Season 3 of Himalayan Ice Hockey to Begin with Intensive Coach and Referee Training

The third edition of the 2025–26 Himalayan Ice Hockey season—featuring major developmental events like the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) in Ladakh and the Spiti Cup—will commence in Himachal Pradesh with a strong focus on training and community development.

The season will open in November with comprehensive coach and referee training camps in Dehradun and Leh, led by IIHF-certified experts: coach Darryl Eason and officiating instructor Peter Gebei. These sessions aim to equip local coaches and officials with advanced skills to conduct Learn to Play (LTP) programs, scout young talent, and build grassroots teams for the upcoming competitions.

Key training initiatives include:

• Basic & Intermediate Coach Training Camps (Dehradun): Designed to empower local coaches to run LTP programs, upgrade technical skills, and identify emerging players for developmental leagues.

• Referee Training Program (Delhi): Bringing together officials from the Army, ITBP, and regional bodies, with a special emphasis on boosting women’s participation in officiating.

• Learn to Play (LTP) & Basic Skating Programs: Targeting over 1,000 children across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand to introduce them to ice hockey fundamentals.

• Pond Hockey Programme (Leh): A new community initiative offering a 5-day training camp for 80 children followed by a non-contact 3v3 tournament at Gupuk pond near Leh—an accessible and enjoyable introduction to the sport.

Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation, highlighted the program’s deeper mission: “With season 3, we are moving from participation to progression, strengthening the grassroots ecosystem through structured training. This season is about empowering local coaches and youth leaders to build and sustain their own communities of play.”

The season will conclude in January 2026 with two of India’s highest-altitude tournaments—the REIHL in Leh and the Spiti Cup in Kaza—featuring over 30 teams and nearly 700 players. New entrants this year include a team from Kharu (Ladakh) in the REIHL and a team from Lahaul (Himachal Pradesh) in the Spiti Cup.

Throughout December and early January, newly trained coaches will lead scouting and regional training camps to prepare teams for competition. Coach Darryl Eason will return to Leh for two weeks during this period to mentor coaches and ensure the effective application of training insights.

The Royal Enfield Social Mission continues to prioritize training as the pathway to long-term grassroots development, aiming to nurture future athletes while strengthening community bonds across the Himalayas.

In the 2025 season, 30 men’s and women’s teams from regions including Leh, Nubra, Kargil, Zanskar, Changthang, Losar, Lalung, Keylong, Pin, and Spiti participated, drawing more than 10,000 spectators. Kang Sings and Maryul Spamo defended their REIHL titles, while Sham Zone and Centre Zone topped the Spiti Cup—reflecting the sport’s growing popularity in the region.

With inputs from IANS