Because the off-season shouldn’t mean off-duty.

The Super League season’s over, your weekends suddenly feel empty, and you’re not quite sure what to do with your hands now that there’s no one to boo on a Friday night.

If you’re missing the hits, the heart, and the pure chaos of rugby league, here’s a thought: trade the mud for ice and give ice hockey a go.

Before you scroll away muttering “but it’s not the same,” hear me out – because hockey might just be your new off-season obsession.

I grew up going to Steelers games, but truly fell in love with the sport whilst at university in Nottingham – it gave me the fix of everything I missed while the rugby wasn’t on.

The Physicality You Love (and the Chaos You Miss)

If your favourite sound in sport is the thwack of a perfect tackle, you’ll feel right at home at the rink.

Ice hockey’s just as physical as rugby league – players hurl themselves into body checks that could rival a good front-row collision. A player being thrown into the boards is a regular occurrence – if you’re close enough to the rink, you’ll probably jump out of your skin the first time you see it.

The difference? They do it at 30 miles an hour, on ice, with a puck flying past their heads. They might go flying, but they’ll be straight back up before you’ve even had time to register what happened.It’s fast, brutal, and ridiculously entertaining.

Super League Grit Meets EIHL Speed

Both the Betfred Super League and the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) run on the same fuel: working-class pride, regional rivalries, and die-hard supporters who’ll travel through wind, rain, and questionable motorway service stations to back their team.

And just like rugby league has the Challenge Cup, the EIHL has its own Challenge Cup tournament – full of upsets, underdog stories, and all the cup-final tension your heart can handle.

If you live for the Cup, you’ll fit right in.

Local Loyalty: Your New Neighbours on Ice

You don’t have to stray far from rugby league country to find a rink. In fact, some clubs share postcodes:

Rugby League Club(s)	Closest Ice Hockey Club(s)	League	Why It Works
Leeds Rhinos	Leeds Knights	NIHL	Same city, same grit, fast-growing fanbase
Hull FC / Hull KR	Hull Seahawks	NIHL	Local rivalry energy, family-friendly crowd
Castleford Tigers	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL	Yorkshire pride and a massive fanbase in orange
Wigan Warriors / St Helens	Manchester Storm	EIHL	North West rivalry, noisy crowd, great arena
Warrington Wolves	Manchester Storm / Blackburn Hawks	EIHL / NIHL	Easy travel, strong fan culture
Huddersfield Giants	Leeds Knights / Sheffield Steeldogs	NIHL	Northern passion, grassroots feel

The NIHL (National Ice Hockey League) sits below the EIHL but keeps that same hard-nosed, community-first energy rugby league fans love — with smaller rinks, cheaper tickets, and crowds that still belt out chants like their lives depend on it.

The Atmosphere: Loud, Loyal, and a Bit Wild

If you’ve ever been to a Saints–Wigan derby or a Friday night at Headingley, you already know the vibe. Now imagine that same energy… indoors, with a soundtrack of air horns and flashing goal lights.

Drums, chants, goal horns, fans waving scarves like they’re warding off demons — it’s glorious mayhem.

And here’s the best bit: even if you turn up as a neutral, you won’t feel out of place. Hockey fans are famously welcoming. Whether you’re decked out in a new jersey or just trying to follow the puck, you’ll be swept up in the energy.

Playoff Weekend vs. Magic Weekend: The Same Party, Different Surface

If you’ve ever been to Magic Weekend, you know the magic isn’t just on the pitch. It’s the atmosphere: fans of every club mingling, laughing, and filling one stadium for two days of sport and chaos.

Sound familiar? That’s because EIHL Playoff Weekend is its icy cousin.

Every spring, fans from all ten EIHL clubs pack into Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena for two days of knockout hockey. It’s jerseys of every colour, endless chants, and pints flowing freely.

It’s basically Magic Weekend but colder, louder, and with more glitter on the jerseys.

Both events are about more than sport: they’re celebrations of what makes the game special. Everyone under one roof, united by passion, rivalry, and a bit of chaos.

The Perfect Seasonal Swap

Just as rugby league winds down, hockey gears up. The Super League Grand Final usually lands in early autumn – right as the EIHL season starts.

It’s almost like the sporting gods planned it that way, ensuring you never have to go a weekend without a tackle, a try, or a team song.

By the time your rugby side’s back for pre-season, you’ll have a whole new batch of favourite players (and maybe a playoff ticket or two).

Why It’s Worth a Shot

Rugby league and ice hockey share more than most fans realise: grit, skill, community, and that unshakable bond between club and crowd.

Whether you’re standing at the Totally Wicked Stadium or sitting rinkside in Sheffield, it’s the same feeling – heart pounding, voice hoarse, proud to be part of something bigger.

So if you’re missing your rugby fix, throw on a coat, grab a hot chocolate (or a pint, no judgement), and head to your nearest rink.

You might just find your new favourite winter sport.