Leh

The Ice Hockey League returns to Ladakh for its third season on Thursday, with matches scheduled from January 29 to February 14, 2026, at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium here.

Building on months of structured training and community-led preparation, Season 3 is the League’s most expansive and competitive edition so far, reinforcing its role as a key platform for the growth of ice hockey in the Himalayan region, according to a press release.

Spanning 17 days, the League will be played in a full round-robin format across both men’s and women’s categories, ensuring that each team competes against every other team. Organisers said the format reflects the growing depth, consistency and competitiveness of ice hockey talent emerging from Ladakh.

Defending champions Kangs Sing enter the season as the team to beat after retaining the men’s title last year with a commanding 5-2 win over Changthang Shans in the final. The champions remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, with captain Mushtaq Ahmed Giri being named Best Player in the men’s category.

In the women’s competition, Padma Chorol won the Best Player award last season. Among individual performers, Waseem Bilal of Humas Warriors topped the men’s scoring charts with 10 goals, while Tsewang Chuskit led the women’s category with an identical tally. Highlighting the League’s emphasis on sportsmanship, Fair Play Awards were presented to Humas Warriors in the men’s category and Sham Eagles in the women’s category.

From January 29 to February 11, the league stage will feature four to five matches daily, comprising four men’s matches and one women’s match, providing consistent competitive exposure to all teams. The final day of the league stage will see a full slate of decisive fixtures in both categories ahead of the knockout rounds.

The semi-finals will be held on February 12, with the top four teams from each category qualifying. The first-placed team will face the fourth-placed team in the first semi-final, followed by the second- and third-placed teams in the second semi-final.

The women’s final is scheduled for February 13 at 11 am, while the men’s final will be played on February 14 at 11 am, bringing the season to a close.

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Season 2 attracted over 10,000 spectators across the tournament, with more than 7,000 fans attending the finals, turning the NDS Stadium into one of Ladakh’s most vibrant winter sporting venues. With an expanded match calendar and a full round-robin format this season, organisers expect even greater fan engagement and community participation.