Malta
| Malta | |
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 452,515 |
| Registered players | N/A |
| Referees | N/A |
| Rinks | N/A |
| National teams | None |
| IIHF since | Not a member |
| Top league | Maltese Hockey League |
Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Valletta is the capital, and Birkirkara is the largest city.
History of hockey in Malta
There was formerly a competition, the Maltese Hockey League, that is known to have been contested in 2002 and 2003. The country's lone rink, the Eden Arena, closed in 2003.
Maltese hockey remained alive for a short time after the rink's closing. Team Malta participated in the CAE International Ice Hockey Tournament hosted by the Dubai Mighty Camels in 2004. Despite not having been on the ice in over eight months, the Maltese team finished as runners-up at the tournament, losing to the Qatar Desert Qanucks 2-0 in the final.[1] They returned to the tournament, this time known as the Malta Pirates, in 2005.[2]
The Malta International Ice Sports Association (MIISA) formerly existed with the objective of organizing and developing ice sports in Malta. After the closure of the arena, the MIISA sought to have a new facility erected.[3] An open-air ice rink was inaugurated at the Pjazza Tigne in November 2010.[4]
A rink at the Bay Street Complex in St. George's Bay, St. Julian's, was open every day from November 6, 2013 and January 5, 2014, and from Friday-Sunday from January 10 to March 2, 2014.[5] It later re-opened on November 23, 2014 and remained in operation until March 29, 2015. A professional figure skater, Floridan Otai, was hired to conduct lessons and give performances.[6][7]
References
- ↑ Malta's Ice Hockey Team Astonishes Competition in One of the Largest Invitational Tournaments in the World
- ↑ Malta Pirates
- ↑ Archived MIISA website
- ↑ Ice skating rink opens at Tigne'
- ↑ Bay Street presents the only real ice-skating rink in Malta
- ↑ The Only Real Ice Rink in Malta
- ↑ The Real Ice Rink at BayStreet
