1998–99 ISL season


The 1998–99 Ice Hockey Superleague season was the third season of the Ice Hockey Superleague. Having reached a sponsorship deal with Sekonda, the league was now formally known as the Sekonda Ice Hockey Superleague.
Basingstoke Bison left the league and joined the British National League. The London Knights were formed and joined the ISL playing out of London Arena. The Newcastle franchise also changed their name from the Newcastle Cobras to the Newcastle Riverkings.
Losing the Daily Express sponsorship, the Express Cup was renamed the Challenge Cup. The competition was also integrated into the league fixtures with the first round of games between teams counting towards the Challenge Cup table and the league table. The league season was therefore increased to forty-two rounds.

Benson & Hedges Cup

The Benson & Hedges Cup consisted of the teams from the ISL and the top teams from the British National League. In the 1998–99 season, sixteen teams in total were split into four groups playing each team in their group once at home and once away. All sixteen teams then progressed to a challenge round of a home and away game with the winners on aggregate progressing. The quarter finals and semi finals were also home and away aggregate rounds with the final being a one off game held at Sheffield Arena.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Finals

Note: The first home team is shown first

Challenge Cup

All eight teams in the league competed in the newly renamed Challenge Cup. The first round was the first home and away meeting of each team in the league with the points counting towards both the Challenge Cup table and the league table. The top four teams progressed to the semi finals. The semi finals were home and away games with the winner on aggregate progressing to the one off final game.

First round

Semi finals

1st place vs 4th place
'''2nd place vs 3rd place
Winner A vs Winner B
Each team played three home games and three away games against each of their opponents. All eight teams were entered into the playoffs.
SuperleagueGPWTOTLLGFGAPts
Manchester Storm42301471558665
Cardiff Devils4227051014410259
Nottingham Panthers4225121414013453
Bracknell Bees4219241714414944
Ayr Scottish Eagles4218331813614042
Sheffield Steelers4217421913514140
Newcastle Riverkings4214222411715032
London Knights4210342511418327

Playoffs

All eight teams in the league took part in the playoffs. Group A consisted of Bracknell, London, Manchester and Sheffield while Group B consisted of Ayr, Cardiff, Newcastle and Nottingham. The top two teams from each playoff group qualified for the finals weekend. The third place playoff was dropped for this season.

Group A

Group B

Semi Finals

Winner A vs Runner-Up B
Winner B vs Runner-Up A
Winner A vs Winner B

Scoring leaders

The scoring leaders are taken from all league games.