England Ice Hockey and Scottish Ice Hockey are thrilled to announce that Showcase 2026 will take place from 1-4 May at iceSheffield, bringing together players from England and Scotland across the 2007–2017 birth years.

The event connects the grassroots participation with national competition and the wider Road to GB performance pathway. 

This year’s redesigned format, developed collaboratively by England Ice Hockey, Scottish Ice Hockey and the UK Ice Hockey Foundation, places a stronger emphasis on alignment, development, and meaningful player feedback.  

On the refreshed programme, England Ice Hockey director Martin Peters said: “This is the first time the UKIHF, Scotland and England programmes have worked together to redesign Showcase, so it fully aligns with the player pathway toward representing Great Britain.

“The exciting, refreshed format for our top age groups allows a better showcase for talent to be seen and support player progression.” 

Murray Johnston, head of Scottish Ice Hockey players development, added: “Scottish Ice Hockey is proud to work together on a redesigned Showcase that better connects our national development programmes and strengthens support for Scottish players on their pathway to international representation.

“Collaborating with UKIHF coaches brings greater alignment and shared expertise that will benefit the game in Scotland for years to come.”

Kevin McLaughlin, head of development with the UK Ice Hockey Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to support this year’s U17 and U15 Showcase.

“The UK Ice Hockey Foundation is committed to helping young players and coaches grow, and this event provides a great platform to do that.

“Our team will deliver tailored classroom sessions, support game analysis, and create personalised feedback clips for players. It’s a privilege to play even a small role in their development.” 

Event highlights 

• U19 England v Scotland: Two high intensity fixtures offering a benchmark of domestic elite performance. 
• U17 (2009–10) & U15 (2011): Three-day performance programme including classroom learning, video analysis, office work and individualised feedback, supported by GB staff and the UKIHF coaches. 
• U14, U13 & U12: Three games across two days following the established development focused Showcase model. 
• Power 11, Power 10 & Mighty Mites: Opening grassroots-focused sessions for the youngest age groups. 

For the first time, expressions of interest will be welcomed from GB-eligible players competing overseas, allowing homegrown and international-based talent to be assessed together. 

Player selection 

A nationwide review of performance data for all eligible UK-based players is currently underway, combining club submissions with existing England pathway records to support a consistent, evidence-led selection process.

Final selections will be informed by performance metrics and coach feedback, with invitations expected to be sent to those successful by mid-March 2026. 

For the first time, applications will also be welcomed from GB-eligible players currently competing overseas, enabling comparisons with home-developed talent and offering players and coaches a broader competitive benchmark. More will be announced soon.  

Coaches and managers  

Coaches and team managers will be able to register their interest in taking part in Showcase 2026. More details on how to do this will be provided shortly.

The event offers a meaningful development opportunity, including specialist sessions and the chance to work alongside coaches from the UKIHF, England, and Scotland within a performance-focused environment.  

Photo credit: Andrea Bailey

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