The Kenya Ice Lions, the country's first ice hockey team, have recently achieved a historic milestone by becoming the fifth African team to join the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Despite the challenges of training in a tropical climate and limited access to ice, the team has shown remarkable determination and talent, winning tournaments and inspiring a new generation of players.
In Nairobi, the average temperature is more than 20 degrees Celsius, yet there is one place in Kenya's capital where it does not even reach zero. Inside is the sole ice rink in east and central Africa, a training base for the Kenya Ice Lions, the country's first and only ice hockey team. For a sport predominantly played in colder climates, getting on the ice for the first time was an 'out of this world' experience for captain Benjamin Mburu. 'You see snow and ice on Christmas movies.
That happens somewhere else, not in Kenya.'Formed in 2016, the Ice Lions recently reached a significant milestone by becoming the fifth African team to gain membership of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Their admission to the sport's world governing body will allow them to access more funding and coaching expertise as well as enter international competitions. Benjamin Mburu was forced to practice his stickhandling skills at home when he could not access the Panari Hotel ice rink during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kenya has joined Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and South Africa among the African cohort in the IIHF, which has 84 members, but captain Mburu says the next step will prove hardest. But this is a team that has already faced many challenges, not least establishing itself in a sport virtually unheard of in east Africa. The Ice Lions were started by a group of expats from the United States and Canada, who mounted a recruitment drive. With roller hockey being more accessible and popular in Kenya, many newer members were scouted when wearing skates with wheels on them rather than blades. Tim Colby, who has coached the Ice Lions since their inception, says love for the sport and dedication has brought the squad this far. 'The biggest challenge is ice time. Access to ice is expensive.' Those high rates mean that the team are only usually able to train once a week. Their home is also one quarter of the size of an Olympic rink, so the Ice Lions are restricted to playing four-on-four matches (including goaltenders). Colby adds that getting enough protective equipment for the team proves difficult. For the first few years many players only wore shin pads, forgoing equipment such as helmets.The Ice Lions won an exhibition tournament in South Africa which was arranged by the Friendship League, a tourism organisation which uses sport to foster cross-cultural engagement. Over time, the Ice Lions caught the eye of local media and through this exposure they received interest from international brands and companies. One trip to Canada, where players met with National Hockey League (NHL) stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon, proved transformational. The Ice Lions went on to receive donations for equipment, funds for ice time and found more sponsors, which has helped the team to grow. 'The trip to Canada was an eye-opener, people realised there was ice hockey in Kenya and we were able to recruit more locals into the sport,' said Mburu. They are now soaring to new heights, recently winning an exhibition tournament on a full-size rink in South Africa. Alongside their dream of competing internationally, the Ice Lions are keen to grow the sport in Kenya and develop the next generation of players. Liam Pashari, who dreams of becoming a professional, is among those who attend. 'I love ice hockey very much, because the coaches push us to be our best, and you make friends along the way,' the 12-year-old said. The Ice Lions also have plans for a female team, but only have four women currently playing alongside the men. With associate membership of the IIHF, the team are more motivated than ever to win more tournaments and reach their ultimate goal - the Winter Olympics. 'There are people that think Kenyans cannot play ice hockey. But we must show them that we have arrived.'
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