Ice Hockey League trophy and jerseys unveiled in Delhi

Royal Enfield, in partnership with the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh, on Saturday unveiled the official trophy and jerseys for the second season of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League at the Travancore Palace.

The League is set to take place from January 2 to 9, 2025, in Ladakh. It is part of Royal Enfield’s commitment towards building resilience in the Himalayan communities. Royal Enfield will also support the Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh.

These initiatives align with Royal Enfield’s Gamechanger – Blueprint for the Development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh, a comprehensive roadmap developed in collaboration with local and international experts, aiming to elevate Indian Ice hockey to the global stage, with the ultimate goal to enable India’s participation in the 2042 Winter Olympics.

Gearing up for the Ice hockey season, Royal Enfield also conducted a training camp for local coaches, from December 8 to 12 with Darryl Easson, a coach instructor certified by International Ice Hockey Federation. The training saw 32 coaches from Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh come together to understand and practice finer nuances of the sport. This will enable them to provide world-class training to the community, preparing them for the League.

The coaches will now return to their respective regions to scout and train players who will form teams for the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. In total, 10 men’s and five women’s teams will come together in Leh to compete in the eight-day league. The teams will represent diverse regions across Ladakh including Leh, Bodh-Kharbu, Drass, Kargil, Nubra, Sham, Zanskar and Changthang. It will also see prominent ice hockey players including Noor, Diskit, Chamba, Gyalston, Mustafa among others showcasing the sport’s competitive spirit.

The official trophy, which takes inspiration from ice hockey and the snow leopard, showcasing its intrinsic integration with Ladakh’s culture, was designed by a local designer, Nawang Gyalston. Nawang was shortlisted following an open call issued by Royal Enfield for Ladakhi artisans, in partnership with Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO).

“We are very excited to announce the second season of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League. Bigger and better than the inaugural edition, this season will be implementing learnings from the first year, serving as a landmark moment for Indian Ice hockey. Empowering an underdog sport like Ice hockey, which is further threatened due to climate change, forms an important pillar of our Social Mission’s continued commitment to the Himalayan communities. Through the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, we aim to champion the development of Ice hockey while fostering growth, talent, and resilience in the region.” said Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation.

Tags : Ice Hockey League, Ladakh, Royal Enfield, Darryl Easson, Leh, Bodh-Kharbu, Drass, Kargil, Nubra, Sham, Zanskar, Noor, Diskit, Chamba