The very first Irish Ice Hockey League fixture took place at the Dundalk Ice Dome Sept. 15th. 2007, an all Ireland event with the Belfast Bruins taking on the Flyers I.H.C. who mostly hail from Dublin. A total of 7 Team Ireland internationals and recent silver medal winners at The International Ice Hockey Division 3 World Championships were in evidence for both teams.
The first of 3 periods ended evenly 2 a piece with Sandor Szavi scoring a brace for the Flyers and Davy Gibson matching him goal for goal. It was in the second period however when the Bruins showed their greater experience rattling in 7 unanswered goals from Rob Leckey, ex-Belfast Giant Gareth Martin, and both Jonny Keaney, and Steven Ewan scoring twice. In the final period the Flyers recovered their composure and as they did in the first, matched their Belfast opponents with Hungarian Sandor Szavi taking his third and Paco McCabe scoring from defense.
Not to be outdone Jonny Keaney also netted his hat trick, while the Bruins rounded off with a goal from young Simon Black. Apart from the second period, when the Bruins must have surprised even themselves, with every attack seemingly yielding a score, this was a keenly fought match played in a wonderful spirit, a great advertisement for the new League.
Ice Hockey will continue every Saturday and Sunday through to 2008 at the Dundalk Ice Dome. For tickets go to www.dundalkicedome.com