Ice Hockey UK Richard Grieveson has outlined his plans for a governing body in Britain to Scottish Ice Hockey ©IHUK

Scotland have backed a proposal for one governing body for ice hockey to be established to oversee the sport in Britain, Ice Hockey UK (IHUK) chairman Richard Grieveson has claimed. 

Grieveson addressed Scottish Ice Hockey (SIH) at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh and outlined his plan. 

"There was unanimous support for the one national governing body at the meeting in Scotland," said Grieveson, who is from Dumfries in Scotland. 

"The membership of our Scottish clubs reacted positively to proposals for change and improving the current arrangements through unification and becoming one UK-wide national governing body.

"I will now report back to the Ice Hockey UK board and develop a time-bound action plan to move this forward.

"This will take time but it is the only way for the sport to move forward."

Ice Hockey UK chairman Richard Grieveson claims to have support from England and Scotland to establish a single governing body for the sport in Britain ©Getty Images
Ice Hockey UK chairman Richard Grieveson claims to have support from England and Scotland to establish a single governing body for the sport in Britain ©Getty Images

Last month Grieveson addressed the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) Annual General Meeting in Nottingham.

There was no formal decisions taken but there was enough support for the idea for Grieveson to announce he would set up a working group involving several stakeholders to investigate the next step.

Since taking over as IHUK chairman in February Grieveson has held talks with several bodies about establishing a single governing body. 

These include the EIHA, SIH and the English Premier Ice Hockey League in a bid to try to establish one single body. 

Grieveson claims to have the support of International Ice Hockey Federation President René Fasel.

"I am delighted that both the EIHA and SIH are supportive and keen to work with IHUK to now develop the detail," he said. 

"These are exciting times for our sport and if we all work together, it will benefit ice hockey in the UK in so many different ways."