Ice Hockey in Israel

Israel Travel Guide gives you information on the various sports in Israel. One of the popular sports of Israel is Ice Hockey. Though Ice Hockey in Israel has a small following, the people who play it are very passionate about it. Ice hockey was first introduced in Israel in 1986, and compared that the game has grown in leaps and bounds in Israel.

There is an Israel Ice Hockey Federation who looks after the amateur players and encourages the growth of Ice Hockey in Israel. The opening of the first Ice Rink in Qiryat Motzkin in 1986 introduced Ice hockey to the people of Israel. The Israel Ice Hockey and Figure Skating Association were formed in 1988 and were associated to the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1991.

In the first year the federation had 150 registered players for Ice Hockey in Israel. The players played for the four teams in Ramat-Gan, Haifa, Bat-Yam and Jerusalem. At that point of time, the largest rink in Israel was in Bat-Yam and had an ice-surface that was approximately 33% of the size of a NHL rink. Apart from that the two other rinks with much smaller ice surfaces are in Haifa and Ramat-Gan. The colors that adorn the jerseys of the Israeli players are Blue and White.

With the joining of the Israel Ice Hockey Federation in the International Ice Hockey Federation, the Israeli national teams started to participate in the World Championships. Even though the sport of Ice Hockey in Israel has a short history it has already reached heights akin to the level of ice hockey in countries with much longer histories. Israel won the gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Division II Group B world championships in 2005 and was promoted to Division I for the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation world championships. Sports in Israel are an integral part of their Israeli culture.