Irish Ice Hockey League Irish Ice Hockey Association announced the formation of an all new, all-Ireland Ice Hockey League. The five teams play all of their regular season games at the Dundalk Ice Dome. The league's inaugural champions were the Dundalk Bulls who won the championship by defeating the Dublin Rams 6-3. Prior to the Irish Ice Hockey League's formation, the only Ice Hockey team in Ireland playing competitive hockey was the Belfast Giants of the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League. Many Irish hockey players seeking to play the sport at a competitive level have had to travel abroad. Irish Ice Hockey League The
New Zealand women's national ice hockey team New Zealand women's national ice hockey team The New Zealand women's national ice hockey team, nicknamed the Ice Fernz, represents New Zealand at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World Women's Championships. The women's national team is controlled by New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. As of 2011, New Zealand has 110 female players. The New Zealand women's national team is ranked 25th in the world. The "Ice Fernz" name is one of many national team nicknames (indirectly) related to the All Blacks and/or the New Zealand silver tree fern. New Zealand hockey team has never qualified for an Olympic tournament.