LEH: The third season of the Ice Hockey League got underway with an action-packed opening day at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium here on Wednesday, as five competitive fixtures, a vibrant opening ceremony and a strong turnout of nearly 1,500 spectators set the tone for the tournament, according to a release.
The season opener saw Sham Wolves make a confident start against debutants Kharu Falcons, registering a 4-1 win. After a balanced opening phase, the Wolves seized control through Tsewang Namgail, who opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a precise wrist shot following an assist from Nawang Gyalson.
A goalless second period was followed by a dominant third, where Dorjay Gyaltson and Namgail struck in quick succession before Stanzin Dorjay added the fourth. Kharu Falcons pulled one back late through Padma Thinles, but the result was firmly in Wolves’ favour.
In the second fixture, Humas Warriors delivered a composed 3-1 victory over Purig Warriors. Waseem Bilal gave Humas an early lead in the fifth minute of the first period and later sealed the game with a long-range slap shot into an empty net in the dying seconds. Gulam Nabi doubled the advantage late in the second period, while Vilayat Ali briefly revived Purig’s hopes with a goal in the final period before Humas shut the door.
Following the opening games, the League was formally inaugurated with a high-energy opening ceremony. The programme featured a cinematic glimpse of the Ice Hockey development programme and a team parade, with players skating in proudly with their team placards. This was followed by a puck drop with Changla Lamos and Sham Eagles facing off.
The chief guest for the event, Ashish Kundra, Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, while addressing the audience, said, “Platforms such as the Ice Hockey League demonstrate how structured winter sports initiatives can bring communities together, strengthen regional identity, and create meaningful opportunities for youth during the winter months. I extend my best wishes to all the participating teams and encourage them to play in the true spirit of sportsmanship and excellence.”
The ceremony continued with the unveiling of the Season 3 trophies, followed by the Chief Guest conducting the ceremonial puck drop to formally signal the start of the competition.
Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation, the CSR arm of Royal Enfield, said, “In the Himalayas, sports are embedded in everyday community life, with ice hockey emerging naturally from the region’s winters. By working with local talent and on-ground partners, Royal Enfield’s social Mission has focused on creating real pathways for young athletes to build resilience, skills and opportunities close to home. Season 3 highlights how investing in the community helps sport remain a living, evolving part of the Himalayan landscape.”
Action resumed with the women’s fixture between Changla Lamos and Sham Eagles, which turned into the most high-scoring contest of the day. Sham Eagles surged to a commanding 7-2 win after the teams were locked at 2-2 midway through the game. Captain Sonam Dolma led the charge in the final period as the Eagles struck five unanswered goals, with contributions from Tashi Dolker, Chanzin Lhamo, Jigmet Yousto and Sherap Zangmo to decisively pull away.
