The inaugural season of the Irish Ice Hockey League commences Saturday next Sept. 15th. at the Dundalk Ice Dome.
The puck drops on the first part of a great Double Header at 16:30 when the newly formed Flyers I.H.C. featuring all the Southern based Team Ireland players from the last couple of seasons, take on the Belfast Bruins who can boast all but two of their Ireland colleagues hailing from the North. The Bruins have spiced up their lineup with the arrival of Shane Johnson as player coach and he has enticed a couple of his ex-teammates at the Belfast Giants to come on board for the season. Shane who played for Team Canada many times must feature in anybody’s top-three of the greatest players ever to play the sport on this island.
Later the same evening at 20:00 the Dundalk Bulls welcome the Latvian Hawks to their home ice. Brothers Willie and Davy Morrison make a welcome return to the rink which saw Davy captain Team Ireland to silver medal position in the recent IIHF World Championships.Div.3 Dundalk has, since then, become the Hockey capital of the Republic and many of the best players currently in this country have been attracted to the team with its superior fan base and facilities. Perhaps the only team that can match the Bulls for the enthusiasm of its support will be the Hawks. Drawn from the expatriate Latvian community here, these folks are passionate about their hockey, in fact I’m assured it’s the number one sport there.
Hockey will continue at the Dome every Saturday and Sunday into 2008.
So a new chapter in the story of Irish sport begins this week-end, we would love to see you there to report on the games or just to experience the thrill of the coolest game on earth.
For more information or to seek accreditation please contact mickhiggins@iiha.org.