Ice Hockey Federation of Israel
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| Association name | Ice Hockey Federation of Israel |
|---|---|
| IIHF Code | ISR |
| IIHF membership | May 1, 1991 |
| President | Evgeni Gusin |
| IIHF men's ranking | 33 |
| IIHF women's ranking | N/A |
| http://www.israhockey.co.il/ | |
The Ice Hockey Federation of Israel (Hebrew: ההתאחדות הישראלית להוקי קרח) 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, 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 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.
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