Lee Valley Lions

The Lee Valley Lions can today confirm our first two player signings for the 2019-20 season, with brothers James and Harry O’Brien signing up for the new campaign.

Defenceman James O’Brien made his senior debut for the Lions last season. He played 24 games in total, tallying two assists while logging 28 penalty minutes.

He also showed his resilience and commitment to the cause when he played an away game in Gosport just a week after losing several teeth when a puck hit him in the mouth during a game.

The 20-year-old blueliner had previously played the majority of his junior hockey for Milton Keynes, before playing for Coventry U20s in his final year in juniors.

His brother, forward Harry O’Brien, now makes the step up from junior hockey and will play his first senior campaign with the Lions. Harry has spent his entire junior career at Milton Keynes, rising up through the ranks to the U18 side, for whom he played for the last three seasons.

Harry scored four goals and assisted on a further 13, giving him a total of 17 points, for Milton Keynes U18s last season which put him fifth in team scoring.

James O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)
Harry O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)

We will announce two more players for the new season tomorrow (Tuesday 6th August) – one new face and one returnee…

Defenceman James O’Brien will stay on for his second season at the Lions (Photo: Phil Hutchinson)

The EIHA have today confirmed the NIHL Division 2 North and South fixtures for the upcoming season.

The Lee Valley Lions will once again be playing in NIHL Division 2 South (Wilkinson).

This season, the league will be split into two geographical divisions; with the Lions competing in the East Division alongside Haringey, Invicta and Peterborough, as well as new teams Bracknell and Streatham.

The Lions will also compete in the South 2 Cup competition alongside Bristol, Haringey and Invicta.

Our first fixture will be at home to league newcomers Streatham on Sunday 15th September – just 44 days from now.

The full press release from the EIHA can be found below:

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The National League Management Group (NLMG) are pleased to reveal the final set of fixtures for the NIHL season 2019/20, as Division 2 North & South confirm their schedules.

Division 2 North (Laidler) has an eight team league, each playing two home and two away, with no specific D2 Cup. Widnes Wild are playing the D1 Midlands Cup again this season. Their campaign begins on Saturday September 7thand is scheduled to end on Sunday March 22nd. The top four sides from the league campaign will contest the Laidler Playoff Finals Weekend over the April 4/5 with the venue to be confirmed very shortly.

Division 2 South (Wilkinson) has a total of 12 member clubs and they have been split into six-team East and West divisions playing clubs in their division two home and two away. At the seasons’ end the top four sides from each division will qualify for the playoffs. The quarter final round over March 28/29 will be two legged ties E1 v W4, E2 v W3, W1 v E4 and W2 v E3. The Wilkinson Playoff Finals Weekend will be on April 4/5 at a venue to be confirmed.

There is also a four-team South 2 Cup competition featuring Bristol Pitbulls, Haringey Huskies, Invicta Mustangs and Lee Valley Lions. They play once home and away with the team finishing top of the standings will be Cup winners.

An NLMG spokesman said: “We’re delighted to get these final sets of fixtures out there and now all of our member clubs, the players and of course the supporters can plan the next eight months of their lives and look forward to an exciting season of NIHL hockey.

“We are grateful to our fixtures secretaries for their work collating the club requests and again it has been great to see the clubs working together where needed to reach agreement on the schedule.

“The schedules will be loaded into Fixtures Live and will appear on the EIHA website very soon. For the NLMG we look to finalise 19/20 Rules of Competition and confirming our end of season finals venues for Moralee, Laidler, Britton and Wilkinson divisions.”

DIVISION 2 OPENING FIXTURES

North (Laidler)

Saturday September 7
Bradford v Telford
Sheffield v Hull

Sunday September 8
Altrincham v Blackburn

Saturday September 14
Hull v Dragons
Telford v Altrincham

Sunday September 15
Widnes v Sheffield
Dragons v Bradford
Blackburn v Hull

South (Wilkinson)

Saturday September 7
Cardiff v Bristol

Saturday September 14
Haringey v Invicta
Peterborough v Bracknell

Sunday September 15
Basingstoke v Cardiff
Lee Valley v Streatham

The Lee Valley Lions are looking to recruit a goaltender for the upcoming NIHL South 2 season.

If you’re interested in joining the team, please contact Eddie Joseph on 07958 743680, send us an email via the Contact Us page, or contact us on any of our social media channels.

There are plans to expand Lee Valley Ice Centre into a twin-ice facility with a new cafe, gym, dance studio and community spaces.  You can take a look at the plans and give your views at the project’s website.

The English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) today confirmed the format of all National Ice Hockey League competitions for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

The Lee Valley Lions will be playing in NIHL Division 2 South alongside 11 other teams: Guildford Phoenix, Bracknell IHC 3, Bristol Pitbulls, Peterborough Phantoms 2, Invicta Mustangs, Haringey Huskies, Basingstoke Buffalo, Swindon Wildcats 2, Lee Valley Lions, Streatham Bruins, Solent Devils 2 and Cardiff Fire 2.

Cardiff’s second team were accepted pending final agreement for ice time at their home venue; once Cardiff’s participation is confirmed, then the structure for the regular season will be announced along with playoffs.

There will also be a South 2 Cup this season which will culminate in a Cup Final Weekend.