A hectic festive schedule begins in the Planet Ice NIHL National Division this weekend, with plenty of points up for grabs over the next 10 days.
MK Lightning head into their latest fixtures two points clear of Leeds Knights at the summit of the division.
A win on the road at bottom-of-the-division Bristol Pitbulls would see Lightning enter Christmas with 40 points to their name – a tally which Leeds could match, should they overcome Hull Seahawks at home on Friday night before visiting their Yorkshire rivals the following day.
Following their winning return to the Link Centre last week, Swindon Wildcats will look to enter the festive period on a high as they host Telford Tigers on Saturday. The Wildcats were also in action on Thursday night, overcoming Bees IHC 8-4.
Games will continue between Christmas and the new year, with some of the highlights including a mouth-watering clash between Milton Keynes and Peterborough Phantoms – currently first and third – on Wednesday 27 December, and a meeting of fellow high-flyers Swindon and Hull Seahawks on the 29th.
In total, there will be 27 matches played across the NIHL National Division over the next 10 days, meaning there could be plenty of change to the standings when teams ring in the new year.
Full fixtures for the coming days can be found below. Thanks to our friends at NIHL Stats, you can also check out the latest fixtures from the WNIHL and junior leagues – with the majority of these leagues enjoying a mini-break until the turn of the year.
Thu 21st Dec 7:30pm Swindon Wildcats 8-4 Bees IHC L/C
Fri 22nd Dec 7:30pm Leeds Knights vs Hull Seahawks L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 7:00pm Bristol Pitbulls vs Milton Keynes Lightning L
Sat 23rd Dec 5:30pm Hull Seahawks vs Leeds Knights L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 5:15pm Raiders IHC vs Solway Sharks L
Sat 23rd Dec 4:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs vs Bees IHC L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 6:30pm Swindon Wildcats vs Telford Tigers L/C
Tue 26th Dec 4:00pm Bees IHC vs Raiders IHC L/C
Tue 26th Dec 7:30pm Leeds Knights vs Solway Sharks L/C
Tue 26th Dec 2:00pm Swindon Wildcats vs Bristol Pitbulls L
Wed 27th Dec 7:00pm Peterborough Phantoms vs Milton Keynes Lightning L/C
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Bristol Pitbulls vs Swindon Wildcats L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Raiders IHC vs Bees IHC L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Solway Sharks vs Hull Seahawks L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Telford Tigers vs Leeds Knights L
Thu 28th Dec 7:45pm Milton Keynes Lightning vs Peterborough Phantoms L
Thu 28th Dec 7:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs vs Telford Tigers L
Fri 29th Dec 7:30pm Swindon Wildcats vs Hull Seahawks L/C
Sat 30th Dec 7:00pm Bristol Pitbulls vs Bees IHC L
Sat 30th Dec 6:30pm Leeds Knights vs Sheffield Steeldogs L
Sat 30th Dec 5:15pm Raiders IHC vs Peterborough Phantoms L
Sat 30th Dec 6:00pm Solway Sharks vs Telford Tigers L
Sat 30th Dec 6:30pm Swindon Wildcats vs Milton Keynes Lightning L
Sun 31st Dec 1:30pm Hull Seahawks vs Solway Sharks L
Sun 31st Dec 3:30pm Bees IHC vs Bristol Pitbulls L
Sun 31st Dec 1:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs vs Leeds Knights L
Mon 1st Jan 7:30pm Peterborough Phantoms vs Raiders IHC L
Mon 1st Jan 7:45pm Milton Keynes Lightning vs Swindon Wildcats L