Israel Ice Hockey Federation
Encyclopedia
The Ice Hockey Federation of Israel 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).
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
, Luxembourg
, Turkey
and Israel).
The hockey and figure skating associations split when the sports became large enough to be independent, and the hockey association was renamed to the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel.
Ice hockey in Israel began to grow when several Russian Jewish émigrés, who had played professionally in the Soviet Union, began coaching in Metula, the site of Israel's first and currently only full-size rink. Most notable among these Russian coaches was Boris Mindel, a former defenseman on the Red Army Team, who established a junior program at the Canada Center rink in Metula.
Ice hockey in Israel received an additional boost of momentum when the late Roger Neilson, coach of several NHL teams including the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, opened a branch of his summer ice hockey camp in Metula and attracted young North American players to train and compete with young Israelis interested in the sport. 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
.
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 continues to collect equipment for hockey programs in Israel through its collection box situated at the Samuel Moskovitch Arena in Cote Saint-Luc, a predominantly Jewish district in Montreal.
In 2005, Israel, with the benefit of a number of players who were Israeli-Canadian dual citizens, 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
.
In the summer of 2007, with outside temperatures reaching ninety degrees Fahrenheit, the first World Jewish Ice Hockey Tournament was held in Metulla, with competing teams from Israel, Canada
, France
, and the winner, the United States
.
Updated Standings (12/10/10):
Team------------------GP-W-L-OT-PTS-GF-GA-DIFF
1. Hc Metulla----------4-4-0-0---11-14--3-(+11)
2. Bat Yam Icebergs----4-3-1-0---9--27--5-(+22)
3. Monfort Ma'alot-----4-3-1-0---9--30--8-(+22)
4. Haifa Hawks---------4-2-1-1---7--11--5-(+6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Herzliya Ice-Time---3-2-1-0---6--7--5--(+2)
6. Maccabi Metulla-----3-1-2-0---3--3--4--(-1)
7. Rehovot Eagles------4-0-4-0---0--2--30-(-28)
8. Holon Jet Turtles---4-0-4-0---0--4--35-(-31)
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
ice hockey in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
. It is often called the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel in order to differentiate it from the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF).
History
Ice hockey began in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
when the first ice rink opened in Qiryat Motzkin
Qiryat Motzkin
Kiryat Motzkin is a city in the Haifa District of Israel, 8 km north of the city of Haifa. At the end of 2007, the population was 39,600. The city is named after Leo Motzkin, one of the organizers of the First Zionist Congress in 1897.-History:...
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
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1992, finishing 5th out of the six participating teams (South Africa, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Israel).
The hockey and figure skating associations split when the sports became large enough to be independent, and the hockey association was renamed to the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel.
Ice hockey in Israel began to grow when several Russian Jewish émigrés, who had played professionally in the Soviet Union, began coaching in Metula, the site of Israel's first and currently only full-size rink. Most notable among these Russian coaches was Boris Mindel, a former defenseman on the Red Army Team, who established a junior program at the Canada Center rink in Metula.
Ice hockey in Israel received an additional boost of momentum when the late Roger Neilson, coach of several NHL teams including the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, opened a branch of his summer ice hockey camp in Metula and attracted young North American players to train and compete with young Israelis interested in the sport. As of 2005 there are three ice skating rinks in Israel. An Olympic facility and smaller practice rink at the Canada Center in Metula
Metula
Metula is a town in the Northern District of Israel. Metula is located between the sites of the Biblical cities of Dan, Abel Bet Maacah, and Ijon, bordering Lebanon.-Early history:...
, and a small rink in the northern town of Ma'alot
Ma'alot-Tarshiha
Ma'alot-Tarshiha is a mixed city in the North District in Israel, some 20 km east of Nahariya, about 600 meter above sea level. The city was established in 1963 through a municipal merger of the Arab town of Tarshiha and the Jewish town of Ma'alot...
.
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 continues to collect equipment for hockey programs in Israel through its collection box situated at the Samuel Moskovitch Arena in Cote Saint-Luc, a predominantly Jewish district in Montreal.
International competition
In the summer of 1997, the Maccabiah Games included ice hockey for the first time and attracted Jewish teams from the United States, Canada and Ukraine to compete along with the Israel National Team. The U.S. and Canadian team was composed of mostly NCAA players and several who had played in the NHL, including U.S. player coach Mike Hartman of the New York Rangers. At the same time, a team of Jewish teenagers from New York City traveled to Israel to face Boris Mindel's Metula team, and later invited the Israeli juniors to tour the Northeastern United States and Canada with them, giving the Israeli juniors their first exposure to North American competition. The New Yorkers, including many of the same players who had visited in 1997, visited again in 2004 to skate against the Israelis in a spirited series for the "Maccabi Cup".In 2005, Israel, with the benefit of a number of players who were Israeli-Canadian dual citizens, 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
Ice Hockey Division I World Championships
The IIHF World Championship Division I is an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The divisional championship is played in two groups....
, Israel was relegated to the 2007 Ice Hockey Division II World Championships
Ice Hockey Division II World Championships
The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups....
.
In the summer of 2007, with outside temperatures reaching ninety degrees Fahrenheit, the first World Jewish Ice Hockey Tournament was held in Metulla, with competing teams from Israel, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the winner, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
2010-2011 Israel Ice Hockey Season
Israeli Hockey League 2010-2011 StandingsUpdated Standings (12/10/10):
Team------------------GP-W-L-OT-PTS-GF-GA-DIFF
1. Hc Metulla----------4-4-0-0---11-14--3-(+11)
2. Bat Yam Icebergs----4-3-1-0---9--27--5-(+22)
3. Monfort Ma'alot-----4-3-1-0---9--30--8-(+22)
4. Haifa Hawks---------4-2-1-1---7--11--5-(+6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Herzliya Ice-Time---3-2-1-0---6--7--5--(+2)
6. Maccabi Metulla-----3-1-2-0---3--3--4--(-1)
7. Rehovot Eagles------4-0-4-0---0--2--30-(-28)
8. Holon Jet Turtles---4-0-4-0---0--4--35-(-31)
External links
- Ice Hockey Federation of Israel
- Meltzer, Bill "Hockey Making Slow but Steady Progress in Israel" at NHL.com Retrieved 07-28-06.
- Meltzer, Bill "Israel Hosts First World Jewish Hockey Tournament" at NHL.com Retrieved 07-19-07.