BiH female hockey players to play first international match

The history of BiH hockey will soon be enriched by the first international appearance of a women's team. About ten female hockey players training in Sarajevo, gathered in the team Blue Bulls, will play a friendly match on Saturday against players from KHL Sisak, reports the Patria News Agency.

The ten players, who will be led by the BiH national team coach Anthony London on their visit to the Croatian city of Sisak, have so far had competitive experience but in mixed teams. This will be the first time our women's team will test its strength against another women's team.

Women's hockey in our country has existed for four winter seasons, but due to the lack of adequate training infrastructure, the formation of a stable team is progressing very slowly. It is known that there is no ice hall in Sarajevo that could serve as a base for ice sports. The only time enthusiasts of hockey and skating have the opportunity to engage in their activities are the two winter months when ice is set up in the Olympic Hall Zetra. During all other months, male and female hockey players maintain so-called dry training, which demotivates many young people who want to enjoy the attractiveness of ice sports. For comparison, capitals in the region have several ice halls that are active for up to nine months a year.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has been promoting gender equality in this sport for years. The first Women's World Championship in hockey was held in 1990, while women's hockey was first played at the Olympics in 1998. There are no major differences in the rules, except that body checking is not allowed in women's hockey. The focus is on puck handling skills, tactics, and speed. Men's and women's hockey equipment do not differ much, with the exception of helmets. Men are allowed to have a plexiglass visor on their helmets, while women must wear a protective cage over their entire face.

According to IIHF rules, girls and boys play in mixed teams until they are 12 years old. At the recently held international tournament Happy Hockey Days in Sarajevo, we had the opportunity to see a number of talented female players. However, when it comes to women's teams, they are a rarity even in the region. For these reasons, the women's team of the Sisak Hockey Club is also eagerly awaiting this match.

- Hockey sport in BiH is on a strong rise. The BiH national hockey team will participate in the World Championship, in the third division, for the first time in its history in April. Over a hundred young hockey players up to 10 years of age are involved in this sport in BiH. We are proud that our country is also following the recommendations of the World Hockey Federation in terms of promoting equal opportunities for all and following global trends in increasing the visibility of women in sports - stated the coach of the BiH national ice hockey team, Anthony London.