Ice Hockey
‘Ice Hockey is the fastest team sport on the planet’
It teaches teamwork, strength, responsibility, confidence and leadership as well as offering adventure and excitement!
With thanks to Free Sport for the use of this video.
Most of you will have heard of ice hockey as a sport but not all of you will know what a huge sport it is becoming in the UK. Great Britain has national teams for the men’s and women’s game as well as under 20’s and under 18’s.
In 2018, the GB Men’s team were promoted to the World Championships and will play next in Switzerland between 8-24 May 2020 thanks to maintaining their place in the division in dramatic fashion in 2019!
With thanks to Free Sport for the use of this video.
The Men’s U20 team play this month in Lithuania in Division 2 between 6-12 January. The U18 Women’s team also play this month between 3-9 January in Poland in Division 1.
With thanks to Free Sport for the use of this video.
GB have seven ice hockey players at this month's Youth Olympics.
Four women – Mirren Foy, Amy Robery, Abby Rowbotham and Jessie Taylor – achieved the individual qualifying results to secure their places, as did Carter Hamill, Evan Nauth and Mackenzie Stewart in the men’s section.
This year there's a new format with a combined nations three-on-three cross-ice tournament. Don't forget you can watch all the action on olympicchannel.com
So, how do you start playing Ice Hockey?
Although Ice Hockey UK runs the GB teams, England and Wales ice hockey is run by the English Ice Hockey Association.
Visit www.eiha.co.uk/ltp for the Learn to Play information on how to get started and where to find your nearest club.
There are junior clubs up and down the country running teams from U9’s upwards and for your first session ask them if there’s equipment you can borrow before you pay for the full kit.
The EIHA have produced a really useful document with all you need to know about junior ice hockey, just click here.
https://eiha.co.uk/download/welcome-to-ice-hockey-your-guide-to-getting-started/
Ice Hockey kit
Ice hockey can be an expensive sport but the starter programme is less than £10 a session. You learn basic skills and your progress is recorded in your Player Passport as you move through the grades.
If you wanted to buy the basic kit it would be gloves, elbow pads, shin guards and ice hockey skates which would cost around £100.
Clubs are encouraging recycling kit to help new and existing players.
Once you’re ready to commit to the sport the full kit looks like this
With thanks to Free Sport for the use of this video.
Want to play but not compete?
There’s a train only option if you prefer the fun of the game but don’t want to join in the competitions.
Love ice hockey and want to take it further?
The junior clubs are often linked to senior teams and there is a player pathway from U9’s to senior hockey if you have the talent and are keen to work hard each year.
