Kenya Ice Lions Hockey Campaign
Donation protected
The coolest sports story in Kenya might no longer belong to a marathon runner but some crazy Kenyans on ice with hockey dreams. Yes, there's now ice hockey on the equator in the land of lions and elephants!
Following in the footsteps – or skis – of Eddie the Eagle, the high flying ski jumping Brit, and the Jamaican national bobsleigh team of Cool Runnings fame, who together captured the imagination of the 1988 Winter Games, a group of Kenyans is looking towards the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to make their own mark in history.
It's a big dream, but big dreams are cool. A big thanks to Everything Hockey who donated a huge $1,050!!! for this dream.
The latest on the Kenya Ice Lions:
Our Ice Hockey Dream on the Equator continues. With the growth of our youth program and increased demand for ice time we've started a fundraising campaign and are selling some great merchandise. In partnership with the Friendship League, the Kenya Ice Lions are thrilled to announce the online sale of new items like Beanies, Hoodies, T-Shirts and Scarves as well as our ever-popular jersey that was ranked in the top ten globally of non-NHL jerseys by The Hockey News All proceeds go to the Kenya Ice Lions to support the growth of the game. In addition to our GoFundMe campaign, this is the main source of income for us. Visit the Friendship League Shop to see the coolest gear inspired by the coolest hockey team on the equator!
In addition to getting your own swag and supporting the Ice Lions, please forward this message to your friends, family and teammates and spread the word.
For those in Kenya, you can order any of the merchandise online and the jerseys are also available in Kenya for direct purchase in sizes: Jr. Small; Jr. Large; Small; Medium; Large; XL; 2XL; Senior Goalie. Contact me for jersey sales in Kenya.
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The Ice Lions recently held talks with the Kenyan National Olympic Committee about joining and also our membership application to the IIHF. Stay tuned!
https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2023/12/14/kenyas-ice-lions-dream-of-roaring-big-at-olympic-games-in-near-future/
The Youth Programme has really taken off with two Sunday sessions and demand is growing, donations will help us bring more youth into the game – especially from communities that can’t afford the ice time fees. Our senior players have stepped up and are now helping coach the lil’ ones which is great for the sustainability of the sport in Kenya!
After COVID caused the closure of the rink we resumed our inter-squad games at youth and senior levels and recently held the 2023 Madaraka Day Cup pitting the Ice Lions against expats and diplomats forming Team Canada and Team World (USA, Kenya, Finland, Sweden). Team Kenya beat Team Canada and made it to the finals where they lost a close one to Team World.
Thanks to donations from this campaign which helped pay for ice time, the Kenya Ice Lions hosted the first ever 'Kenya versus the World Madaraka Day Ice Hockey Tournament' in 2019. The Ice Lions took on ‘the World’ in a local tournament at the Panari Hotel where they were pitted against teams from Canada, the U.S.A., and Europe each made up of local diplomats. This was the first of what is to be an annual event. During the round robin the Ice Lions managed to beat Team Canada in a hard fought match and faced Team USA in the championship game where they fell 9-10 in overtime against a strong US team. It was a great event, check out some of the coverage:
We also held a special event on climate change with one of the greatest players of all time - Slava Fetisov! Check it out at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaIRw2NqG50 and also see recent coverage of the team at: https://www.voanews.com/a/kenya-ice-hockey-team/4825245.html
Check out the latest international press coverage on the Ice Lions (in German): https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/heute-plus/videos/eishockey-in-kenia-100.html
As the Coach and GM of the team I am proud of what the Ice Lions have accomplished to date and the progress they’re making on ice and we all thank you for your support. I will now be taking some of this money out of the campaign, about half will be sent to Kenya to go towards ice time for the Kenyan team and some new youth players from local schools and an orphanage and half will be spent in Canada buying and shipping equipment from the budget listed in our campaign page.
Of course, we welcome any other support that can be raised for the team so we can expand our outreach for new players and purchase more equipment.
Some pics from our recent event:
Some other coverage:
- ESPN update on the Kenya Ice Lions: http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/25947292/next-kenya-ice-lions-viral-fame
- And from our Nordic friends: https://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/vi-visar-att-det-inte-bara-ar-en-sport-for-vita-man
- And our website is up: https://kefis.co.ke/
Check out the Kenya Ice Lions first game - and with Sidney and Nate no less:
Huge thanks to Tim Hortons for this.
Two Great Captains, Ben from the Ice Lions and Sid from the Pens:
and this from NHL Network, our Captain Ben: https://www.facebook.com/NHLNetwork/videos/2107981245893256/
and from ESPN
and yet more from the Toronto Star !
Thanks for all your support so far, please keep donating everyone and help spread the word. The three year budget we have below reflects that we want to make this sustainable - it's not a one time deal - so every donation helps and will get the youth league established - and maybe coming to a rink near you (-:
We hope to have jerseys for sale as a fundraiser within two weeks. Thanks for the interest in this.
The Ice Lions Mission:
Founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 2006, the Kenyan Ice Hockey League encourages participation from male and female ice hockey players of all skill levels, ages and backgrounds. Our long-term goal is to contribute to the development of a competitive ice hockey program in Kenya that would lead to the creation of a national team.
It is essential therefore that greater Kenyan participation be more actively encouraged – particularly among youth. To this end we seek corporate and or private sponsorship for the creation of a Kenyan Youth Hockey Scholarship program.
Of course, it's hard to start a hockey team without borrowing a little from Canada. The Kenya Ice Lions, led by Ben Azegere , Ali Kilanga, and Rob Opiyo, have enlisted Tim Colby, a Canadian now living in Nairobi, Kenya to help coach and fund raise. We have a small ice rink here where we play and practice a few times a week, it's the only ice rink in East Africa. We now have over 28 Kenyan kids and adults playing and they're really into the game. The Kenyans are looking to take the game here a step higher but are in need of some help. We've applied to be an official sports federation in Kenya (a very long process). In the meantime, we've worked out a three year budget to get the game entrenched and sustainable in Kenya (see below) and all donations will go to this budget and all expenses will be put up on the team's website that we are developing.
Any donation helps and will not only spread the great game of ice hockey in Africa but contribute to the benefits that team sports can have in a person's life.
Our Future Champion Ice Lions
Kenya Ice Lions' Three Year Budget
Year One: October 1, 2018- June 30, 2019
Primary Objectives:
- Establish Physical Infrastructure and Equipment;
- Training of Coaches (Hockey Canada National Coaching Certification Program):
- Coach One (Intro) Certificate (incl. trainer program and certificate);
- Mentorship with Canadian Houseleague team.
Item Budget (In Canadian dollars), Kenyan Fiscal Year
(1 USD = 100 Kenya Shillings = 0.77 Canadian)
- Skate sharpening machine:
refurbished Cag One Evolution 5,950
Includes extra stones, diamonds,
110V to 220V transformer/power bar
- Subsidized shinny/pick-up ice time 1,080
for all players without means
$10/hr x 3hrs/week x 36 weeks;
- Practice ice time for youth and adult teams 11,934
$110.50/hr x 3hrs/week x 36 weeks
- Coaching materials: books, DVDs, etc. *
Look for used donations*
- Locker room/equipment storage 2,470
Cost-shared with ice rink
- Webpage hosting 125
- Jerseys (home and away) 2,340
Order extras for sale to fundraise
- Team ballcaps 1,300
$20 ea. X 50; Order extras for
sale to fundraise
- Practice pinneys (multi-colour) 130
5 sets varied colours
- Nets x 4 To be fabricated in Kenya, 455
cost is pipe and welder
- Equipment: adult and youth, *
incl. skates Look for used donations*
- Tape (grip, blade, shin pad), *
laces (various lengths)
- Training of three coaches for adult 16,900
and youth teams: airfare, local transport,
meals, certificate expenses, incl. trainer certificate
- Sticks: LH, RH, adult, youth, goalie *
Look for used donations*
- Pucks, official (75), youth (25: blue, 227
lightweight), training (25 heavy) Purchase blue
and training pucks, donations for regular pucks*
- Shooter tutor x4 390
4 needed for practices, heavy duty
- Shipping of items marked * 3,420
- Trophies and medals for youth players* 162
- Rink modification for rounded corners 260
To be fabricated in Kenya
- Extra insurance coverage for players 936
- Medical kits 110
- South Africa full ice training sessions
and games – adult team(to be discussed with team)
- Africa Cup for Adult team
(to be discussed with team)
- AED defibrillator (to be discussed with ice rink)
Total Year One: 48,189
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Year Two: July 2019- June 30 2020
Primary Objectives:
- Training of Coaches (Hockey Canada National Coaching Certification Program):
- Coach Two Certificate;
- Mentorship with Canadian Houseleague team
- Youth team development focus
- Feeder system from ball hockey and inline hockey established
- IIHF registration (Associate)
Item Budget (In Canadian dollars), Kenyan Fiscal Year
(1 USD = 100 Kenya Shillings = 0.77 Canadian)
- Sharpening stones and diamonds 520
- Equipment (as needed) 3,575
Annual replacements, incl. shipping of donations
- Youth team full ice training in South Africa, one week 29,120
- Youth team tournament (Bell Capital Cup, Ottawa) 31,200
- Trophies and medals for youth players 162
- IIHF registration, IIHF Associate Member 975
- Subsidized shinny/pick-up ice time for adult 1,560
and youth players without means
$10/hr x 3hrs/week x 52 weeks
- Practice ice time for youth and adult teams 17,238
$110.50/hr x 3hrs/week x 52 weeks
- Webpage hosting 125
- Training of three coaches for youth teams: airfare, local 16,900
transport, meals, certificate expenses, incl. trainer certificate
Trip to Canada; daily expenses, look for billet and
host houseleague team;
- Extra insurance coverage for players 936
Total Year Two 102,311
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Year Three July 2020- June 30 2021
Primary Objectives:
- Training of new Coaches (Hockey Canada National Coaching Certification Program):
- Coach One Certificate;
- Mentorship with Canadian Houseleague team
- Youth team development focus
- Feeder system from ball hockey and inline hockey furthered
- IIHF registration (Full)
Item Budget (In Canadian dollars), Kenyan Fiscal Year
(1 USD = 100 Kenya Shillings = 0.77 Canadian)
- Subsidized shinny/pick-up ice time for adult 1,560
and youth players without means
$10/hr x 3hrs/week x 52 weeks;
- Practice ice time for youth and adult teams 17,238
$110.50/hr x 3hrs/week x 52 weeks
- Sharpening stones and diamonds 520
- Extra insurance coverage for players 936
- Equipment (as needed) Annual replacements, 3,575
incl. Shipping of donations
- Youth team full-ice training in South Africa 29,120
One week
- Youth team tournament (Bell Capital Cup, Ottawa) 31,200
- Trophies and medals for youth players 162
- IIHF registration, Full Member 1,300
- Webpage hosting 125
- Training of three coaches for adult and youth 16,900
teams: airfare, local transport, meals, certificate
expenses, incl. trainer certificate
- Total Year Three 102,636
Total Three Year Budget: 253,136 Canadian dollars
ICE LION PICS:
Faith battling for the puck
Finding gear for his first game
Ice Lion youth team ready for practice
Hockey 101 training session
New recruit
Perhaps a shorter stick is needed but the enthusiasm is there
Ice Lions faceoff
Serious Kenya Ice Lion stare down
His first goal!
Organizer
Tim Colby
Organizer
Hamilton, ON