New Delhi, Nov 19 (NationPress) The upcoming third season of the ice hockey program for 2025-26 is set to take place in Himachal Pradesh, showcasing developmental competitions such as the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) in Ladakh and the Spiti Cup. This season builds on the achievements of prior editions and emphasizes training and community empowerment.

The season is set to commence in November with extensive coach and referee training sessions in Dehradun and Leh, under the guidance of IIHF-certified instructors - Coach Darryl Eason and officiating mentor Peter Gebei. These camps aim to equip local coaches and officials with advanced methodologies to lead Learn to Play (LTP) initiatives, identify and nurture young talent, and form community-based teams that will compete in the forthcoming developmental events.

The training initiatives consist of Basic & Intermediate Coach Training Camps in Dehradun, designed to empower local coaches to run Learn to Play (LTP) camps and enhance their technical proficiency, while scouting emerging talents to build competitive teams for the leagues.

The Referee Training program in Delhi will unite officials from the Army, ITBP, and various regional associations, placing a strong focus on women's engagement in officiating roles.

Learn to Play (LTP) and Basic Skating Programs are expected to introduce ice hockey to over 1,000 children across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

A new community initiative, the Pond Hockey Programme in Leh, will introduce a 5-day training scheme for 80 children, culminating in a non-contact 3v3 tournament at Gupuk pond near Leh, providing a fun and welcoming entry into the sport for young enthusiasts and novice skaters.

Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of the Eicher Group Foundation, the CSR branch of Royal Enfield, remarked, “Ice hockey serves as a powerful symbol of community resilience throughout the Himalayas. With the launch of Season 3, we aim to transition from mere participation to tangible progress, fortifying the grassroots framework through systematic coach and referee training, and broadening our reach across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This season is dedicated to deepening our impact, enabling local coaches and youth leaders to cultivate, train, and sustain their own communities of play. For us, the ultimate victory is when the movement is owned entirely by the people living it.”

The season will culminate in January 2026 with two of India’s highest-altitude tournaments - the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) in Leh and the Spiti Cup in Kaza, featuring over 30 teams and almost 700 players from across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Notably, a new team from Kharu, Ladakh, will make its debut in REIHL, while a team from the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh will participate in the Spiti Cup.

Throughout December and early January, trained coaches will spearhead player scouting and regional training camps, prepping their teams for the competitions. Coach Darryl Eason will also spend two weeks in Leh during this period to mentor and assist coaches on-site, ensuring that the knowledge from these workshops translates into effective player development.

Training is at the core of Royal Enfield Social Mission’s objective to nurture a natural progression of grassroots development that will pave the way for future athletes while reinforcing the social fabric of Himalayan communities.

The 2025 edition of the Ice Hockey League and the Spiti Cup witnessed 30 teams across men's and women's divisions from regions such as Leh, Nubra, Kargil, Zanskar, Changthang, Losar, Lalung, Keylong, Pin, and Spiti. Over 10,000 fans attended matches throughout the season, transforming frozen rinks into vibrant celebrations of local pride. Kang Sings and Maryul Spamo successfully defended their REIHL titles, while Sham Zone and Centre Zone took top honors in Spiti, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for ice hockey in the region.