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Question 6: In your opinion, what is the largest challenge facing British Ice Hockey today? 
Youth development and growing the participation in ice hockey in the UK - Todd Kelman, Belfast Giants.

To have a single national league with predominately home based players that will have produce players with the ability to qualify for the 2014 Olympic Games.- Mike Hay, British Olympic Association - Olympic Performance Manager.

The amount of ice rinks, government financial support, lack of an overall plan or structure or philosophy, co-ordinated approach, ice time.. - Brent Pope, Cardiff Devils.

More Arena facilities to grow the popularity and fan base of the sport.. - Chris McCsorely.
 
How to accommodate the few Arena teams (Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle and Belfast, possibly Coventry) with the smaller teams both within the Elite League and the more senior teams in the EPL. - Andy Smith, Fifth Line.

There are many challenges, but quality coaching is the key to hopefully develop our juniors for the future.. - Paul Thomson, Coventry Blaze & GB Head Coach.

The lack of rinks and ice time is an issue for junior development.  Kids do not have the ice availability that is required to maximise their potential in the way that most of the higher ranked IIHF countries do. - Kirk Humphreys, Guildford Flames.

Creating a strong, independent governing body.. - Stewart Roberts, Ice Hockey Annual.

Your shortest question, yet the biggest one. I suppose I could ask this question back, What is British Ice Hockey?If its senior hockey, then the biggest question is the same one that has been asked for years, that of financial stability. Costs are rising, a problem that has come with British players getting better and becoming professional.
However turning youngsters with potential into professionals is what we must be aiming out. If we can keep costs stable, encourage more fan and commercial support then I see nothing but good things ahead. The recent TV deal might raise the sports profile, that can’t be anything but good. My fear is once again those who can’t afford it, try and compete with those who can afford it and in doing so puts the sport in jeopardy. If its Junior Hockey, then more ice time and better coaching. Coaching the coaches. I was at a recent Steelers away game and we saw a junior practise. The session lasted an hour and the kids didn’t touch the puck for 35 minutes. When we asked a parent he said that those kids had 2, one hour sessions a week and the second session was the same as the fist. The coaches need coaching, there is probably the largest challenge. - Dave Simms, Sheffield Steelers.

In the short term, I believe that British ice hockey needs to get support its’ referees. After last season and the low / no / zero tolerance debates, officials seem to be at odds with the controlling bodies. I refereed football for 25 years and can almost feel the nervousness of officials who are ‘calling it because they are told to’ and who know the negative effect it has on the game. We don’t talk to each other enough, and there is a distinct lack of mutual understanding. I understand the reasons, I understand the needs…but I see huge inconsistencies in interpretation, and no one seems to know why. We need to talk, understand and act. - Clinton Cooper, Kingston Jets.

We work closely with our junior program and have an excellent track record of using young players and developing them into Senior pros - Jon Kynaston, Peterborough Phantoms.

This is a difficult question. We want as many kids playing ice hockey as possible. We need good ice arenas with good organisations that have a lot of icetime for junior hockey. We need stability at the highest level. We need more interest from a spectating point of view. Too many clubs are losing their fan base which will obviously impact financially. - Steve Moria, Slough Jets.

The lack of adequate facilities (ice rinks) and the lack of ice-time nationwide. - Simon Hopkins, University Hockey.

Financial Stability. I mean real stability and not the pretence of it that we keep hearing/reading about . Also some unification in League structure and with it a Governing Body that has real control over the sport as a whole . For a small sport is hugely dispirit in its structure and administration. The lack of real cohesion means that those not involved be it mainstream media and large potential sponsors can't and won't take it seriously. - Jo Collins, Ice Hockey Players Association.

Exposure! Not enough people know there is hockey being played.  When someone hears hockey they think it is on a field.  Hockey blends the skill of football and the violence of rugby.  There is no reason it should not have greater support. - Doug Christiansen, Edinburgh Capitals.