BLACKBURN Hawks are still uncertain who they will be playing and what format the league will take next year.

After the Hawks missed out on the newly formed Super League, ice hockey supremos have been frantically trying to thrash out new terms for the coming campaign.

The latest meeting takes place today (Thursday) when officials will meet in Edinburgh to discuss a new formula for a knock-out cup competition.

In all it means a very frustrating time for the Hawks who last year enjoyed their best season ever as they qualified for the play-offs.

Manager Mike Cockayne said: "It is very frustrating because with the season set to start in September, we're still not sure who we are playing. Some of our players are waiting to see what happens before they sort out their futures. But this seems to happen every year."

After losing influential coach Ryan Kummu and Canadian hot shot Steve Chartrand, star players Oleg Sinkov and John Haig are also on the verge of leaving.

The new format looks likely that the league will be split into a northern and southern league consisting of nine teams.

Hawks have been pencilled in to play against Durham Wasps, Whitley Bay and Billingham Bombers, Scottish sides Dumfries Vikings, Paisley Pirates and Fife Flyers and Northern Irish side Castlereagh.

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