The Elite Ice Hockey League is gearing up for its 2026‑27 campaign, and the recent wave of roster announcements offers a clear picture of how clubs are shaping their squads for the new season. From the Belfast Giants to the Sheffield Steelers, each franchise has begun to finalise line‑ups that will define their on‑ice strategies.
The published lists detail every goalie, defenseman and forward slated to wear each team's colours, while also flagging which players carry the asterisk denoting non‑homegrown status and which bear the 'I' marking a new addition to that club for 2026‑27.
These classifications add a layer of transparency, allowing fans and analysts to track the balance between imported talent and home‑grown prospects. The practice also underscores the league's ongoing effort to blend international experience with domestic development.
Goal‑minding across the league
In goal, the Belfast Giants will lean on a trio of seasoned net‑minders – Andrew Dickson, Jake Kupsky and Jackson Whistle – while the Cardiff Devils will rely on Ben Bowns and Christian Stoever to guard their crease. The Coventry Blaze list David Clements and Márkó Csollák among their defensive options, and the Dundee Stars count on Vladislav Pestov between the pipes.
The Fife Flyers have secured Dominik Groh and Jordan McLaughlin as their primary goalies, whereas the Glasgow Clan will field Liam Soulière and Rasmus Tirronen. The Guildford Flames will depend on Brad Arvanitis and Justin Fazio, the Manchester Storm on Drew DeRidder and Evan Weninger, and the Nottingham Panthers on Kai Edmonds and Mat Robson.
The Sheffield Steelers round out the list with Lucas Brine and Matt Greenfield slated to share starting duties, ensuring a depth of experience across the league's ten clubs.
What the classifications mean
The asterisk marking a player as non‑homegrown signals that the individual did not develop through the domestic junior system, while an 'I' next to a name denotes a newcomer to that particular club this year. These tags help observers parse the composition of each squad at a glance, highlighting the mix of imported talent and home‑grown prospects that will shape the upcoming season.
Beyond the numbers, the 2026‑27 campaign promises fresh storylines as clubs blend international experience with local talent. The early roster sketches set the stage for competitive match‑ups that will unfold across arenas in the United Kingdom and beyond, offering fans a preview of the on‑ice battles to come.