THE English Premier League have announced today the format of the league for the coming season as well as changes to overtime and the play-offs

With the addition of Hull Pirates this season the Basingstoke Bison will play 54 league games with three at home and three away and the league season will commence on September 12.

The first meeting with each of the nine other EPL teams home and away will count towards the group standings for the Premier Cup competition, which was the format the last time the Herd won the trophy.

The top four from the group stage will advance to the semi-finals with the pairings being 1v4 and 2v3 and these two-legged games will be played in January, with the final also over two games a month later.

There is a change this season to five minute overtime period, should a game be tied after 60 minutes. Teams will now be reduced to three out skaters instead of four, as it was last season.

If the game is still tied after overtime it will be once again be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

This season fans will get the chance to see their teams in different colours this season. The basic guideline will see the home teams wear dark colours until Christmas and light colours thereafter, but they will be able to change this by prior agreement with their opponents if they wish.

The play-off qualification stays the same with the top eight making up the quarter-finals, which will take place on the weekend of March 26 and 27.

There is a new twist in the way the play-off opponents will be decided as the top three teams will have the option to choose their opponents from the qualifying teams.

A selection outside of another top four team will also allow them to choose their home leg quarter final date, but that right will be lost if they select another top four team. The semi-finals of the play-offs will to be played at Coventry on April 2, with the final the day after also at the Skydome.

Basingstoke Bison head coach Doug Sheppard said: "I like the changes that have been made and I sure it will only make the league more exciting and entertaining for the fans and players."