New Delhi, November 4: Royal Enfield has announced the fourth season of its Ice Hockey development programme in the Himalayas, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening grassroots winter sports by training local players, coaches and match officials.
The 2026-27 season will begin with a dedicated Goaltender Training Programme, scheduled from November 9 to 13 at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh. Led by international goaltending coach Matt Darlow, the initiative will provide specialised training to goalkeepers from Ladakh and Spiti for the first time.
The programme will also feature structured training sessions for players, coaches and referees across Leh, Dehradun and Gurugram, with internationally experienced instructors leading the sessions. Peter Gebei, an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)-certified professional with over four decades of experience, will return for his second year to conduct referee training.
Bidisha Dey, Executive Director of Eicher Group Foundation, highlighted the importance of developing local capabilities to ensure the sport’s long-term growth in the Himalayan region.
“Ice Hockey in the Himalayas belongs to the communities who play it, and our role is to help them build the capabilities to sustain it on their own terms. In Season 4, our goal is to strengthen the local expertise that underpins the sport, equipping local players, coaches, and officials with specialised, world-class skills,” Dey said.
She further noted that every player and coach trained through the initiative would bring the region closer to community-led development and help lay the foundation for India’s future in international winter sports.
The grassroots Learn to Play programme will run from December 2026 to February 2027, leading into the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) in Leh and the Spiti Cup in Kaza in January-February 2027. Both competitions are entering their fourth year of partnership with Royal Enfield.
The previous season featured men’s and women’s competitions across both tournaments, while the Spiti Cup also included an Under-18 boys’ category. Humas Warriors won the REIHL men’s title, while Sham Eagles claimed the women’s championship. In the Spiti Cup, Center Zone secured both senior titles, with Sham Zone winning the Under-18 competition.
Royal Enfield will also showcase Himalayan ice hockey at the third edition of Journeying Across the Himalayas, scheduled in New Delhi from December 3 to 9, 2026. The community-driven festival will feature an ice hockey experience, including a locker-room setup, to introduce visitors to the sport and its cultural significance in Himalayan communities.