India national ice hockey team

The Indian national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of India. They are controlled by the Ice Hockey Association of India and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). India is currently not ranked in the IIHF World Ranking and have not entered in any World Championships tournaments or at any Olympic Games, but have played in the Challenge Cup of Asia, a regional tournament for lower-tier hockey nations in Asia.

Ice hockey in India has surprisingly deep roots. Areas like Shimla, Kashmir and Ladakh have traditionally cold climates. As early as 1985, the Indian Army and local youth started playing the game to occupy themselves in the winter. They used improvised field hockey sticks and converted shoe polish tins to act as pucks.

Today, the sport has come a long way since then. It is played at the national level in Ladakh, Shimla and Kashmir. Even though there are no artificial rinks available in the country, the game flourishes at these locations during the winters.

The northern states of India have six teams that play at the national level and in addition they conduct very active Learn to Play programs for the children and women.

Many ex-pats from the Canadian and Russian consulates in Mumbai and Delhi have been playing the game in Ladakh.

Background of Ice Hockey in Ladakh

The history of Ice hockey  dates back to the early 70’s  when the Ladakh Scouts, battalion of the Indian army  who are posted in the high border regions took up the game. The high Changthang Plateau with its frozen  streams and high altitude  lakes formed  an ideal place to play ice hockey and since then  spread amongst  the army  and  continued  to be played by them. The game however gained popularity when they began exhibition matches in Leh in the winter. Since there is nothing to do in the harsh winter and the locals  began to play in the small irrigation pond in Karzoo, Leh.

Ice Hockey gear  was not and is still not available to buy in Ladakh. The few people who have contacts outside Ladakh have  requested friends  to  get ice hockey  skates. The Ladakh Scouts are well equipped as they get their gear through the army. The J&K tourism also have a full set of equipment  but are quite  reluctant  to spare any. The only place in India where  anything  close to ice games and equipment is available  is  Shimla a small hill  station in the northwestern part of India  where they have an ice skating rink  and fancy ice skating is enjoyed  by the young and old alike. 2 Chinese shoemaker brothers here began  making ice skates and these are still used.

The local Ladakhis enjoyed this winter  sport but due to lack of gear began to improvise and the first teams began by getting the ice skating blades from Shimla and nailing them to the army ammunition boots-quite a feat to balance those huge  boots wearing 3-4  layers  of socks inside on the blades but this is how they began. Roller skating and ordinary ground hockey  sticks were used. What takes the cream is the  improvisation of puck-the thick rubber heels of the army and other boots were cut to a rounded shape and  used. Goal keepers were the ground  hockey pads and helmets were never used  and neither were elbow  and knee  pads by other  players. Players were always scared to get hurt but undeterred they played  and many had cuts/bruises and stitches on their heads but the game continued.

Current squad
Squad for the 2017 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia – Division I.

All-time record against other nations
Last match update: 29 March 2018