie (in regulation time but loss in overtime or shoot-out) and no points for a loss (in regulation time). Teams level on points were separated by (1) total number of games won in regulation time, (2) total number of all games won, (3) results between teams or (4) fewest losses.[3]

The top eight teams in the League Championship qualified for the Play-Offs.[4]

Results

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HOME ▼ / AWAY ► GARDINER CONFERENCE ERHARDT CONFERENCE
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C
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Braehead Clan
All results by date
5–2
3–4
6–3
4–3
6–3
6–1
3–4
1–4
4–3
5–3
3–4
5–1
4–3
2–1
4–1
1–2
2–3
2–6
5–7
2–6
5–2
4–5
1–5
0–5
2–7
4–5
Dundee Stars
All results by date
5–3
4–1
2–4
3–0
3–2
5–4
2–0
2–3
3–4
6–5
4–1
5–4
3–2
2–1
8–7
5–0
2–5
0–2
1–9
4–2
2–3
3–4
1–5
1–4
3–4
1–3
Edinburgh Capitals
All results by date
1–4
8–4
5–3
5–2
5–2
3–4
8–2
4–2
5–2
2–3
7–2
2–4
4–3
1–3
6–2
9–5
1–4
3–2
4–2
3–6
0–1
6–2
0–5
1–6
2–3
2–3
Fife Flyers
All results by date
5–1
2–3
1–3
4–1
1–2
6–3
5–0
5–3
2–1
4–1
7–1
5–1
4–3
3–2
5–1
4–2
1–3
4–1
4–2
5–4
3–2
3–2
3–5
2–10
4–2
3–6
Hull Stingrays
All results by date
4–5
6–4
2–7
3–2
1–3
4–3
5–1
5–3
6–3
1–0
2–3
4–3
5–4
3–2
5–2
3–1
1–4
2–3
2–1
2–4
2–7
4–1
1–3
1–3
2–4
1–3
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Belfast Giants
All results by date
4–3
2–6
2–1
2–5
9–1
5–0
5–1
3–0
5–4
5–4
6–3
4–1
5–4
5–0
4–1
4–3
2–5
8–2
3–2
2–3
3–5
5–2
1–5
3–0
1–4
3–1
Cardiff Devils
All results by date
3–4
5–1
4–2
3–2
4–1
4–5
4–0
3–1
2–1
2–3
0–4
4–3
3–4
3–5
5–2
1–4
4–3
2–3
2–1
2–3
2–4
3–6
3–4
2–1
1–2
4–5
Coventry Blaze
All results by date
5–1
2–0
6–0
4–1
5–2
3–2
4–3
6–3
2–1
3–2
5–4
5–8
0–2
2–4
2–1
3–4
3–6
4–3
5–2
0–8
1–4
2–6
3–4
0–3
5–3
3–8
Nottingham Panthers
All results by date
5–4
7–3
5–1
8–1
10–0
1–2
7–1
5–3
6–0
8–4
3–5
3–2
6–1
4–5
4–2
5–0
4–1
4–3
4–2
4–3
1–0
8–3
2–3
3–2
4–2
2–0
Sheffield Steelers
All results by date
7–3
7–2
5–4
3–1
1–2
2–3
4–2
3–0
4–0
4–3
5–4
2–1
1–2
2–3
2–4
2–3
5–4
4–3
7–5
3–4
3–2
4–2
1–2
9–4
2–4
5–2
HOME ▲ / AWAY ► BC DS EC FF HS BG CD CB NP SS
GARDINER CONFERENCE ERHARDT CONFERENCE
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Grid Colours: Blue = league & conference games; Pink = league games.

Result Colours: Black = regulation time result; Green = overtime result; Red = shoot-out result.

League Standings

More information PS, TEAM ...
PS TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA WROS LROS L10 STK
1Nottingham Panthers5242918523211135–1–69–0–19–1–0W2
2Belfast Giants52371057919113233–1–310–2–38–2–0W3
3Sheffield Steelers52351437318413328–5–214–0–35–4–1L1
4Coventry Blaze52242265415618118–3–322–4–25–5–0L3
5Cardiff Devils52212385016016816–4–123–2–61–8–1L1
6Edinburgh Capitals52222644814918418–1–326–3–16–4–0W2
7Fife Flyers52232724815417617–2–427–1–15–5–0W3
8Braehead Clan52202664616320016–0–426–6–03–5–2L1
9Dundee Stars52192764413819414–3–227–2–43–7–0L3
10Hull Stingrays52172694313718515–2–026–2–75–5–0W1
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Conference standings

Gardiner Conference

More information PS, TEAM ...
PS TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA WROS LROS L10 STK
1Braehead Clan32171233710910214–0–312–3–04–5–1L1
2Fife Flyers3217132361089513–2–213–1–15–5–0W3
3Dundee Stars32171413510211112–3–214–0–13–7–0L3
4Hull Stingrays3214117359711112–2–011–1–66–3–1L1
5Edinburgh Capitals32151433310910613–0–214–2–16–3–1W2
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Erhardt Conference

More information PS, TEAM ...
PS TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA WROS LROS L10 STK
1Belfast Giants322165471168918–0–36–2–38–2–0W3
2Nottingham Panthers322381471198117–0–68–0–18–2–0W2
3Sheffield Steelers3218122381048914–2–212–0–26–4–0L1
4Coventry Blaze32918523871347–2–018–4–13–6–1L2
5Cardiff Devils32918523831166–3–018–1–40–9–1L1
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Team Records

More information Belfast Giants, GAMES ...
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More information Braehead Clan, GAMES ...
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More information Cardiff Devils, GAMES ...
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More information Coventry Blaze, GAMES ...
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More information Dundee Stars, GAMES ...
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More information Edinburgh Capitals, GAMES ...
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More information Fife Flyers, GAMES ...
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More information Hull Stingrays, GAMES ...
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More information Nottingham Panthers, GAMES ...
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More information Sheffield Steelers, GAMES ...
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Play-Offs

The quarter-finals were played over two legs, home and away. The semi-finals and Final were played over a single leg at a neutral venue, the National Ice Centre, in the 'Play-Off Finals Weekend'.

The Play-Off seeds were (1) Nottingham Panthers, (2) Belfast Giants, (3) Braehead Clan, (4) Sheffield Steelers, (5) Coventry Blaze, (6) Cardiff Devils, (7) Edinburgh Capitals and (8) Fife Flyers (in order of League Champions, best Conference Champions, second best Conference Champions, final League Championship positions respectively).[4]

Quarter-finals

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 1ST LEG 2ND LEG AGGREGATE
Nottingham PanthersFife Flyers 2–4 3–0 (5–4)
Belfast GiantsEdinburgh Capitals 3–1 4–3 (7–4)
Braehead ClanCardiff Devils 7–5 2–7 (9–12)
Sheffield SteelersCoventry Blaze 3–2 2–4 (5–6)
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Nottingham Panthers vs Fife Flyers

1st Leg Fife Flyers 4–2 Nottingham Panthers Fife Ice Arena Recap
Bryan Pitton 49 saves / 51 shots Goalie stats Craig Kowalski 26 saves / 30 shots
2nd Leg Nottingham Panthers 3–0 Fife Flyers National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 25 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Bryan Pitton 22 saves / 25 shots
Nottingham Panthers win 5–4 on aggregate.

Belfast Giants vs Edinburgh Capitals

1st Leg Belfast Giants 3–1 Edinburgh Capitals Odyssey Arena Recap
Stephen Murphy 23 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Tomáš Hiadlovský 30 saves / 33 shots
2nd Leg Edinburgh Capitals 3–4 Belfast Giants Murrayfield Ice Rink Recap
Tomáš Hiadlovský 33 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Stephen Murphy 20 saves / 23 shots
Belfast Giants win 7–4 on aggregate.

Braehead Clan vs Cardiff Devils

1st Leg Braehead Clan 7–5 Cardiff Devils Braehead Arena Recap
Daren Machesney 40 saves / 45 shots Goalie stats Chris Whitley 28 saves / 35 shots
2nd Leg Cardiff Devils 7–2 Braehead Clan Cardiff Arena Recap
Chris Whitley 25 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Daren Machesney 30 saves / 37 shots
Cardiff Devils win 12–9 on aggregate.

Sheffield Steelers vs Coventry Blaze

1st Leg Coventry Blaze 2–3 Sheffield Steelers SkyDome Arena Recap
Peter Hirsch 38 saves / 41 shots Goalie stats John DeCaro 26 saves / 28 shots
2nd Leg Sheffield Steelers 2–4 OT Coventry Blaze Motorpoint Arena Recap
John DeCaro 30 saves / 34 shots Goalie stats Peter Hirsch 38 saves / 40 shots
Coventry Blaze win 6–5 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
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Nottingham Panthers vs Cardiff Devils

Semi-Final Nottingham Panthers 6–3 Cardiff Devils National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 33 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Chris Whitley 29 saves / 34 shots

Belfast Giants vs Coventry Blaze

Semi-Final Belfast Giants 5–1 Coventry Blaze National Ice Centre Recap
Stephen Murphy 22 saves / 23 shots Goalie stats Peter Hirsch 43 saves / 48 shots

3rd Place Play-Off

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 VENUE SINGLE LEG
Coventry BlazeCardiff DevilsNational Ice Centre11–5
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Coventry Blaze vs Cardiff Devils

3rd Place
Play-Off
Coventry Blaze 11–5 Cardiff Devils National Ice Centre Recap
Peter Hirsch 14 saves / 17 shots
Declan Ryan 23 saves / 25 shots
Goalie stats Chris Whitley 8 saves / 13 shots
Joe Myers 18 saves / 24 shots

Final

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 VENUE SINGLE LEG
Nottingham PanthersBelfast GiantsNational Ice Centre3–2
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Nottingham Panthers vs Belfast Giants

Final Nottingham Panthers 3–2 OT Belfast Giants National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 28 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Stephen Murphy 32 saves / 35 shots

Challenge Cup

The First Round comprised two groups of five teams, each team playing teams in their own group twice (once home and once away), totalling eight games.

In the First Round group games, teams were awarded two points for a win (in regulation time, overtime or shoot-out), one point for a tie (in regulation time but loss in overtime or shoot-out) and no points for a loss (in regulation time). Teams level on points were separated by (1) total number of games won in regulation time, (2) total number of all games won, (3) results between teams or (4) fewest losses.[3]

The top four teams from each First Round group qualified for the quarter-finals. The quarter-final ties were decided by final group positions (A1-B4, B1-A4, A2-B3, B2-A3). The quarter-finals, semi-finals and Final were all played over two legs, home and away.

Due to scheduling constraints, some League Championship games doubled up as Challenge Cup games.

First round

Group A

Results (All Group Game results by date)

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Result Colours: Black = regulation time result; Green = overtime result; Red = shoot-out result.

Standings

More information PS, TEAM ...
PS TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA WROS LROS L4 STK
1Belfast Giants87101433127–0–01–0–04–0–0W7
2Braehead Clan8431925244–0–03–1–03–1–0W3
3Fife Flyers8440821184–0–04–0–00–4–0L4
4Dundee Stars8440818234–0–04–0–02–2–0L1
5Edinburgh Capitals8170216360–1–07–0–00–4–0L6
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More information Challenge Cup first round group A team records, TEAM/GAMES ...
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Group B

Results (All Group Game results by date)

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Result Colours: Black = regulation time result; Green = overtime result; Red = shoot-out result.

Standings

More information PS, TEAM ...
PS TEAM GP W L T PTS GF GA WROS LROS L4 STK
1Sheffield Steelers86111335244–1–11–0–12–1–1W1
2Nottingham Panthers85121230225–0–01–2–02–1–1W2
3Coventry Blaze8440822263–0–14–0–00–4–0L4
4Hull Stingrays8341727363–0–04–0–12–2–0W2
5Cardiff Devils8251529350–1–15–0–11–3–0W1
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More information Challenge Cup first round group B team records, TEAM/GAMES ...
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Quarter-finals

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 1ST LEG 2ND LEG AGGREGATE
Belfast GiantsHull Stingrays 3–1 5–4 (8–5)
Sheffield SteelersDundee Stars 2–4 7–0 (9–4)
Braehead ClanCoventry Blaze 2–2 4–3 (6–5)
Nottingham PanthersFife Flyers 3–2 5–2 (8–4)
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Belfast Giants vs Hull Stingrays

1st Leg Hull Stingrays 1–3 Belfast Giants Hull Arena Recap
Ben Bowns 26 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Stephen Murphy 26 saves / 27 shots
2nd Leg Belfast Giants 5–4 Hull Stingrays Odyssey Arena Recap
Stephen Murphy 20 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Ben Bowns 37 saves / 42 shots
Belfast Giants win 8–5 on aggregate.

Sheffield Steelers vs Dundee Stars

1st Leg Dundee Stars 4–2 Sheffield Steelers Dundee Ice Arena Recap
Nic Riopel 40 saves / 42 shots Goalie stats John DeCaro 19 saves / 23 shots
2nd Leg Sheffield Steelers 7–0 Dundee Stars Motorpoint Arena Recap
John DeCaro 16 saves / 16 shots Goalie stats Nic Riopel 35 saves / 42 shots
Craig Chalmers 1 save / 1 shot
Sheffield Steelers win 9–4 on aggregate.

Braehead Clan vs Coventry Blaze

1st Leg Coventry Blaze 2–2 Braehead Clan SkyDome Arena Recap
Peter Hirsch 34 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Daren Machesney 46 saves / 48 shots
2nd Leg Braehead Clan 4–3 Coventry Blaze Braehead Arena Recap
Daren Machesney 32 saves / 35 shots Goalie stats Peter Hirsch 28 saves / 32 shots
Braehead Clan win 6–5 on aggregate.

Nottingham Panthers vs Fife Flyers

1st Leg Fife Flyers 2–3 Nottingham Panthers Fife Ice Arena Recap
Bryan Pitton 35 saves / 38 shots Goalie stats Craig Kowalski 29 saves / 31 shots
2nd Leg Nottingham Panthers 5–2 Fife Flyers National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 13 saves / 15 shots Goalie stats Bryan Pitton 42 saves / 47 shots
Nottingham Panthers win 8–4 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 1ST LEG 2ND LEG AGGREGATE
Belfast GiantsNottingham Panthers 1–5 3–4 (4–9)
Sheffield SteelersBraehead Clan 4–2 4–2 (8–4)
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Belfast Giants vs Nottingham Panthers

1st Leg Nottingham Panthers 5–1 Belfast Giants National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 24 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Garrett Zemlak 30 saves / 35 shots
2nd Leg Belfast Giants 3–4 Nottingham Panthers Odyssey Arena Recap
Stephen Murphy 29 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Craig Kowalski 20 saves / 23 shots
Nottingham Panthers win 9–4 on aggregate.

Sheffield Steelers vs Braehead Clan

1st Leg Braehead Clan 2–4 Sheffield Steelers Braehead Arena Recap
Daren Machesney 24 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats John DeCaro 27 saves / 29 shots
2nd Leg Sheffield Steelers 4–2 Braehead Clan Motorpoint Arena Recap
John DeCaro 23 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Daren Machesney 45 saves / 49 shots
Sheffield Steelers win 8–4 on aggregate.

Final

More information TEAM 1, TEAM 2 ...
TEAM 1 TEAM 2 1ST LEG 2ND LEG AGGREGATE
Sheffield SteelersNottingham Panthers 1–4 2–1 (3–5)
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Sheffield Steelers vs Nottingham Panthers

1st Leg Sheffield Steelers 1–4 Nottingham Panthers Motorpoint Arena Recap
John DeCaro 31 saves / 35 shots Goalie stats Craig Kowalski 22 saves / 23 shots
2nd Leg Nottingham Panthers 1–2 Sheffield Steelers National Ice Centre Recap
Craig Kowalski 26 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats John DeCaro 27 saves / 28 shots
Nottingham Panthers win 5–3 on aggregate.

Player statistics

Regular season

More information Points, PLAYER ...
Points
PLAYER TEAM PLAYED GOALS ASSISTS POINTS
Canada David LingNottingham Panthers57356095
Finland Sami RyhänenDundee Stars56296594
Canada Ash GoldieBraehead Clan56344680
Canada Bobby Chaumont¹Fife Flyers55305080
Canada Mike WirllDundee Stars57354378
Canada Chris BlightCardiff Devils59215475
Canada Jeff LegueSheffield Steelers60343973
Canada Stuart MacRaeCardiff Devils59274572
Slovakia René JarolínEdinburgh Capitals56314071
Canada Jereme TendlerHull Stingrays58432770
Canada Bruce GrahamNottingham Panthers56373168
Canada Mac FaulknerCardiff Devils45353065
United States Casey HainesFife Flyers45244064
Canada Kris HoggFife Flyers55293261
United States Noah ClarkeBelfast Giants54214061
Canada Jason SilverthornHull Stingrays57214061
Slovakia Richard HartmannEdinburgh Capitals53233760
Canada Matt FrancisNottingham Panthers57223759
Canada Jason PittonFife Flyers50243458
Canada Shawn LimprightSheffield Steelers58213758
¹Season statistics (club statistics: Braehead Clan 18–9–7–16, Fife Flyers 37–21–43–64).
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More information Goaltenders, PLAYER ...
Goaltenders
PLAYER TEAM PLD W L T GA SO SV% GAA
United States Craig KowalskiNottingham Panthers54421111087.9182.07
United Kingdom Stephen MurphyBelfast Giants4026113963.9142.42
United States John DeCaroSheffield Steelers55361441363.9112.47
United States Phil OsaerCardiff Devils40191641121.9092.81
Canada Bryan PittonFife Flyers52242611472.9072.89
Denmark Peter HirschCoventry Blaze59282821842.9143.15
Slovakia Tomáš HiadlovskýEdinburgh Capitals51222901660.9013.27
Canada Nic RiopelDundee Stars56232931843.9153.33
United Kingdom Ben BownsHull Stingrays54182881801.9053.35
Canada Garrett Zemlak¹Belfast Giants45241901484.8963.38
¹Season statistics (club statistics: Braehead Clan 30-12-17-0-116-0-.883–3.95, Belfast Giants 15-12-2-0-32-4-.926-2.22)
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More information Penalty Minutes, PLAYER ...
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Play-Offs

More information Goaltenders, PLAYER ...
Goaltenders
PLAYER TEAM PLD W L T GA SO SV% GAA
United Kingdom Stephen MurphyBelfast Giants431080.9241.94
Canada Bryan PittonFife Flyers211050.9352.52
Denmark Peter HirschCoventry Blaze4120130.9113.86
Canada Chris WhitleyCardiff Devils4120190.8265.73
Canada Daren MachesneyBraehead Clan2110120.8546.00
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Season Awards

Individual awards

More information AWARD, WINNER ...
AWARD WINNER TEAM
Player of the YearCanada David LingNottingham Panthers
Coach of the YearCanada Corey NeilsonNottingham Panthers
Fans Player of the YearCanada David LingNottingham Panthers
British Player of the YearUnited Kingdom David ClarkeNottingham Panthers
Netminder of the YearUnited States Craig KowalskiNottingham Panthers
Defenceman of the YearCanada Mike SchutteCoventry Blaze
Forward of the YearCanada David LingNottingham Panthers
Top GoalscorerCanada Jereme TendlerHull Stingrays
Top Points ScorerCanada David LingNottingham Panthers
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All-Star Teams

More information FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM, SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM ...
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References

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