 A version of the national federations logo is the badge used on the players jerseys. | |
| Association | Ice Hockey Association of India |
|---|---|
| GM |  Samarth Sharma |
| Head coach | Abdul Hakim |
| Assistants |  Alexandre la bouze Touzel |
| Captain | Tsewang Gyaltson |
| Most games | Skarma Tashi (29) |
| Most points | Mohd Iqbal & Ali Amir (12) |
| IIHF code | IND |
| IIHF ranking | NR (6 June 2021)[1] |
| Team colours | |
| First international | |
 Thailand 14–0 India  (Abu Dhabi, UAE; 15 March 2009) | |
| Biggest win | |
India 5–1 Macau  (Dehradun, India; 21 March 2012) India 7–3 Macau (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 25 April 2017) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
 Kuwait 39–2 India (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 26 April 2011) | |
| IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia | |
| Appearances | 9 (first in 2009) |
| Best result | 6th (2011, 2012) |
| International record (W-L-T) | |
| 4–37–0 | |
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.
Adam Sherlip would serve as the first national team head coach, leading the team into the 2009 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia. Sherlip discovered hockey in India while coaching in China.[2] As a result of "The Hockey Volunteer" initiative, Sherlip founded The Hockey Foundation,[3] a non-profit that uses ice hockey to help improve life in the communities.[4] The Hockey Foundation's pilot program operates in Ladakh, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.[4] The Hockey Foundation has donated over 4,000 pieces equipment since 2009.[2] Sherlip and The Hockey Foundation are the subject of the documentary "Disputed Ice," which is currently in development.[5]
Tournament record[]
Challenge Cup of Asia[]
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OW | OL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 |  Hong Kong |
Did not participate | |||||
| 2009 |  Abu Dhabi |
8th place | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2010 |  Taipei City |
Did not participate | |||||
| 2011 |  Kuwait City |
6th place | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | Dehradun |
6th place | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2013 |  Bangkok |
10th place | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 |  Bishkek |
10th place (4th in Division I) |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | Kuwait City |
11th place (6th in Division I) |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2016 | Bishkek |
10th place (5th in Division I) |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | Kuwait City |
7th place (2nd in Division I) |
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 |  Kuala Lumpur |
9th place (4th in Division I) |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Current squad[]
Squad for the 2017 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia – Division I.[6]
| # | Name | Pos | S/C | Height | Weight | Date of birth | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nawang Dorje | G | L | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 62 kg (137 lb) | 1 February 1988 (aged 29
)
|
Unattached
|
| 5 | Amit Belwal | F | L | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 72 kg (159 lb) | 10 March 1993 (aged 24
)
|
Unattached
|
| 6 | Nawang Zangpo | D | L | 1.72 m (5 ft 71⁄2 in) | 72 kg (159 lb) | 5 April 1994 (aged 23
)
|
Unattached
|
| 7 | Tsewang Gyaltson | D | R | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 65 kg (143 lb) | 16 November 1992 (aged 24
)
|
Unattached
|
| 13 | Zakir Hussain | F | R | 1.66 m (5 ft 51⁄2 in) | 50 kg (110 lb) | 4 March 1982 (aged 35
)
|
Unattached
|
| 21 | Stanzin Namgyal | D | R | 1.72 m (5 ft 71⁄2 in) | 63 kg (139 lb) | 24 September 1993 (aged 23
)
|
Unattached
|
| 27 | Virender Thapa | F | L | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 68 kg (150 lb) | 27 October 1998 (aged 18
)
|
Unattached
|
| 29 | Rigzin Norboo | D | R | 1.64 m (5 ft 41⁄2 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 23 October 1992 (aged 24
)
|
Unattached
|
| 30 | Tsewang Dorjay | F | R | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | 53 kg (117 lb) | 29 December 1997 (aged 19
)
|
Unattached
|
| 32 | Gamandeep Singh | G | L | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | 1 March 1995 (aged 22
)
|
Unattached
|
| 38 | Tsewang Dorjey | F | R | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | 58 kg (128 lb) | 31 March 1990 (aged 27
)
|
Unattached
|
| 41 | Jigmath Kunzang | F | R | 1.76 m (5 ft 91⁄2 in) | 54 kg (119 lb) | 5 April 1991 (aged 26
)
|
Unattached
|
| 44 | Thinless Nurboo | D | R | 1.64 m (5 ft 41⁄2 in) | 56 kg (123 lb) | 15 May 1984 (aged 32
)
|
Unattached
|
| 45 | Rigzin Norboo | F | R | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 65 kg (143 lb) | 4 January 1987 (aged 30
)
|
Unattached
|
| 49 | Aashu Singh | F | R | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | 58 kg (128 lb) | 19 April 1992 (aged 25
)
|
Unattached
|
| 57 | Tashi Gyamjung | F | R | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 74 kg (163 lb) | 1 March 1989 (aged 28
)
|
Unattached
|
| 61 | Tashi Tsering | D | R | 1.64 m (5 ft 41⁄2 in) | 54 kg (119 lb) | 29 November 1996 (aged 20
)
|
Unattached
|
| 72 | Chamba Tsetan | F | R | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | 50 kg (110 lb) | 30 January 1994 (aged 23
)
|
Unattached
|
| 87 | Ali Amir | D | R | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 70 kg (150 lb) | 1 February 1980 (aged 37
)
|
Unattached
|
| 99 | Rinchen Tundup | F | R | 1.77 m (5 ft 91⁄2 in) | 62 kg (137 lb) | 7 October 1984 (aged 32
)
|
Unattached
|
All-time record against other nations[]
Last match update: 29 March 2018[7]
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hong Kong |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 |
 Indonesia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Kuwait |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 70 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 44 |
| Macau |
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 27 | 47 |
 Malaysia |
6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 78 |
 Mongolia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
 Oman |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
 Qatar |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
|
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 42 |
| Thailand |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 |
 United Arab Emirates |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Total | 41 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 81 | 429 |
References[]
- ↑ IIHF Men's World Ranking (6 June 2021).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 India's Hockey Presence Continuing to Grow. The Hockey Writers (2015-10-03). Retrieved on 2015-10-04.
- ↑ ACraig (2009-07-26). The Hockey Volunteer: The Hockey Foundation. Hockeyvolunteer.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-07.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 #HowHockeyHelps.
- ↑ Disputed Ice a documentary film. Disputedice.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-07.
- ↑ 2017 Challenge Cup of Asia Div I - India (Men). International Ice Hockey Federation.
- ↑ India Men All Time Results. National Teams of Ice Hockey.
External links[]
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