Emirates Ice Hockey League

The Emirates Hockey League (EHL) is the national ice hockey league of the United Arab Emirates. The league is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Founded in 2009 by the country’s Winter Sports Federation and the Emirates Olympic Committee, and licensed by the International Hockey Federation,https://www.arabianbusiness.com/sport/408438-how-russian-expat-aims-to-make-the-uae-an-ice-hockey-force the league now (2019) consists of six teams: the Abu Dhabi Scorpions, the Dubai Vipers/White Bears (previously Al Ain Vipers and Dubai Oilers), the Dubai Mighty Camels, the Abu Dhabi Storms, the Al Ain Theebs and the Abu Dhabi Shaheen Falcons.http://www.eurohockey.com/league/512-emirates-hockey-league.html The Scorpions and Mighty Camels are composed of expatriate players, including Canadians, working in the U.A.E., while the other clubs consist of mostly Emirati players who form the United Arab Emirates national team.https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/uae-eau/consular_services_consulaires/community-communaute_contacts.aspx?lang=eng
The first game of the league was on October 7, 2009 between the Dubai Mighty Camels and the Abu Dhabi Scorpions, held at the Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.
In November 2018, Vladimir Burdun, a former karate champion who had lived in Dubai since the mid-1990s, was appointed as the new president of the League.https://www.arabianbusiness.com/sport/408438-how-russian-expat-aims-to-make-the-uae-an-ice-hockey-force He planned to eventually field at least one Emirates team in the international, professional Kontinental Hockey League by 2021.https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Aivis-Kalnins/Russian-businessman-talks-KHL-expansion-to-Dubai/246/97875 "The main goal of the EHL management is to improve the quality of the league and bring new exposure to the level of play and create bridges with one of the best leagues in Europe, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)", he said. At about the same time, Dmitry Butenko was appointed as Managing Director of EHL.https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/companies/story/RussianUAE_resident_businessman_set_to_take_UAE_ice_hockey_to_great_heights-ZAWYA20181120074031/ A new ice arena was expected to open in Dubai, possibly before the end of 2019, with a seating capacity of 17,000,https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2019/04/03/new-arena-game-changer-dubai/ and that venue would meet all the requirements of the KHL. (Preliminary plans for a major arena in Abu Dhabi were also underway in 2018.)https://www.thenational.ae/sport/other-sport/hamad-al-qubaisi-calls-on-investors-to-help-build-ice-rink-on-yas-island-1.727668
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai-s-new-air-conditioned-sports-arena-for-17-000-spectators-looks-set-to-open-next-year-1.787940
In April 2018, the Dubai Mighty Camels won the fourth title of Emirates Hockey League, becoming the major winner of the competition while in 2019, the champions were the Abu Dhabi Storms.http://www.eurohockey.com/club/5622-abu-dhabi-storms.html
== 2021 season ==
===Current teams===
Team 	Home City	Home rink
Abu Dhabi Scorpions 	Abu Dhabi	Zayed Sports City
Abu Dhabi Storms 	Abu Dhabi	Zayed Sports City
Al Ain Theebs 	Al Ain 	Al Ain Ice Rink
Dubai Vipers/White Bears	Dubai 	Dubai Mall Ice Rink
Dubai Mighty Camels 	Dubai 	Dubai Mall Ice Rink
===Former teams===
Team 	Home City	Home rink
Abu Dhabi Shaheen Falcons	Abu Dhabi	Zayed Sports City
== Annual champions ==
Year 	Champion
2021-2022	Al Ain Theebs
2020-2021	Dubai Mighty Camels
2019-2020	Al Ain Theebs
2018-2019	Abu Dhabi Storms
2017-2018	Dubai Mighty Camels
2016-2017	White Bears Dubai
2015-2016	Dubai Mighty Camels
2014-2015	Dubai Oilers*
2013-2014	Abu Dhabi Storms
2012-2013	Dubai Mighty Camels
2011-2012	Dubai Mighty Camels
2010-2011	Abu Dhabi Storms
2009-2010	Al Ain Vipers*
*The Al Ain Vipers became the Dubai Vipers in 2013, and changed their name to the Dubai Oilers in 2014. The team changed back to Dubai Vipers for the 2016-2017 season.
Team 	Titles
Dubai Mighty Camels	5
Abu Dhabi Storms 	3
Dubai Vipers/WB 	3
Al Ain Theebs 	2
==References==
==External links==
*IIHF article on foundation of EIHL
*EIHL on Elite Prospects
Category:Ice hockey in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:Established in 2009