National ice hockey squad hope MSN approves overseas training

PETALING JAYA: National ice hockey squad manager, Ir Noor Hisham Yahya hopes the National Sports Council (MSN) will approve the application for fund to carry out training abroad to boost preparation of the team for the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines in November.

Noor Hisham said the Malaysia Ice Hockey Federation (MIHF) needed at least RM600,000 to enable the national ice hockey squad participate in training, exposure and competition overseas as most of the current players are aged between 16 and 23.

“They need more exposure as it is limited locally and they should go abroad.

“As preparation for 2019 SEA Games, we are planning to hold training whether in Japan or South Korea and we are in talks with MSN in terms of financial resources,” he said when met by reporters at the 2019 IIF Challenge Cup of Asia Ice Hockey Championship at the Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium in Empire City on Tuesday night.

He stressed that training exposure would enhance the national ice hockey squad’s chances of winning at least a bronze medal in the 2019 SEA Games.

For the record, Malaysia took the bronze medal in the ice hockey event which was competed for the first time in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Sharing the view was national ice hockey coach, Andy Chang Yew Ming who said the national ice hockey team require more overseas exposure to give a tough fight to other ASEAN countries especially defending champions Philippines and Indonesia.