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Ice Hockey League Season 3 Returns to Ladakh, Expands with 75 Games

The third season of the Ice Hockey League is set to commence in Leh, Ladakh, featuring a significantly expanded format with 75 games across men's and women's categories. The league acts as a competitive bridge following community-based training programmes initiated by internationally trained coaches. New teams from Kharu will join existing teams representing various regions of Ladakh in the 2026 edition. Beyond sport, the initiative aims to strengthen local ecosystems, foster winter tourism, and reinforce the cultural roots of ice hockey in the Himalayas.

Key Points: Ladakh Ice Hockey League Season 3: Pathway for Future Talent

  • Season runs Jan 29-Feb 14 in Leh
  • 75-game round-robin format for men & women
  • Focus on youth & women empowerment
  • New teams from Kharu joining
  • Includes referee training programme
3 min read

Ice Hockey League returns to Ladakh with Season 3, strengthens pathway for developing future talent

The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League returns to Ladakh from Jan 29-Feb 14, featuring 75 games across men's & women's categories to develop talent.

"The League is rooted in community development... creating a clear pathway for future talent from the Himalayas. - Bidisha Dey"

Leh, January 13

Ice Hockey League Season 3 is set to return to Ladakh from January 29 to February 14. The upcoming season marks a significant expansion of the League with the introduction of a comprehensive round-robin format across men's and women's categories, with each team competing against every other team over a total of 75 games, according to a release.

This is the competitive-leg of a holistic technical developmental programme that started with the training of Ice hockey coaches in December 2025, led by international instructor, Darryl Easson. These coaches have since returned to their respective communities to scout talent, and systematically train teams for participation in the League. The League thus serves as a bridge between community-based training and organised, high-quality competition.

Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation, said, "The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League is rooted in community development. Our focus has been to strengthen local livelihoods, empower youth and women, and create a clear pathway for future talent from the Himalayas. The League is also a celebration of culture, and pride, where sport brings communities together during the long winter months and reinforces a shared sense of identity and resilience," as quoted from a release.

Held in Leh, the tournament continues to serve as a vital platform for local talent, expanding the sport to new regions and offering players from remote Himalayan communities' exposure to structured league formats and professionally-managed competition. Teams participating in the 2026 edition will represent regions including Leh, Nubra, Kargil, Zanskar, Changthang, and surrounding areas, with two new teams from Kharu - Kharu Eagles (women) and Kharu Falcons (men) -- joining the League.

Aligned with the blueprint for the development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh, the League plays a central role in the long-term strengthening of the sport's ecosystem--connecting grassroots participation to competitive opportunity.

Strengthening the sport's ecosystem further, a dedicated referee training programme was conducted for the first time in December 2025, led by International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) officiating instructor, Peter Gebei. The initiative aims to elevate game officiating standards and ensure professional game delivery for the League and create a pool of trained referees for future competitions in the region.

Beyond sport, the Ice Hockey League continues to contribute meaningfully to community engagement, youth participation, and winter tourism in Ladakh. Matches transform frozen rinks into shared community spaces, drawing families, local supporters, and visitors, and reinforcing Ice Hockey's deep cultural roots in the region.

Through the League, Royal Enfield continues to advance its social mission of empowering Himalayan communities through sport--strengthening local sporting ecosystems, building livelihoods, creating pathways for youth and women, and fostering a holistic winter sports culture across the Himalayas.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
So glad to see the women's category getting equal focus with a round-robin format. Empowering youth and women in remote areas through sport is a brilliant initiative. The Kharu Eagles! Can't wait to follow their journey.
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Aman W
This is the kind of development we need. Instead of just talking about sports infrastructure in metros, building ecosystems in places like Ladakh where the sport is part of the culture. The referee training with IIHF instructor is a key detail - shows they're thinking long-term for professional standards.
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Sarah B
Visiting Ladakh last winter, I saw kids playing on frozen ponds. To see that raw passion being channeled into a proper league with coaching and structure is amazing. This will boost winter tourism too. Well done to the organizers and Royal Enfield Foundation.
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Karthik V
A small note of caution amidst the praise. I hope the "community development" focus is real and this doesn't become just a corporate branding exercise. The proof will be in whether players from Zanskar or Changthang actually make it to national teams in the next 5-10 years. The pathway needs to be clear and sustainable.
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Meera T
Bringing communities together during the long winter months is such an important point. Sport as a tool for social cohesion and resilience. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 Hope Doordarshan or some sports channel picks up the coverage so the rest of India can watch.

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