Emirates Hockey League Cup gets premier venue at Dubai Ice Rink

In a significant first, the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink at The Dubai Mall will host the Dubai matches of the Emirates Hockey League Cup. The championship will span over several months, from November 2010 to April 2011, in which the local ice hockey teams from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain participate for the coveted cup.

A true showcase of UAE’s ice-hockey prowess, the Emirates Hockey League Cup is organized by the Abu Dhabi Ice Sports Club. A total of five hockey teams will play at Dubai Ice Rink throughout the duration of the league: Storms, Vipers, Theebs, Scorpions and Mighty Camels.

All the Dubai matches, including the grand final, will be hosted at Dubai Ice Rink, highlighting the venue’s world-class facilities to host international-standard ice hockey tournaments. With 1.5 inches (38 mm) of ice, Dubai Ice Rink has nearly three times the thickness of a National Hockey League ice rink.

Mr Faris Juma, General Manager, Dubai Ice Rink, said: “The UAE is establishing its strong imprint in global sporting events, backed by governmental support and superior infrastructure back-up. The UAE national ice hockey team has already gained international acclaim, winning the second Asian Ice Hockey championship recently.”

He added: “By hosting the Dubai matches and the finals of the Emirates Hockey League Cup, Dubai Ice Rink offers a world-class venue for these local teams to test their skills and display their talent, and prepare for future successes in the global arena. The venue and the league matches will further strengthen the sport of ice hockey in the UAE, encouraging more youngsters to pursue the sport.”

Hamad O. Al Sheryani, Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Ice Sports Club, said: “The Emirates Hockey League Cup is a showcase of our young and emerging talent. Dubai Ice Rink is one of the finest venues for the event matching the standards of any international arena. It will offer a truly world-class ambience for our teams to display their skills.”

The public will have free access to the run-up matches of the Emirates Hockey League Cup being held at Dubai Ice Rink. They can watch the matches from the stadium seating, which can seat over 350 spectators. For more details, call 04 448 5111 or visit www.dubaiicerink.com.

Dubai Ice Rink is one of the key leisure attractions managed by Emaar Retail in The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination. Other attractions include Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, with over 33,000 aquatic animals; SEGA Republic, the first and largest of its kind indoor theme park in the region; KidZania®, a children’s edutainment centre; and the 22-screen Reel Cinemas, the largest megaplex in the region.