News Legacy
Erick Baldo
June 23, 2020
Philippine Men's Hockey Team gets full membership in IIHF
Photo Credit: Hockey Philippines Facebook
Hockey Philippines Executive Vice President Francois Gautier said the country’s Men's National Ice Hockey Team has been granted full membership in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Gautier said the national team can now participate in IIHF Championship programs and compete in events around the world. Previously, the team’s participation was limited under associate membership.
The Philippines is currently 54th in IIHF rankings.
The COVID-19 pandemic however led to the cancellation of many hockey tournaments that the Philippine team was supposed to participate in. This included events that the Philippine Women's National Ice Hockey team and Under-20 National Hockey team were to join. The men’s team said they are just waiting for announcements on the new game schedules.
The team also hopes that Metro Manila will be put under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) so they can practice at a Pasay City mall’s ice skating rink.
The Philippine Men's National Ice Hockey team earned a bronze medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Gautier said ice hockey in the Philippines started in the early 1990s after the opening of the first mall in Metro Manila with an ice skating rink. The official National team however was formed only a few years ago.
He added that the sport has few followers here in the country compared to basketball and boxing. The team however was happy with what they achieved in the sport considering that hockey is not common here.
Gautier said the national team can now participate in IIHF Championship programs and compete in events around the world. Previously, the team’s participation was limited under associate membership.
The Philippines is currently 54th in IIHF rankings.
The COVID-19 pandemic however led to the cancellation of many hockey tournaments that the Philippine team was supposed to participate in. This included events that the Philippine Women's National Ice Hockey team and Under-20 National Hockey team were to join. The men’s team said they are just waiting for announcements on the new game schedules.
The team also hopes that Metro Manila will be put under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) so they can practice at a Pasay City mall’s ice skating rink.
The Philippine Men's National Ice Hockey team earned a bronze medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Gautier said ice hockey in the Philippines started in the early 1990s after the opening of the first mall in Metro Manila with an ice skating rink. The official National team however was formed only a few years ago.
He added that the sport has few followers here in the country compared to basketball and boxing. The team however was happy with what they achieved in the sport considering that hockey is not common here.