Oman | |
Continent | Asia |
Population | 2,773,479 |
Registered players | N/A |
Referees | N/A |
Rinks | N/A |
National teams | Men's |
National federation | Oman Ice Sports Committee |
IIHF since | May 24, 2014 |
Top league | None |
Oman is an Arab country in Southwest Asia. Muscat is the capital and largest city.
Overview[]
National Teams[]
Domestic Teams[]
See Category:Ice hockey teams in Oman
Arenas[]
See Category:Arenas in Oman
Competitions[]
Competition | Founded | Folded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Ministry Trophy | 2014 | - | Domestic tournament |
History of hockey in Oman[]
The Oman Ice Sports Committee is the governing body of ice hockey in the country. Oman has an ice rink in Muscat, the Al-Khuwair Ice Center, which is not regulation-sized and has been open since the 1980s. The country joined the International Ice Hockey Federation on May 24, 2014.[1]
In 1988 there was a two-team competition between the Wadi Bashers and the Jebel Icers, known as the Jebel Blades League. The driving force behind early Omani hockey was an American expat, John Dorr, who formed the Icers - the country's first club - composed of foreigners. Several Omanis soon took up the novel sport as well. The league utilized two 30-minute periods and did not feature heavy body contact.[2]
Nowadays, there is an expat team known as the Oman TimberWolves IHC (formerly the Wadi Dogs), which plays in tournaments around Asia. Muscat has also hosted a domestic tournament known as the Ministry Trophy since 2014. The TimberWolves players were drafted into the four teams that contested the inaugural 2014 tournament.
The national team made its international debut in 2010 during the inaugural Gulf Ice Hockey Championship. They played three games against Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, losing them all and finishing in fourth and last place in the tournament. Oman returned to play in the next Gulf Championship in 2012, this time claiming the bronze medal by virtue of a 5-1 victory over Bahrain. They have also competed in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the event.[3]
References[]