No sanctions for Ulster clubs who attend EGM

Ulster Hockey have confirmed there will be no sanctions for clubs who attend an EGM to decide the future of the Irish Hockey League.

The northern province’s governing body urged clubs to stay away from Sunday’s meeting in Dublin, where clubs will vote on whether to expand to a full-season competition, increasing the minimum number of games from five to 18. At least 10 Ulster clubs are nonetheless understood to be attending, ensuring a quorum is achieved and the vote will take place. Ulster Hockey chief executive Angela Platt said they never considered sanctions against those clubs but reiterated that her organisation is not in favour of the current proposal.

“Ulster Hockey continues to have the belief that a full IHL option is not in the best interests of the IHL competition or hockey in Ulster. The option put forward by the IHA for the EGM has not fundamentally changed from the original option put forward, and on which the clubs in Ulster voted against in May. That is supported by the fact that 88% of clubs continue to support that position. Furthermore we would reiterate that clubs in Ulster are open to change — this fact has never been in dispute.”