Indian National *ICE* Hockey Team to play ECHL team in October
This looked too interesting not to share:
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The hockey players practice on the natural ice they can find, such as ponds and lakes. Only they aren't skating in some small town in Canada or Minnesota; they're two miles above sea level in the Ladakh region of India.
In about a month, these players from the National Ice Hockey Team of India will take on the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, the first time the ECHL team will face off against a national squad of any country.
For the National Ice Hockey Team of India, it’s a chance to take on maybe its greatest challenge as a team – in possibly the nicest conditions it has ever played. For Brampton – an affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens – it’s an opportunity to appeal to a large local population with Indian heritage.
Beyond the obvious novelty of a hockey team from India playing North American professionals, the Indian team will add several players of Indian descent from the Brampton area for the exhibition.
I imagine that the game itself won't be a classic, but the uniqueness of it would be worth the price of admission.
Interesting. Reading the title, I originally thought this was a First Nations team that would actually be a part of the ECHL and I thought "hey, that's kind of neat."
I think this is neat as well. Always cool to see hockey expanding.
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Interesting. Reading the title, I originally thought this was a First Nations team that would actually be a part of the ECHL and I thought "hey, that's kind of neat."
I think this is neat as well. Always cool to see hockey expanding.
Thats what I was thinking too but then I firured they would take offence at the team name.
Thats what I was thinking too but then I firured they would take offence at the team name.
Yeah, but a lot of people still use Indian to describe Native People. Even moreso in the States. Sometimes I even hear it used in a casual sense on TV shows. I find it weird when that happens.
Yeah, but a lot of people still use Indian to describe Native People. Even moreso in the States. Sometimes I even hear it used in a casual sense on TV shows. I find it weird when that happens.
Indian is still a recognized term in the US. It's still the "Bureau of Indian Affairs".
I use "First Nations" but a whole lot of First Nations folks I know (I live right near the reserve) say Indian.
I saw something on this a few months ago when they were looking for funding to go play in the div 4 or 5 IIHF WCs (doesn't look like they got it). They showed some video of them practicing and they aren't anywhere near the level of the ECHL so this will be an exhibition in the truest sense of the word, but good for them. Would be cool to see some emerging countries make a push up the IIHF rankings (India is not currently ranked in the top 50) and maybe even become relevant hockey nations one day.
Indian is still a recognized term in the US. It's still the "Bureau of Indian Affairs".
I use "First Nations" but a whole lot of First Nations folks I know (I live right near the reserve) say Indian.
I know, I just think it's weird. Firstly, you'd think the government, of all groups, would want to have a more politically correct title. And I find it odd that Native people refer to themselves as Indian, seeing as their not and never have been Indians. Not my place to say, obviously, I just find it strange.
Anyways, this is pretty OT. I think it's cool these Indian people are coming to play, hopefully they can have a decent showing. I would guess they're from the more northern, mountainous parts of India.
I would rather see this team in the Hockey World Cup next year than the North America U-23 squad. At least this is a national team challenging for the World Cup!
I would rather see this team in the Hockey World Cup next year than the North America U-23 squad. At least this is a national team challenging for the World Cup!
I get your sentiment, but they would be obliterated.
I saw something on this a few months ago when they were looking for funding to go play in the div 4 or 5 IIHF WCs (doesn't look like they got it). They showed some video of them practicing and they aren't anywhere near the level of the ECHL so this will be an exhibition in the truest sense of the word, but good for them. Would be cool to see some emerging countries make a push up the IIHF rankings (India is not currently ranked in the top 50) and maybe even become relevant hockey nations one day.
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Originally Posted by MattyC
Anyways, this is pretty OT. I think it's cool these Indian people are coming to play, hopefully they can have a decent showing. I would guess they're from the more northern, mountainous parts of India.
I haven't seen any video of the Indian team, but I imagine this'll be a pretty lopsided affair. In the original article it says that the Brampton Beast will host a tryout for some Indian-Canadians to help level out the quality of the game, but yeah, it won't be a close contest.
I kind of wish that I could see this game in person - I love the idea of developing hockey-nations getting an up-close look at the game in Canada. Having a tournament of five or six non-traditional hockey nations would be a fun thing.
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Simla (summer capital during the British Raj) has a natural outdoor rink. Though it sounds like climate change has reduced the number of operational days.
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Indian National *ICE* Hockey Team to play ECHL team in October
