Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Ice hockey in the kingdom is undergoing a transformation as home-grown talent is developing and playing a vital role as the fast-moving sport grows in popularity.
The Bahrain Ice Hockey Team was able to compete in a tough competition in Dubai last weekend for the first time in four years.
Rebuilding the side and reviving interest in ice hockey has been a labour of love for skating enthusiast Andre Cote, 49, who has lived in Bahrain for 24 years and helped launch the Bahrain team in 1989.
He explained: "We played regularly up until 1996 and then began to lose our best players. Many were teachers and when they moved away we were left with too small a pool. It didn't help that Bahrain's economy at the time was also a bit slow and fewer players were attracted to moving here with their jobs."
The tables have turned in recent times and with business booming in the Middle East the team can now select from an enthusiastic bunch of Bahrainis, Canadians and Americans, with ages ranging from 17 and 50.
Some have been a part of the team since 1992 such as Salman Rashid, 28, from Isa Town, who signed up in 1992. He said: "We never stopped playing hockey even after when most of the team departed. But we were very excited about being involved in the weekend's tournament - it was a huge bonus."
Cote had known Salman since he was 12 and has taught him to skate and play the sport along with many other young Bahraini youngsters.
He said: "Once you learn the basics of how to skate, look up and be aware of what you are doing then it is really an aerobic exercise.
"I think speed is what has attracted the Bahraini boys in particular. It's a very fast game. If you watch them play, they are probably averaging at least 20 miles an hour when skating around and about 80 miles an hour when shooting. So really to play it correctly - within two minutes of non-stop action you need to sit down!"
The annual tournament hosted by Dubai Mighty Camels took place over three days and involved 20 teams playing in three divisions.
The Bahrain team consisted of four Bahraini nationals, seven Canadians and two Americans. They played five games and just came up short in the last game finishing second in the tournament.
Captain Cote said "We competed very well against teams from all over the Gulf. The tournament was a great success and a lot of fun.We did a lot of intense training to get into shape and were practicing twice a week. I think we are competitive enough to enter regional competitions and we have a lot of new raw talent getting better all the time."
The team thanked Al Wardi Transport and ICAP Middle East for their sponsorship.
The team holds evening practices at the Funland ice arena, while two members, Jeff Rea and Bill Kelly, teach the sport to children on Saturday mornings. Cote added: "They are doing a wonderful job. At the moment there are 24 kids on the ice and hopefully they will be the next generation of team members!"
