English National Ice Hockey League: The provisional fixture list for the 2004-2005 season has been released following the fixtures meeting held earlier this month.

The league is split into two, North and South Conferences, with 11 in the South and nine in the North.

Baskingstoke, Bracknell, Invicta, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Peterborough, Slough, Solent and Gosport and Streatham are joined this season by Cardiff and Haringey. The North have a decrease of one from last season with Grimsby Buffaloes pulling out due to lack of players.

The three North-East clubs, Billingham Bombers, Sunderland Chiefs and Whitley Warriors along with Blackburn Hawks, Bradford Bulldogs, Flintshire Freeze, Kingston Jets, Nottingham Lions and Sheffield Scimitars make up the North Conference. Both Billingham and Whitley will also compete in the league cup which is split into North, South East and South West groups, Blackburn and Sheffield make up the four-team North group.

The first derby of the season is therefore Whitley and Billingham at Hillheads on September 19 in the cup with the return at the Forum Ice Arena on November 20.

In the league Sunderland Chiefs travel to Teesside in October 10 for the opening league derby encounter of the season with the return at Newcastle Arena on December 19.

Chiefs will meet Whitley twice in a fortnight in their league encounters, Hillheads hosting the first on October 31 and Newcastle Arena on November 13. The remaining Tees-Tyne derby in the league between Bombers and Warriors sees Bombers entertaining Warriors on December 5 with Bombers visiting Hillheads on February 6.

Whitley Warriors coach Gary Wood has re-signed three forwards who all found the net at regular intervals last season. Lee Baxter, Paul Graham and Andrew Tindale having put pen to paper in the last few days. This now boosts Warriors' side to ten already confirmed to begin the charge for the ENIHL title.

Sunderland Arrows are one of the 12 clubs that will be competing in the Sheffield U16 tournament which takes place at the Ice Sheffield on August 14 and 15.

Newcastle Vipers' first opponents in this national cup will be Sheffield Steelers when the teams meet at Newcastle Arena on September 26.

Teams form the British National League and the Elite League will compete in home and away games in a cross-over cup competition which will see the points gained count towards their own individual league.

Vipers head coach Clyde Tuyl, player coach Rob Wilson and GB international David Longstaff have each been involved with Sheffield during recent season.