Royal Enfield Announces Season 4 of Ice Hockey in the Himalayas, Expands Grassroots Development Across Three States

The 2026–27 season introduces the first dedicated goaltender training programme in Leh, alongside structured development pathways for players, coaches and referees. The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and Spiti Cup will return in January–February 2027.

Royal Enfield has announced the fourth season of its Ice Hockey in the Himalayas initiative, reinforcing its commitment to developing grassroots infrastructure and local expertise for the sport across the Himalayan region.

The 2026–27 programme will focus on building a sustainable development ecosystem through specialised training for players, coaches, goalkeepers and match officials across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The season will begin with a first-ever dedicated goaltender training programme in Leh, before expanding into coaching, referee and player development activities in multiple locations.

The competitive calendar will be anchored by the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) in Ladakh and the Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh, both scheduled for January–February 2027.

The initiative represents the fourth season of Royal Enfield's developmental engagement with Himalayan communities, with an emphasis on creating local capabilities that can sustain the sport beyond individual tournaments.

A key development this season is the introduction of a specialised 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 programme will provide specialist training to goalkeepers from Ladakh and Spiti. The introduction of a dedicated pathway for goaltenders marks an important addition to the existing grassroots development structure, bringing specialised coaching to a position that requires distinct technical skills and preparation.

Alongside goalkeeper development, structured coach and player training sessions will be conducted as part of the season's wider programme. Referee development will be led by Peter Gebei, an International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)-certified professional with more than four decades of experience as a player, referee and officiating coach. Returning for his second year, Gebei will work towards strengthening local officiating standards and building capacity among match officials.

The training calendar will extend beyond Leh, with programmes also planned in Dehradun and Gurugram.

Building a community-owned sporting ecosystem

Royal Enfield's approach extends beyond preparing teams for competitive tournaments. The broader objective is to develop local expertise at every level of the sport, allowing communities to manage and sustain ice hockey programmes in their regions.

Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation, highlighted the importance of community ownership in the initiative.

"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," Dey said. She added that Season 4 would focus on equipping local players, coaches and officials with specialised, world-class skills, creating a foundation for India's future participation on the global winter sports stage.

The grassroots Learn to Play programme will run from December 2026 to February 2027, providing further opportunities for participation and introducing more people to the sport.

The Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and the Spiti Cup will serve as the competitive centrepieces of the season. REIHL is organised in partnership with the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh. The Spiti Cup is conducted alongside the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul-Spiti (IHALS). Both partnerships are entering their fourth year.

The REIHL has developed into an important platform for emerging talent in Ladakh, bringing together teams from different regions for competitive winter sports. The Spiti Cup, meanwhile, has helped extend grassroots engagement across remote communities, including Losar, Lalung, Keylong, Lahaul and Sagnam.

These tournaments provide a competitive pathway for players who participate in the development programmes while strengthening the sport's presence in communities where winter conditions offer opportunities for ice hockey.

The previous edition of the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and Spiti Cup demonstrated the growing reach of the initiative. The 2026 REIHL featured 11 men's teams and five women's teams, with participation from Leh, Nubra, Changthang, Sham, Kharu, Drass, Kargil, Shakar Chiktan and Zanskar. Kharu fielded teams for the first time, highlighting the expansion of participation across Ladakh.

Humas Warriors won the men's title, while Sham Eagles claimed the women's championship.

The Spiti Cup featured senior men's and women's competitions, alongside an under-18 boys' category. Teams represented Lahaul and the Centre, Pin, Sham and Tod zones of Spiti. Lahaul made its debut in the senior men's category, while Center Zone secured both the men's and women's titles. Sham Zone won the Under-18 championship.

The participation of new regions and teams underlined the growing geographical footprint of the competitions.

Taking Himalayan ice hockey to a wider audience

Royal Enfield's engagement with Himalayan communities will also extend beyond the playing surface. The third edition of Journeying Across the Himalayas, scheduled from December 3 to 9, 2026, at Travancore Palace in New Delhi, will celebrate stories and experiences from the Himalayan region.

The community-driven festival will feature an ice hockey experience, including a locker-room setup, giving visitors an opportunity to understand the sport and its significance in Himalayan communities.

With specialised training beginning in November, grassroots participation continuing through the winter and competitive tournaments returning in early 2027, Season 4 aims to strengthen the foundations of ice hockey across the region.

The larger ambition is to create an ecosystem in which local players, coaches and officials can increasingly lead the sport's development. For Himalayan ice hockey, the next phase is not just about expanding tournaments but building the expertise and community participation needed to make the sport sustainable.