Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Federation are deeply concerned
8th July 2003The Northern Ireland Ice Hockey Federation are deeply concerned in relation to recent reports that the so called Elite League have been sanctioned to play in Northern Ireland or indeed for that matter anywhere in the United Kingdom.
As the N.I.I.H.F. are fully affiliated too and are members of the governing body for Ice Hockey within the United Kingdom namely, IHUK, we would like to state in the interests of Ice Hockey and to place factually on record that no such sanction has been given at this time by either the N.I.I.H.F. of any of its sister organizations, E.I.H.A. or S.I.H.A.
The N.I.I.H.F. are working with all the governing bodies to try and resolve a number of issues amicably and in the interests of the sport.
The N.I.I.H.F. have been informed by the EIHA that they have received a number of separate applications from teams associated with the so-called Elite league for individual affiliation to the English Premier League.
The Directors of the EIHA inform us that this matter has not at this time even been discussed formally by the E.I.H.A. It is therefore our view that we owe a duty of care to everyone connected to the sport within Northern Ireland that misleading statements are not issued on these important matters at this time and without reference to the Northern Ireland Federation.