- 10:15
They have no standard-sized ice rink, nor a local championship. But on the ice in Canada, Lebanese hockey players are proving that passion can melt borders. And perhaps even draw new ones.
With their elbows up, their blades sharpened and the cedar tree embroidered on their chests, they skate for much more than a score. In Montreal, Lebanese hockey players compete in a separate competition between nations without ice rinks, but not without ambition.
From Cleats to Skates
In this Challenger Series, organized far from the traditional circuits, Lebanon faces Puerto Rico, Jamaica crosses paths with Greece, and hope glides around every turn.
The players don't come from Jounieh or Zahle, but from Laval, Ottawa or Detroit. They are Lebanese in heart, blood or memory. And on the ice, they are writing a story where sport, diaspora and tradition intertwine.
“I put on my first skates in Montreal, but it's Lebanon that I represent,” says Ricardo Tabet, a bearded 40-something who, between stints on defense, also orchestrates the Lebanese team behind the scenes. “Hockey is my story of integration. And now it's our lever for building something in the country.”
Imaginary Ice Rink
Lebanon may not (yet) have an arena, but it put in a remarkable performance at the 2025 edition. After losing to Greece (8-11) in their opening game, Lebanon bounced back in style, beating defending champions Jamaica 9-5. It was a resounding victory, marked by four goals from Karl el-Mir and six assists from Danny Akkouche.
Thanks to this success, Lebanon secured its place in the grand final... where Greece awaited once again.
The final lived up to all expectations: an intense, committed, spectacular match. But after a close contest, Lebanon lost 4-7 to a solid Greek team, which had only suffered one defeat throughout the series. The Lebanese gave their all, but it wasn't enough this time.
The dream is not only carried by the diaspora. The Lebanese Hockey Federation is closely following this excitement from abroad, hoping that it will pave the way for a more sustainable structure in the country.
For Wissam Salman, a member of the board of directors, this momentum goes beyond the sporting arena. “We have a diaspora here that is passionate about Lebanon and knows how to handle the puck. Why not turn that into a strength?”
A Long-Term Mission
Around the rink, the stands come alive, just like in Bourj Hammoud on a final night. Flags are waved, songs are sung at the top of people's lungs and families come to cheer on these ambassadors of hockey without borders.
The level is high, the charges are fierce and skirmishes after the whistle are almost inevitable. Victory is not a gimmick. But the real trophy, as everyone knows, is the seed planted in people's minds. That of a sport that is little known in Lebanon, but which could one day take root there.
Because at the end of the ice rink, a whole project is taking shape. Charles el-Mir, president of the Lebanese Hockey Federation, states to This is Beirut, “These events aim to promote hockey in Lebanon to enable the construction of a multidisciplinary sports complex, subject to an improvement in the economic, political and regional situation.”
The Lebanese Ice Hockey Team Leaves with A Mission.
“This isn't just a tournament,” concludes Ricardo Tabet. “It's a message to those who believe that hockey doesn't concern us. We exist. And we're ready.”
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