Particular due to Richard Loat for this publish on his first day in Shimla on this 2016 tour of India. 

Within the Twenties the British had turned the mountains of Himchal Pradesh right into a summer season hill station that was the envy of all in India. Lord Blessington who owned a giant dwelling overlooking the valleys under had a tennis courtroom which throughout one fateful winter froze. That day he had an concept which sparked a tradition of ice sports activities in Shimla that has result in one in every of India’s oldest pockets of Ice Hockey.

India is a rustic the place hockey falls to the underside of the sporting checklist in most corners of the nation however within the Northern States the place elevation, chilly climate, and some pioneering hockey fans got here collectively has spawned a hockey tradition that’s rising from season to season. 

The Hockey Basis’s journey to India in 2016 is about persevering with the work that was began but additionally reaching components of the nation that we haven’t been capable of assist earlier than. With donations of kit from cities throughout Canada and the USA the Basis has been capable of assist the 150 younger gamers that base themselves out of the Simla Ice Skating Membership. 

Hockey has discovered a house in lots of states throughout India together with Jammu & Kashmir, Himchal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, and whilst far south as Kerala. 

Since late 2009 hockey within the nation has taken off together with the formation of a Nationwide Ice Hockey Affiliation and the creation of a nationwide staff which not too long ago returned from a visit to Jap Canada the place they performed exhibition video games towards Brampton’s ECHL staff, the Brampton Beast. 

Because the 2016 hockey season for The Hockey Basis will get underway, unlocking the wealthy historical past of ice hockey on this nation might be like discovering hidden gem after hidden gem. Whether or not it’s the sturdy presence and assist for feminine ice hockey in Ladakh, or the ice caretaker in Shimla who has been making the golf equipment ice for over 50 years, the game holds an necessary place. 

It’s assist from throughout the worldwide hockey group that enables The Hockey Basis to do the work that we do from main NHL golf equipment to native hockey communities which can be bringing smiles to the faces of youngsters 1000’s of miles and time zones internationally.