Irish Ice Hockey League

The Irish Ice Hockey League is an ice hockey league in Ireland. The official league was founded in 2007, yet amateur leagues have existed since the early 1980s.^[1]

History

Following on from the construction of Dundalk Ice Dome and the success of the Division 3 Ice Hockey World Championship held in Dundalk during April 2007 the Irish Ice Hockey Association announced the formation of an all new, all-Ireland Ice Hockey League. The five teams play all of their regular season games at the Dundalk Ice Dome. The league's inaugural champions were the Dundalk Bulls who won the championship by defeating the Dublin Rams 6-3.

Prior to the Irish Ice Hockey League's formation, the only Ice Hockey team in Ireland playing competitive hockey was the Belfast Giants of the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League. Many Irish hockey players seeking to play the sport at a competitive level have had to travel abroad.

Teams

Current teams

IIHL

• Castlereagh Spartans
• Dublin Rams
• Dundalk Bulls
• Flyers IHC

IIHDL

• Hawks B
• Blackhawks
• Whalers
• Blackrock Whalers
• Dundalk lady bulls
• Dundalk bulls, B
• Raiders
• Flyers B
• ice vixons
• Cubs

Former teams

• Belfast City Bruins
• Dublin Flyers (est. 1987) 1997 Recreational Scottish Cup Champions
• Dublin Druids
• Dublin Stags (est. 1982)
• Dundonald Redwings
• The Halifax Hockey Club
• IceBreakers2007-08
• Junior Belfast Giants 07-08
• Dublin Wolves06-09

Irish League Champions

• 2007-2008 - Dundalk Bulls
• 2008-2009 - Dundalk Bulls
• 2009-2010 - Charlestown Chiefs

External links

• Meltzer, Bill "Irish eye continued growth of domestic hockey" at NHL.com Retrieved 07-05-07.
• Meltzer, Bill "Ireland united in hockey" at IIHF.com
• Irish Ice Hockey Association
• Flyers IHC

References