Expedite plans for all-weather rinks in state, ice hockey assn urges govt

The Ice Hockey Association of Himachal Pradesh has urged the state government to accelerate plans for establishing all-weather ice skating rinks in Shimla and Kaza to boost the sport’s development in the region.

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Addressing a press conference, Abhay Dogra, president of the Ice Hockey Association of Himachal Pradesh, emphasised that improved infrastructure would significantly enhance the team’s performance. He also called on the government to send players to international-level training camps for better exposure and provide financial support for advanced equipment.

Dogra highlighted the impressive performance of Himachal Pradesh’s men’s and women’s teams, both of which won bronze medals at the Khelo India Winter Games held in Leh from January 23 to 27. While the medal tally remained the same as in previous editions, he noted a marked improvement in the teams’ performance.

He also announced that the schedule for the upcoming national games for ice hockey will be released soon. The games will be held in Dehradun and he expressed confidence that Himachal’s teams would continue their strong performance and secure medals.

Pranav Dogra, Captain of the men’s ice hockey team, pointed out that the lack of proper infrastructure remains a major hurdle. He stated that Himachal’s players have limited access to ice rinks for training, unlike teams from Leh-Ladakh, ITBP and the Army, who benefit from year-round access to ice rinks for 10 to 12 months.

The men’s ice hockey team from Himachal Pradesh consists of 12 players from Dogra Scouts, two from Shimla and five from Kaza. The women’s team includes one player from Kinnaur, while the rest are from Kaza.