Ice Hockey: Grants, loans, COVID bubbles and devolved governments - the first steps on a long road to hitting the ice
The devil is in the detail. It always is. For ice hockey fans, the prospect of the 2020-21 season taking place in some shape or form remains on the horizon - visible, but still lacking real focus. The catalyst for hope came via the £4m emergency funding to the EIHL which almost felt too good to be true. For some, it was. The money came from Sport England, so only applies to five of the ten members of a league that operates across all four UK countries, and now finds itself trying to navigate a clear path with devolved governments in Scotland, Ireland and Wales for further vital support for the other half currently on the outside looking in. Suddenly knowledge of the Barnett Formula and consequentials is of more value than knowing a player's plus-minus stats. And that cash? It came with conditions. It always does. It was billed initially as a loan - which begged the question, would that be one only the five recipients would pay back or would it be split league wide? I'd love...