Kuwaiti Men's Ice Hockey League Kicks Off for the 2026-2027 Season with Six Teams
Kuwait - 20 - 9 (KUNA) — The Kuwaiti National Ice Hockey League for Men (2026-2027 season) kicked off on Sunday with the participation of six local teams. Organized by the Kuwait Winter Sports Club at its venue in the Baniyan district, the tournament will continue until next May.
In the opening match, the Stars, last season’s runner-up, defeated the defending champions, the Warriors, 12-9 in a fiercely competitive and thrilling contest. Both teams delivered strong performances across all three periods before the Stars secured the victory, marking their first win of the tournament as they aim to reclaim the title that the Warriors won in the previous three seasons.
The tournament will continue with matches involving the Mosad, Camels, Ice Stars, and Falcons teams, with two games scheduled per week until the conclusion of the competition.
Fahad Al-Ajmi, President of the Kuwait Winter Sports Club, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the launch of the competition that the league marks the start of the club’s sports season, which includes other tournaments for all sports under its supervision for both men and women across various age categories.
Al-Ajmi added that the club’s technical management has divided the teams into two groups this year based on their results from last season. The first group comprises the top three teams from the previous edition, while the second group includes the remaining teams. This measure aims to elevate players’ technical levels and reduce the gap between teams to ensure more competitive matches.
He noted that this edition of the league features a larger number of professional players across all teams, which helps raise the performance level of Kuwaiti players by allowing them to gain experience from their counterparts. This, in turn, will positively impact the national team, which is preparing to participate in the World Ice Hockey Championship Division IV, to be hosted by the country next March.
Al-Ajmi emphasized the club’s high regard for local tournaments, considering them a fundamental step in preparing and qualifying players for international competitions and obligations. He clarified that all these competitions are conducted in accordance with the regulations and rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the matches are officiated by Kuwaiti male and female referees certified by the IIHF.
Al-Ajmi called on Kuwaiti fans who love winter sports to attend the matches of this game, which is considered the fastest among team sports and is characterized by competitiveness and rivalry. He highlighted the players’ dedication to rigorous training and their excellent preparation for the league.
He expressed his deep gratitude to the General Authority for Youth and Sports for its substantial support of Kuwaiti winter sports, as well as to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information for broadcasting the tournament matches live on sports channels. He also praised the efforts of the Ministries of Health and Interior, along with the club’s staff, in organizing the tournament matches to present them in the best possible light.
He affirmed the club’s commitment to the regularity of its competitions across all five sports it oversees, which, in addition to ice hockey, include figure skating, curling, ice skating, and speed skating—all Olympic sports—aimed at supporting young Kuwaitis who practice winter sports. He noted the outstanding performance of the players from both teams in the opening match, which bodes well for more intense matches throughout the league.
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