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Heated Rivalry: the grudge matches that are burning up the Elite Ice Hockey League
From historic feuds to modern title fights, these are the EIHL rivalries that turn regular-season games into events. No, you come here...
There’s a curious, glorious thing happening in British ice hockey right now. Tension has always been the EIHL’s secret weapon, but thanks to the runaway success of LGBTQ+ sports drama Heated Rivalry, everyone’s suddenly noticing just how hot things can really get on the ice. Hockey isn’t just about goals and grit, it’s about grudges (and sometimes it’s about kissing).
Belfast and Sheffield don’t need a scriptwriter; decades of silverware envy and bad blood will do nicely. Cardiff and Nottingham skate like they’re trying to settle something personal, and in a way, they are.
Heated Rivalry might make hockey a lot sexier than half the EIHL might like to admit, but what the show also does is give casual viewers is a way into the sporting drama. It frames the league in a language that makes sense: loyalty, betrayal, desire and obsession. Suddenly the chants make sense.
The Elite Ice Hockey League has grown into a fast, physical and unapologetically full-contact competition, but it’s the rivalries that cut the deepest. With teams facing each other multiple times a season, tensions keep on building throughout the year – a controversial hit in October can still sting in March. These are the matches that carry more than points. From long-standing feuds forged over decades to newer clashes shaped by recent dominance, here we round up the EIHL match-ups that matter most.
Sheffield Steelers vs Nottingham Panthers
If the EIHL has a fixture that stops the league in its tracks, this is it. Sheffield versus Nottingham is British ice hockey’s most enduring rivalry, stretching back well before the Elite League era. Geography plays its part – two major cities less than 40 miles apart – but this goes far deeper than proximity. Both clubs are among the most successful and recognisable in the sport. Titles, cup finals and playoff battles have been shared, and stolen, across generations. Meetings are rarely quiet affairs. The pace is high, the hits are heavy and the atmosphere crackles with tension from puck drop. For fans on both sides, this is the benchmark. A season can be judged by results in these games alone. Win here and it resonates far beyond the standings. Lose, and it lingers.
Next games:
Steelers vs Panthers – Sat, 21 Mar 2026 at 19:00, Utilita Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Belfast Giants vs Sheffield Steelers
Where Sheffield/Nottingham is rooted in tradition, Belfast/Sheffield has become the rivalry of modern dominance. Over the last decade, these two clubs have set the standard for consistency and ambition. League titles, Challenge Cups and playoff runs have frequently involved one, or both, of them. When they meet, it often feels like a referendum on who owns the season. The contrast in styles adds intrigue. Belfast’s disciplined, structured approach often collides with Sheffield’s relentless forecheck and offensive depth. Games swing on special teams, goaltending duels and moments of discipline – or lack of it.
Crowds know what is coming. Physicality, speed and little room to breathe. These fixtures are rarely forgettable, and often decisive.
Next games:
Belfast Giants vs Sheffield Steelers – Fri, 27 Feb 2026 at 19:00, The SSE Arena, Belfast, Belfast
Sheffield Steelers vs Belfast Giants – Sat, 14 Mar 2026 at 19:00, Utilita Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Sheffield Steelers vs Belfast Giants – Sun, 15 Mar 2026 at 16:00, Utilita Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Belfast Giants vs Cardiff Devils
If Sheffield are Belfast’s most physical rivals, Cardiff are their most tactical. Belfast and Cardiff have traded supremacy repeatedly in recent seasons, building a rivalry rooted in sustained excellence rather than historical bitterness. Both organisations pride themselves on structure, recruitment and marginal gains, and when they collide the margins are razor-thin. These games often feel like playoff hockey long before the post-season arrives. Defensive discipline is paramount, mistakes are punished instantly and momentum swings can be brutal. It is not unusual for a single goal to define the night. For neutrals, this is often the purist’s rivalry – fast, intelligent and relentlessly competitive.
Next games:
Belfast Giants vs Cardiff Devils – Sat, 7 Mar 2026 at 19:00, The SSE Arena, Belfast, Belfast
Belfast Giants vs Cardiff Devils – Sun, 8 Mar 2026 at 16:00, The SSE Arena, Belfast, Belfast
Cardiff Devils vs Nottingham Panthers
This rivalry sits at an interesting crossroads between history and the present. Nottingham’s long-standing stature in British hockey brings weight to every meeting, while Cardiff’s rise into a consistent powerhouse has reshaped expectations. When these teams meet, it often feels like eras colliding – legacy against momentum. Atmospheres in both arenas are intense, fuelled by travelling support and a shared belief that these are games you do not give away lightly. Results tend to carry narrative significance, particularly when silverware is on the line. It may not carry the raw edge of other rivalries, but it remains one of the league’s most compelling match-ups.
Sheffield Steelers vs Cardiff Devils
When Sheffield and Cardiff line up, trophies are never far from the conversation. Both clubs measure success in championships rather than progress, and that shared ambition brings sharp focus to their encounters. These games are often used as a yardstick – a test of depth, discipline and nerve. The rivalry has intensified as both sides have regularly found themselves competing at the business end of the season. Playoff clashes and cup finals have added layers of memory, ensuring that each meeting carries a sense of consequence.
There is respect here, but no softness.
Next games:
Sheffield Steelers vs Cardiff Devils – Sun, 1 Mar 2026 at 16:00, Utilita Arena Sheffield, Sheffield
Dundee Stars vs Fife Flyers
While the league’s biggest rivalries often centre on silverware, some are built on pride.
Dundee versus Fife is one of the EIHL’s most fiercely contested regional derbies. These games matter deeply to supporters, regardless of league position. The intensity is immediate, the pace frantic and the physical edge unmistakable. Scottish derbies have their own flavour – louder benches, quicker whistles and crowds that arrive already invested. Players quickly learn that form goes out of the window in these games. Effort and resilience matter more. For many fans, this is rivalry in its purest form.
Glasgow Clan vs Dundee Stars
Glasgow’s meetings with Dundee have grown into a rivalry defined by identity. Two proud cities, two distinct fan cultures and a shared desire to establish dominance north of the border. These games often feature momentum swings and emotional flashpoints, with players feeding off the crowd. Results here resonate beyond the night itself, shaping bragging rights and supporter confidence. In a league often dominated by teams further south, these fixtures carry added significance.
Glasgow Clan vs Fife Flyers
Another Scottish rivalry, but with a different edge. Glasgow versus Fife brings west coast swagger into conflict with east coast resilience. Styles clash, tempers flare and the physical element is rarely far away. These games can turn scrappy, fast and unpredictable. For supporters, this is about more than hockey. It is regional identity played out on ice, with every hit and goal amplified.
