For those of you who are not familiar with Make-A-Wish it is a wonderful organization full of people committed to helping those in need. I have been fortunate to have worked with volunteers for Make-A-Wish in the US and I don’t know that there are words to describe the look on a child’s face when their wish is granted. We, as a hockey community, are amazingly privileged to be able to play ice hockey here in Singapore. And we have strength in numbers. If each of us can contribute a small amount of even $5/goal we will be able to make a difference for someone who is not nearly as privileged as we all are.

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The Singapore National Ice Hockey Team is heading to Abu Dhabi on 13th March to compete in the 2009 Challenge Cup of Asia. The Challenge Cup is set to become the qualifying event for the Asian Winter Games when the International Federation for ice hockey (IIHF) convenes at its annual congress later this year. Due to the closing of Fuji Ice Palace the team has had to do most of its training off of the ice. Thanks to sponsorship from Fitness First the players have been training hard at the numerous and well-equipped locations that Fitness First has in Singapore. In addition the team has been having regular practices using inline skates at the inline rink in Tampines. All of the off ice training is paying off because the team made a clean sweep of Malaysia in two friendly games back in December. This will give the national team plenty of confidence heading into next month’s tournament! The team is hoping to win a medal for Singapore at the Challenge Cup and earn a good seed for next year’s tournament, which will be the last before the Asian Winter Games in Kazhakstan in 2011

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SIHA has lost its home ice rink, Fuji Ice Palace, but our association continues to find ways to get our members and our sponsors involved with hockey. Our youth program has managed to secure limited ice time at what is now the only rink currently operating in Singapore, Kallang Ice World. For the adults and the national team SIHA have created a ball hockey league that plays on the badminton courts at Delta Sports Complex. The association is also actively looking to secure a location to build its own ice rink and hopes to have a suitable site identified in the coming months. For more information on what is available for youth and adult players of all abilities please email us at enquiries@singaporeicehockey.com

SIHA President and National Ice Hockey Team Head Coach, Kodi, played in a tournament in Vladivostok last weekend along with two teams of Canadians and Americans living in Seoul, South Korea. It was the first time a foreign team travelled to Vladivostok for an ice hockey tournament. The locals greeted the teams with open arms and were extremely welcoming. The state champion team from Vladivostok ended up winning the tournament while the Rocky Mountain Chiefs, the team Kodi played with, came in second place. The highlight of the tournament was the friendly match that was held at an outdoor rink near the airport. This outdoor rink was fully equipped with 600 seats for fans and had lights strung up for evening games. About 2,000 fans crowded into stands and around the rink to watch the foreigners compete against their famed state champions. In the end the state champions won the game and a great rush of fans poured onto the ice after the game to congratulate everyone and get photos and shake hands with the foreigners. “This is one of the most memorable hockey experiences that I have ever had. The people in Vladivostok are fantastic and they really love their hockey. It was great to be a part of this first tournament,” said Kodi after returning from the trip. The tournament was such a success that plans are already underway for another tournament next year. Email us for more details

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