Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup, awarded annually by the Elite Ice Hockey League, is a cup competition for ice hockey clubs in the United Kingdom. It is one of the four competitions ran each season by the Elite League, the others being the league championship, playoff championship and Knockout Cup. Prior to the formation of the Elite League in 2003, the Challenge Cup was organised by the Ice Hockey Superleague.

First awarded during the 1997–98 season, the Challenge Cup has had numerous different formats depending on the number of teams participating and the format of other competitions run during a particular season. The first six finals were single games played at a pre determined venue. Since the inaugural season of the Elite League finals have been contested over two games. The current holders of the trophy are the Belfast Giants who defeated the Manchester Phoenix 6–5 on aggregate in the 2008–09 final. The Steelers are the competition's most successful team, winning the title four times. The now-defunct Ayr Scottish Eagles, the Coventry Blaze and the Nottingham Panthers have each won the cup twice.