Cyprus
| Cyprus | |
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 1,099,341 |
| Registered players | N/A |
| Referees | N/A |
| Rinks | N/A |
| National teams | None |
| IIHF since | Not a member |
| Top league | Cyprus Hockey League |
Cyprus is a small island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Nicosia is the capital and largest city.
History of hockey in Cyprus
The first ice hockey game in Cyprus was played on April 25, 2010, at the Ice Bowl Leisure Centure in Famagusta, between the Limassol Solar Bears and the Famagusta Ice Crows.[1]
Hockey activities in Cyprus were spearheaded by the Limassol and Famagusta team captains, Nigel Smeaton and Erhan Tuncer, respectively. The country has two rinks, a 430 square-meter rink in a shopping mall in Limassol, and a 450 square-meter synthetic ice facility in Famagusta. The former rink is only suitable for practice.
The Limassol and Famagusta teams hailed from two different parts of Cyprus, which has been divided since a Turkish military occupation of the northern part of the country in 1974. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is unrecognized internationally.[2]
In October 2014 the Limassol Solar Bears took third in an international tournament in Nitra, Slovakia. Limassol finished second in the Knedlika Cup, played in Povlry, Czech Republic, in 2020. They also took part in it in 2019. The Solar Bears competed in the 2024 Yerevan Nights Tournament. Limassol took part in the 3-on-3 Golden Shovel Tournament in Athens annually from 2022-2024.
A national inline hockey team was later established in 2015. A news article described the ice hockey activities at the time as follows: "While the beginner’s team is offered as a hobby to anyone free on Sundays at 10am, it is mostly popular with children who are excited and eager to don the tough looking gear, mess around with their friends and keep manoeuvring around obstacles on skates to perfect their skills."[3]
The Cyprus Hockey League was contested for the first time in 2023. Four teams competed - Team Paphos, the Limassol Solar Bears, Cyprus Sharks, and Cyprus United.
References
- ↑ IHF - Post by "icehockeycyprus
- ↑ [tt_news=4832&cHash=4077b529177f6d338eede1478051c167 Hockey premiere on Cyprus - IIHF]
- ↑ Cyprus Mail - Icy game cools Cyprus’ sweltering summers
