Hockey teams from Ivalo in northern Finland, Kirkenes in northern Norway and the three northwest Russian towns of Nikel, Zapoljarny and Murmansk, have met to play hockey against each other for several years. For long it has been a goal to establish a joint Barents Hockey League which would last through the entire season, instead of the shorter tournaments.
This weekend six teams from Norway, Russia and Finland gathered in Ivalo for the historical opening of the first Barents Hockey League. There have been numerous international sports tournaments in the Barents region for decades, but the cross border hockey league is the first of its kind in any sports and is an important contribution to the close relations between people of the Barents region. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat has been one of the main contributors to the establishment of the Hockey League.
The six teams will be competing in several tournaments held in each of the club towns through the winter. Next league round will be in Murmansk in January.
(All photos: Kirkenes Puckers)
