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It is understood the upcoming season will see a number of changes to both ENL N1 and N2.
Two new teams in N2 - Solway Sharks & Fylde Flyers
The Solway Sharks, a well established side from Dumfries in South West Scotland will join Division 2. More recently they have played in the Scottish and Northern Leagues against the likes of Fife Flyers and Whitley Warriors and as such must be one of the favourites for the N2 title in the upcoming season.
More of an unknown quantity in N2 will be the recently launched side known as the Fylde Flyers who will be playing out of a new facility in Cleveleys near Blackpool. The upcoming season will be a big learning experience for the team but new rinks and teams can only be good news.
Northern Stars + Billingham Bombers = Billingham Stars
2011-12 will see a new name in North 1. Last year's North-East based Northern Stars who often struggled with ice time and the Billingham Bombers who have sat out a couple of seasons while their rink was refurbished have joined forces. The team will pick up the Northern Stars Division 1 slot and play out of the refurbished Billingham rink as the Billingham Stars.
No relegation for the Trafford Metros
With the introduction of these two new squads the Northern Divisions will be home to a total of seventeen teams. To ensure Division 1 had the balance of the teams, and the corresponding larger number of games, the recent ENL AGM agreed to allow Trafford Metros to retain their division 1 status rather than being relegated. In both leagues teams will play twice home and twice away, giving 32 games for each team in N1 and 28 in N2.
North 1 |
North 2 |
Billingham Stars
Blackburn Hawks
Coventry Blaze
Nottingham Lions
Sheffield Spartans
Solihull Barons
Telford Titans
Trafford Metros
Whitley Warriors
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Bradford Bulldogs
Flintshire Freeze
Fylde Flyers
Kingston Jets
Lancashire Raptors
Sheffield Senators
Solway Sharks
Sutton Sting |
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Promotion and Relegation
At the end of the 2011-12 season the bottom side of N1 will be relegated and the top side of N2 promoted. The second bottom team from N1 and the second top from N2 will play a two leg aggregate tie to decide any further promotion or relegation.
North Cup
A cross division North Cup has also been proposed by a number of teams keen to boost their numbers of games. It However it is not thought Solihull will be taking part in this competition.
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