Captains lead from front as Ice Hockey League Season 3 finals line-up confirmed

Leh, Ladakh: The semi-final stage of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh saw captains rise to the occasion as the finalists were decided. Organised in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh, the matches delivered high drama. Semzes Dolma starred with a hat-trick to guide Sham Eagles, Nissa Khatoon struck the decisive goal to send Shakar Chiktan Queens into the women’s final, Moheb Ur Rehman Mir led Humas Warriors’ spirited comeback in the men’s semi-final, and Sarfaraz Hussain netted a hat-trick to propel Purig Warriors into the title clash against Humas Warriors.

Sham Eagles set the tone for the day by avenging last season’s disappointment with a 5–2 victory over Season 2 runners-up Changla Lamos in the first women’s semi-final. Captain Semzes Dolma made an explosive start, scoring twice inside the opening 30 seconds. Thinles Angmo pulled one back with a drag shot, and a goalless second period kept the contest finely balanced. Changla restored parity early in the third through Padma Yangzes, but Sham responded emphatically. Semzes completed her hat-trick with a drag flick, while Padma Desal struck twice with clinical drag shots to secure a dominant win and book their place in the final.

The second women’s semi-final proved a tighter affair as Shakar Chiktan Queens edged past Kharu Eagles 1–0. After a scoreless opening period marked by disciplined defending on both ends, Captain Nissa Khatoon broke the deadlock midway through the second period with a crisp wrist shot. The Queens then held firm through sustained pressure from Kharu to protect their slender advantage and advance to the final.

In the first men’s semi-final, Humas Warriors from Drass overturned their Season 2 semi-final defeat to Changthang Shans with a composed 3–1 win. Chamba Tsetan had given the Shans an early lead with a sharp drag flick, but Humas captain Moheb Ur Rehman Mir responded swiftly with a backhanded tap-in to restore parity. Zahid Ali put Humas ahead in the second period with a wrist flick, and Ghulam Nabi Tak added the decisive third in the final period to confirm Humas as the first men’s finalists.

The final semi-final saw Purig Warriors produce a clinical 8–2 victory over defending champions Kangs Sing. Mushtaque Ahmad Giri opened the scoring for Kangs, but Nawaz Ali equalised soon after with a powerful slap shot. Purig then took control through Sarfaraz Hussain’s drag shot and Villayat Ali’s close-range finish in the first period. The Warriors stretched their lead in the second through Sajjad Hussain and another from Sarfaraz, before Anwar Hussain struck twice in the third. Sarfaraz completed his hat-trick to cap a dominant display, while Kangs managed a late consolation through Mushtaque. With the win, Purig set up a high-stakes men’s final against Humas Warriors.

With the finalists confirmed in both categories, the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 now enters its final act. After two high-intensity women’s and two men’s clashes today, the spotlight shifts to the women’s final tomorrow, 13 February, followed by the men’s championship decider on 14 February. From Leh and Nubra to Changthang, Sham, Kharu, Drass (Humas), Kargil, Shakar Chiktan and Zanskar, the League has showcased the growing depth and resilience of Ladakh’s ice hockey talent, setting the stage for two defining title encounters.

Tags : Humas Warriors, Ice Hockey League, Anwar Hussain, Purig Warriors, Leh