Israel Ice Hockey Federation

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Israel Ice Hockey Federation

Based in	Metula Israel
Colors	Blue, White
President	Sergi Matin
Website	Israel Hockey

The Israel Ice Hockey Federation is recognized as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in Israel and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. It is often called the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel in order to differentiate it from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Ice hockey began in Israel when the first ice rink opened in Qiryat Motzkin in 1986. The Israel Ice Hockey and Figure Skating Association was formed in 1988 and was admitted to the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1991.

Israel first competed in the IIHF Pool C world championships in South Africa in 1992, finishing 5th out of the six participating teams (South Africa, Spain, Greece, Luxemburg, Turkey and Israel).

The hockey and figure skating associations split when the sports became big enough to go it alone, and the hockey association was renamed to the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel.

As of 2005 there are three ice skating rinks in Israel. An Olympic facility and smaller practice rink at the Canada Center in Metula, and a small rink in the northern town of Ma'alot.

In 2005, Israel won the gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Division II Group B world championships and were them promoted to Division I for the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation world championships.

In 2006, after being outscored 47-3 in the Ice Hockey Division I World Championships, Israel was relegated to the 2007 Ice Hockey Division II World Championships.

Trivia

The Canadian Friends of the Israeli Ice Hockey Association was founded in Montreal in 1991 by David Lisbona and Larry Markowitz. Since its inception, the organization has sent hundreds of pounds of ice hockey equipment to Israel and in the early nineties, published a newsletter entitled "The Hockey Shtick". The association does not appear to be currently active.