Ice Hockey UK (IHUK) chairman Richard Grieveson plans to attend the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) Annual General Meeting in Nottingham on Saturday (September 17) where he will put forward his plan. 

Grieveson has already held talks with several bodies, including the EIHA, Scottish Ice Hockey Association, and the English Premier Ice Hockey League in a bid to try to establish one single body. 

"My main objective when taking on this role was to create a unified national governing body," he said. 

"I’ve been speaking to key stakeholders, reviewing the structure and developing proposals for change driven by the outcomes of the strategic review, which was undertaken in 2015."

International Ice Hockey Federation President René Fasel is a leading advocate for a single united body in the UK.

"I had a good discussion with Mr Fasel at [IIHF] Congress in Russia earlier this year and he has since written to me as part of this process," said Grieveson.

"Mr Fasel is critical of the current arrangements, describing the model for the development and delivery of the sport in the UK as ‘broken’ and I know he made comments publicly to the BBC.

"He has challenged me to change and address the current position, so that the UK can finally achieve its potential on a world stage."

British ice hockey's greatest moment came at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen when they won the gold medal.

They finished fifth at St Moritz in 1948 but have not qualified since.

In the last two years they finished runners-up in Division I, Group B of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships.

The women's team, meanwhile, have never qualified for the Olympic Games.

This year they finished third in Division IIA of the IIHF World Championships. 

"Critical in all of this is that we need a new national governing body and the key word here is new," said Grieveson.

"The process in reaching this goal requires an open, transparent and consultative approach to be designed by all involved to ensure that the sport can be successful in the future.

"This is not Ice Hockey UK taking over everything.

"This is a new, fit-for-purpose organisation which will undertake the roles and functions of the current national governing bodies, but will do it better and in a joined up way.

"We have to ensure that everyone in the sport is working together and, if we are totally honest, that hasn’t happened for a number of years."

Grieveson is due to present his proposals to the IIUK Board at a meeting today. 

"I would like to see as many clubs and stakeholders at the AGM as I think this is a tremendously exciting time and a massive opportunity for our sport," he said. 

"I would really like the opportunity to present that to the membership of the EIHA.

"This will only happen if the membership at large want it to happen and hopefully that will be the case.

"I believe strongly the direction of travel is the right one and thereafter we can move forward together in a positive way for ice hockey in the UK."