THE new English League ice hockey season gets underway this weekend and Lee Valley Lions will be hoping to build on their improved form of last season. Lions start their season with a double header, hosting the Isle of Wight s Vectis Tigers at Lea Bridge

THE new English League ice hockey season gets underway this weekend and Lee Valley Lions will be hoping to build on their improved form of last season.

Lions start their season with a double header, hosting the Isle of Wight's Vectis Tigers at Lea Bridge Road on Saturday, 5-30pm start, before travelling to the Basingstoke Buffalo the following day.

There's a local derby with the Romford Spitfires third match in on Saturday, September 20, at Romford, before the Spitfires visit the Lee Valley Ice Centre the following weekend (Sept 27). In between there is a second meeting with the Vectis Tigers on the Isle of Wight.

Lions' full fixture list:- Sept 13: Vectis Tigers (h), 14: Basingstoke Buffalo (a); 20: Romford Spitfires (a); 21 Vectis Tigers (a); 27: Romford Spitfires (h); 28: Solent & Gosport Devils (a).

Oct: 4 Basingstoke Buffalo (h), 5 Swindon ENL Wildcats (h) (prov); 12: Slough Harrier Hawks (a); 26: Swindon ENL Wildcats (a).

Nov: 2 Solent & Gosport Devils (h); 15: Swindon ENL Wildcats (h); 30 Basingstoke Buffalo (a).

Dec 6: Vectis Tigers (h), 7: Slough Harrier Hawks (a); 14: Invicta Mustangs (double points) (a).

Jan 4: Swindon ENL Wildcats (a); 10: Chelmsford Chieftains (a), 11: Vectis Tigers (a); 17: Invicta Mustangs (h); 24: Slough Harrier Hawks (h); 25: Chelmsford Chieftains (a); 31: Romford Spitfires (h).

Feb: 7: Basingstoke Buffalo (h), 14: Solent & Gosport Devils (h); 21: Romford Spitfires (a); 28: Chelmsford Chieftains (h).

March: 7: Invicta Mustangs (h); 8: Solent & Gosport Devils (a); 14: Slough Harrier Hawks (h), 15: Chelmsford Chieftains (a).