Indian ice hockey is no stranger to uphill battles – scarce infrastructure and a constant struggle for recognition have defined its path. Yet 2025 feels different. It is a year when the sport not only survived but carved out moments that hint at a brighter future.
| This article is part of |
|---|
| ☸️ The India Series – History, Future & Beyond ☸️ |
| 1️⃣ The History of Ice Hockey in India |
| 2️⃣ Chasing the 2042 Olympic Dream |
| 3️⃣ Historic 2025 for Indian Ice Hockey |
| 4️⃣ Apna – The Indian Hockey Community in Canada |
| 5️⃣ IHAI vs IHFI – Power Clash in Indian Ice Hockey |
Drama Before the Asian Winter Games: Ministry and Olympic Committee Clash
India’s appearance at the Asian Winter Games in February 2025 was nearly derailed by controversy – the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) found themselves at odds after MYAS refused to approve the roster proposed by the IOA. Right up until the final moments, the threat of India’s withdrawal loomed large, before the conflict was finally resolved at the eleventh hour.
Back on the International Stage After Seven Years
The squad that traveled to Harbin was made up almost entirely of Ladakhi players – close to 90 percent of the roster. Expectations were modest: to put Indian hockey back on international ice after a seven-year absence and, with some luck, to claim at least one win.
Canadian coach Darrin Harrold, who also oversees the women’s program, led a lineup blending experience with fresh energy. Veteran players who had represented India at the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia between 2012 and 2018 were joined by a handful of young talents, including Ladakh’s own fan favorite, 18-year-old Mohammad Ali Baba.
A Harsh Welcome Back to the Ice
India’s return to the Asian Winter Games proved brutally difficult. In their opening game, the team struggled against a far more seasoned Hong Kong side – a regular at the World Championships – falling 30–0.
Their second outing brought another heavy loss, this time 19–1 against Turkmenistan. Yet it also delivered a silver lining: India’s first-ever goal at the AWG. Just two minutes into the game, Stanzin Angchok stunned the favorites by giving India a sensational early lead.
First-Ever Win at the Asian Winter Games
The high point came in India’s third game, against Macau. Having already beaten Macau in the past, the Indians carried quiet confidence – and delivered. In front of an energetic crowd of 2,900 spectators, they skated to a 4–2 victory, their first-ever win at the Asian Winter Games, which booked them a spot in the 11th-place playoff.
Simply avoiding the bottom of the standings was already a major achievement. Singapore proved too strong in the placement game, winning 13–2 and leaving India to settle for 12th place.
Pride Beyond the Scoreboard
Even though the gap between India and its opponents was often enormous, the team’s effort and determination struck a chord on social media. Indian fans celebrated their boys with pride despite the lopsided defeats, while praise also poured in from supporters in established hockey nations.
Breaking Through at the 2025 IIHF Women’s Asia Cup
India’s women’s national team delivered an even bigger reason to celebrate at the IIHF Asia Cup in Al Ain, UAE. The tournament, once known as the IIHF Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia, underwent a post-pandemic rebrand but has continued to serve as an important stage for lower-ranked Asian nations.
Historic Bronze for India’s Women
India’s women had shown flashes of potential in recent years, but in June 2025 they finally broke through. Finishing behind the Philippines and Iran, the team captured a historic bronze medal – their first podium finish at the IIHF Asia Cup.
From Headlines to Prime Time
The team’s success gave Indian hockey unprecedented exposure in the national media – the bronze medalists from the UAE even made it into the country’s biggest newspapers. Their breakthrough also earned them an invitation to the Indian edition of the popular television show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Apna Brings India to the Amerigol Latam Cup
Another historic milestone came in August 2025, courtesy of Apna Hockey, the Canada-based organization uniting players of Indian and South Asian heritage. For the first time, Apna assembled a team to compete at the Amerigol Latam Cup.
Originally launched under the IIHF as an informal North American championship (with LatAm standing for Latin America), the tournament has since evolved. Now run by the Amerigol organization, it has rebranded and expanded its scope to welcome emerging hockey nations from around the globe, aiming to grow the game in non-traditional markets.
Team India (Heritage): A Different Kind of National Representation
The squad competed under the banner of Team India (Heritage). This was not an official national team sanctioned by the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI), and not a single player was born in India. Tournament’s eligibility rules required only that a parent or grandparent be of Indian origin, meaning the roster was made up entirely of players who had learned the game in North America. (1)
The team entered the so-called Exhibition Bracket, outside the main divisional structure, where they played four games:
| Team India (Heritage) at 2025 Amerigol Latam Cup | ||
|---|---|---|
| India (Heritage) vs Pakistan | 11-3 | scrimmage |
| India (Heritage) vs South Florida Selects | 4-7 | exhibition |
| India (Heritage) vs Mexico | 5-4 | exhibition |
| India (Heritage) vs Armenia | 12-3 | exhibition |
Who Took the Ice for Team India?
The roster featured 16 players ranging from 17 to 32 years old, most of whom had already stepped away from competitive hockey. According to EliteProspects.com, only two were active during the previous season – 17-year-old Jaiven Mann and 19-year-old Marcus Gill.
A handful, however, had logged time at higher levels. Raymond Grewal had experience in United Kingdom’s EIHL and the WHL, while Tyler Sandhu skated in Austria’s ICEHL and the WHL. In addition, Jordan Sandhu had NCAA minutes, and Akash Bains also spent time in the WHL. (2)
Former NHL player Robin Bawa Visits Team India
During the Latam Cup, Team India received a special visit from Robin Bawa – the first player of Indian descent to reach the NHL. Between 1989 and 1994, Bawa suited up for 61 games, scoring six goals and adding an assist.
His presence at the tournament wasn’t just ceremonial; for players of Indian heritage, he remains a living symbol that their hockey dreams can stretch all the way to the game’s highest level.
Looking Ahead to 2027 – India’s First Shot at the IIHF World Championship?
The Indian men’s team wrapped up its historic season ranked 28th out of 31 nations in the AIH Ranking, which tracks all Asian ice hockey countries.
The new season offers few chances for international action. The women’s national team is expected to return to the IIHF Asia Cup, and it remains to be seen whether a heritage squad will once again represent India at the Latam Cup. As for the men’s program, uncertainty lingers, with the IIHF yet to announce any revival of the men’s Challenge Cup of Asia.
But 2027 could mark a historic turning point – India may get its first chance to compete in the IIHF World Championship system. (3)
| This article is part of |
|---|
| ☸️ The India Series – History, Future & Beyond ☸️ |
| 1️⃣ The History of Ice Hockey in India |
| 2️⃣ Chasing the 2042 Olympic Dream |
| 3️⃣ Historic 2025 for Indian Ice Hockey |
| 4️⃣ Apna – The Indian Hockey Community in Canada |
| 5️⃣ IHAI vs IHFI – Power Clash in Indian Ice Hockey |
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Sources, Quotes and Notes:
- Organizers of the Amerigol Latam Cup make a clear distinction between “Classic Teams” and “Heritage Teams.”
Classic Teams are made up primarily of players who are nationals of the country they represent and have at least one parent from that country.
Heritage Teams – India included – consist of players born in Canada or the United States who claim heritage to the represented nation through parents or grandparents. At least 15 percent of the roster must meet one of two criteria: either hold citizenship or have at least one parent from the country. For the remaining players, it was sufficient to have a grandparent born in that country, with no citizenship required.
» amerigolhockey.com/news/psa-understanding-the-classic-and-heritage-classif
» digitalshift-assets.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/pw/b1516a91-7ef0-408b-9252-69b6603530df/f-be6558b0-c970-4ef9-ab10-b58e66506864/2024%20TEAM%20AND%20PLAYER%20ELIGIBILITY%20REQUIREMENTS.pdf - gamesheetstats.com/seasons/10684/teams/378425/team-stats
- financialexpress.com/sports/breaking-the-ice-the-frozen-potential-of-ice-hockey/3750439/
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