Women's ice hockey in Great Britain is administered by the English and Scottish Ice Hockey Associations. It is one of the fastest growing areas of the game.
The British Women's Leagues were formed with six teams in 1984. The founder members of the league were: Brighton Amazons Cambridge University Oxford University Peterborough Ravens Solihull Vixens Streatham Strikers
Of those teams, only one has been in the league uninterrupted since: Solihull. Oxford University has at various points be told they can't play league hockey and have left and rejoined the league several times, and now play in the university leagues. (In the 1990s the governing body didn't want two teams playing out of the same rink but eventually relented so that in the late 1990s and early 2000s Oxford University and Oxford city both played in the league). Cambridge University had a non-league team for a long time. After the Ravens folded, a new team, the Penguins, was set up in Peterborough. Streatham Strickers folded in the early 1990s but a new Streatham team, Streatham Storm formed in 1996, re-entering the league in 1997 and remaining active ever since.
League structure In England and Wales, 36 teams play in the British Women's Leagues. The top 6 teams in the country play in the Elite League, with WNIHL 1 league consisting of 11 teams with 5 in the North and 6 in the South as at 2024-25 season, and below that WNIHL 2 is split into North (7 teams) and South (12 teams). The South is further split into South A and South B in WNIHL 2. The winners of South B are promoted with the last placed team of South A being relegated. There are also 14 U16 teams playing in a North and South format. U16 Girls hockey was introduced in 2007-08 season. Three teams (Oxford, Streatham and Bracknell) were created in a Southern Division and four teams were created in the women's U16 Northern Division. For 2008–09, Oxford folded and was replaced by Peterborough in the South.
In the Elite and WNIHL 1 Divisions (North and South), the sides play each other, twice home, twice away, with the team ranked highest being declared champion of each league.
At the end of each season the teams compete the playoffs. The winners of WNIHL 2 playoffs are automatically promoted to WNIHL 1, whereas the winners of WNIHL 1 play offs play a promotion and relegation game with the bottom placed Elite team to try and gain promotion. This game takes place on the Monday (as play offs played on a holiday weekend) after the U16s final.
In addition to the playoffs, there is promotion and relegation between the Elite, Premier, and Division 1 leagues. In 2004/05, this was decided with a Playoff Weekend at Coventry. The Division One sides played first in a one-off game; the following day the winner of that game played the 10th ranked team in the Premier league, to decide who played in the Premier and Division 1 leagues for the following season.
Three teams (Oxford, Streatham and Bracknell) were created in a Southern Division and four teams were created in the women's U16 Northern Division. For 2008–09, Oxford folded and was replaced by Peterborough in the South.
In 2022 the naming of the league was changed to: Elite WNIHL1 WNIHL2
Early history Formation of the Women's English League
In the 1980s ice hockey was exclusively a male sport in the UK. Many ice skaters who wanted to start playing ice hockey were turned away at clubs being told that girls can't play ice hockey.
In Streatham, Sue Parsons was told just that. But instead of giving up, she fought hard to be allowed to play. She wrote to the British Ice Hockey association, but received no reply. She gathered a petition with lists of female players who wanted to play, and hand delivered it to the British Ice Hockey association, but again received no reply.
Meanwhile, in Oxford University, Deborah Coyne set up the first women's ice hockey team, and persuaded Cambridge to do the same and in 1982 they held the first women's Varsity game between Oxford and Cambridge. Sue Parsons and her friend Kate Quirrey actually played as the goalies in that first game, as neither Oxford nor Cambridge had a goalie. They became close friends of Debbie and all three worked hard to get the league set up.
A reporter from ITV advised Parsons to go to the Sports Council of Great Britain. they agreed to meet her and she showed them all the evidence that women wanted to play ice hockey and that they were actively playing hockey. The Sports Council of Great Britain then invited her to a second meeting, and also in attendance was the British Ice Hockey Association. The representative of the Sports Council delivered the message that the British Ice Hockey Association were not going to get any more funding until they included women in their programme.
In the early days, many of the women didn't have any kit, so would wear rolled up magazines down their socks and would be sharing and swapping helmets on the bench during games. Parsons went to other rinks to drum up interest in the game and encourage other women's teams to form.
An additional challenge during this period was the absence of qualified women's coaches, which was a prerequisite for participation. A number of male coaches provided support to women's teams, often despite opposition from peers within their own clubs. The early women's teams relied significantly on this assistance during their formative years.
1986
Set up of first Women's England Team. (More information needed)
Teams
Elite League (after 2024/2025 season conclusion) Queen Bees Bristol Huskies Guildford Lightning Solihull Vixens Streatham Storm Whitley Bay Beacons
WNIHL 1 North (after 2024/2025 season conclusion) Caledonia Steel Queens Kingston Diamonds Nottingham Vipers Sheffield Shadows Solway Sharks
WNIHL 1 South (after 2024/2025 season conclusion) Cambridge Kodiaks (promoted 2025 Playoffs) Cardiff Comets (Query over relegation status) Chelmsford Cobras Milton Keynes Falcons Firebees Swindon Top Cats
Division 2 North League (after 2024/2025 season conclusion)^ Blackburn Hawks Women (Declared application to join) Caledonia Steel Queen Bees Kingston Diamonds Leeds Roses Sheffield Shadows B Telford Wrekin Raiders Whitley Bay Beacons B Widnes Wild Women
Division 2 South League (after 2024/2025 season conclusion) Haringey Greyhounds (promoted by winning South B) ^ Oxford Midnight Stars ^ Slough Sirens ^ Solent Amazons ^ Streatham Storm B ^ Peterborough Phantoms Women Bristol Huskies B Chelmsford Pythons Coventry Phoenix Invicta Dynamics Lee Valley Vampires
^Denotes South A team Italics Uncertain on placement
History
Below is a list of the winners of the major competitions. The team's standing is shown in win–loss–tie format.
Women's English League 1984/85 - Peterborough Ravens (8-0-0) 1985/86 - Streatham Strikers (11-1-0) 1986/87 - Oxford University Blues (12-0-0) 1987/88 - Streatham Strikers (10-1-1)
The Women's England League was the first incarnation of the league, starting with five teams before moving up to seven by 1988. An influx of interest from new teams resulted in a complete regionalisation of the sport, a system that lasted two years.
Regionalised British League
Overall champion 1988/89 - Oxford City Rockets (beat Streatham Strikers 3–1 in final game) 1989/90 - no official champion* Oxford City Rockets declared unofficial champions after beating Streatham in a regional playoff by four goals to one. Rockets were never able to play the final against Sunderland (champions of the Northern Division).
Northern Division 1988/89 - Sunderland Scorpions (4–0–2) 1989/90 - Sunderland Scorpions (6–1–1)
Central Division 1988/89 - Oxford City Rockets (10–0–0) 1989/90 - Oxford City Rockets (12–0–0)
Capital/South Division 1988/89 - Streatham Strikers (10–0–0) 1989/90 - Streatham Strikers (8–0–0)
After two years of this format, the system switched to the structure that exists to the present day, making it after 15 years one of the longest lasting formats of any ice hockey league that ever has been in the UK.
British Women's Leagues
Elite League 2015/16 - Bracknell Queen Bees (12–2–2) 2016/17 - Solihull Vixens (14–3–3) 2017/18 - Bracknell Queen Bees 2018/19 - Bracknell Queen Bees
Premier League 1990/91 - Oxford City Rockets (9–0–1) 1991/92 - Oxford City Rockets (13–0–1) 1992/93 - Oxford City Rockets (14–0–0) 1993/94 - Bracknell Queen Bees (9–1–2) 1994/95 - Sunderland Scorpions (11–2–1) 1995/96 - Sunderland Scorpions (13–0–1) 1996/97 - Sunderland Scorpions (14–0–0) 1997/98 - Sunderland Scorpions (13–1–0) 1998/99 - Slough Phantoms (12–1–1) 1999/00 - Nottingham Vipers (11–2–1) 2000/01 - Sunderland Scorpions (11–2–1) 2001/02 - Guildford Lightning (15–1–0) 2002/03 - Cardiff Comets (13–2–1) 2003/04 - Sunderland Scorpions (16–2–0) 2004/05 - Sunderland Scorpions (16–2–2) 2005/06 - Newcastle Vipers (15–2–1) 2006/07 - Slough Phantoms (16–1–1) 2007/08 - Slough Phantoms (17–1–0) 2008/09 - Sheffield Shadows (17–1–0) 2009/10 - Slough Phantoms (17–0–1) 2010/11 - Sheffield Shadows (17–0–1) 2011/12 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (12–0–4) 2012/13 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (14–0–2) 2013/14 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (11–0–3) 2014/15 - Bracknell Queen Bees (13–0–1) 2015/16 - Swindon Top Cats (12–2–0) 2016/17 - Milton Keyes Falcons (9–2–1)
Division One (North) 1990/91 - Unknown 1991/92 - Unknown 1992/93 - Unknown 1993/94 - Unknown 1994/95 - Sheffield Shadows (8–0–0) 1995/96 - Solihull Vixens (record unknown) 1996/97 - Solihull Vixens (5–2–1) 1997/98 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (10–2–0) 1998/99 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (13–2–1) 1999/00 - Kingston Hull Diamonds (15–3–2) 2000/01 - Billingham Wildcats (15–1–0) 2001/02 - Sheffield Shadows (15–0–1) 2002/03 - Flintshire Furies (12–4–0) 2003/04 - (Telford) Wrekin Raiders (18–1–1) 2004/05 - Billingham Wildcats (12–2–2) 2005/06 - Nottingham Vipers (11–0–3) 2006/07 - Billingham Wildcats (12–1–1) 2007/08 - Nottingham Vipers (11–1–2) 2008/09 - Billingham Wildcats (12–1–1) 2009/10 - Flintshire Furies (17–0–1) 2010/11 - Sheffield Shadows B (13–0–1) 2011/12 - Whitley Bay Squaws (15–1–0) 2012/13 - Whitley Bay Squaws (14–0–0) 2013/14 - Whitley Bay Squaws (15–1–0) 2014/15 - Manchester Phoenix (16–1–1) 2015/16 - Billingham Wildcats (10–1–1) 2016/17 - Billingham Wildcats (9–0–1)
Division One (Midlands) 2008/09 - Milton Keyes Falcons (12–1–1) 2009/10 - Milton Keyes Falcons (12–2–0)
Division One (South) 1990/91 - Unknown 1991/92 - Unknown 1992/93 - Unknown 1993/94 - Guildford Lightning (record unknown) 1994/95 - Chelmsford Cobras (8–0–0) 1995/96 - Chelmsford Cobras (record unknown) 1996/97 - Romford Nighthawks (7–2–1) 1997/98 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (13–0–1) 1998/99 - Cardiff Comets (12–0–0) 1999/00 - Cardiff Comets (14–0–0) 2000/01 - Romford Nighthawks (15–0–1) 2001/02 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (15–2–1) 2002/03 - Solihull Vixens (17–0–1) 2003/04 - Romford Nighthawks (18–0–0) 2004/05 - Streatham Storm (17–0–3) 2005/06 - Swindon Top Cats (17–1–0) 2006/07 - Swindon Top Cats (17–1–0) 2007/08 - Swindon Top Cats (18–0–0) 2008/09 - Chelmsford Cobras (13–0–1) 2009/10 - Basingstoke Bison Ladies (13–0–3) 2010/11 - Milton Keyes Falcons (17–0–1) 2011/12 - Cardiff Comets (14–1–1) 2012/13 - Chelmsford Cobras (12–0–0) 2013/14 - Swindon Top Cats (16–0–0) 2014/15 - Swindon Top Cats (16–0–0) 2015/16 - Invicta Dynamics (12–0–0) 2016/17 - Bracknell Firebees (10–1–1) 2017/18 - Basingstoke Bison 2018/19 - Swindon Topcats (13–2–1)
U16 Northern Division 2007/08 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (5–0–1) 2008/09 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4–0–0) 2009/10 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (record unknown) 2010/11 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (7–1–0) 2011/12 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4–0–0) 2012/13 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (4–0–0) 2013/14 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (3–0–0) 2014/15 - Kingston Hull Junior Diamonds (2–0–1)