Of Puck Bunnies and Ice Hockey

In a country known for its hot weather, you'd be excused for thinking that the popularity of a game of ice hockey may be `skating on thin ice' or rather almost inexistent but apparently that's not the case.

The game of ice hockey began in Windsor Nova Scotia Canada, sometime in the 1860s, then crossed the border in Niagara Falls in 1894. Soon ice hockey caught on in eastern United States but didn't enter the American mainstream until 1910. Since then, ice hockey has grown and spread all over the globe. Today, ice hockey has become an international game and is one of the games in the Winter Olympics, its roots are in North American "pond" hockey. In particular, it became part of Canada's culture and heritage Canada's passion for the game is often hard for others to understand or appreciate!

Passion, toughness, and competitiveness are considered fundamental requirements of the game. Add to these volatile elements, increasing speed, bigger fitter players, better equipment, passionate public and media interest, the "mix" is dynamic.

Ice hockey certainly isn't new to Malaysia having being brought to our shores as early as 1998, at that time it was mostly played by expatriates and was a game very few knew about.

Currently, there are about 200 ice hockey players in Malaysia and the number is growing by the day. In 1999, Kelab Hoki Ais Saga (KHAS) was established with the aim of promoting and developing the game of ice hockey in this country and they also runs development clinics, hockey school, intermediate hockey school for new players and supports local players in International tournament. It is interesting to note that recently, Malaysia was admitted as associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, which means Malaysian ice hockey teams can compete internationally. Ice hockey is fast gaining popularity in this country and the game certainly takes a lot more than just passion and patience.

Like how badminton is synonymous to the Malaysian culture, ice hockey is synonymous with the Canadian culture. I was first introduced to ice hockey during my university days in the United States. Not knowing much about the game, it wasn't really about strategy or skills that attracted me to the game but the thought of cute hunks in padded costumes and much violence behind every game. So what exactly fuels the passion for a cool game of ice hockey?

After spending sometime researching for this article, I am convinced there is indeed something special about ice hockey - dubbed the coolest game of earth!

Ice hockey is not easy. Just to play, you have to endure the biting cold and withstand unusual levels of pain, enough to scare most people off. As I now appreciate, to play it well, you must have the lungs of a runner, the strength of a gymnast, the balance of a skier and the hands of a hoopster. Until they start playing water polo with lacrosse sticks or golf on roller blades, there is no sport that requires its players to master as many foreign elements as ice hockey.

The nature of the sport ensures that no single player can dominate a game the way, say a basketball player can. It's impossible to hang onto the puck for very long and the game is too exhausting to play more than a few minutes at a stretch. You need teammates. It is all these things which make ice hockey players a tough but humble breed.

The fact that all of Indochine Cobras hail from different parts of the World, are professionals in their own right and play ice hockey on a social basis, has somehow added character to the team and the game. A combined passion.

Those passionate about the game agree that ice hockey is amazing... it regularly brings out the best and the worst in people. I once heard someone say: "The great thing about sport is that it enables us to care passionately about something that really doesn't matter!"

Ice hockey allows for male bonding, networking and just hanging loose on the ice. While they remain competitive on the ice, they remain the best of friends off, which is really cool.

Beyond skills, strategy and passion of the players, I attempt to explore a different side of the game - from a female perspective. Many of female counterparts share similar sentiment that ice hockey is really about cute guys behind padded jerseys - the machoism, the sexiness. How is it played and all else comes much later.

So, what are female ice hockey fans called? Puck Bunnies; the term is somewhat analogous to the term groupie as it relates to rock and roll musicians. It is often considered derogatory because although a puck bunny may appear regularly at ice hockey matches, possess knowledge of the rules and also cheer ferociously for her favorite team, her actual motives are of a different nature.

Some female fans object to the term, often viewed and described as puck bunnies simply by their presence at a game, regardless of their true intentions or motivations. Other female fans embrace the use of the term as a way of making a distinction between a puck bunny and a 'true' female fan of the sport.


Ice hockey is a "team" sports hence I admire the team spirit, the skills and the bond that each of them have cultivated as I saw with the Indochine Cobras. I might not know all the players on Indochine Cobras on a personal level but whether off and on the ice they are the coolest people I've ever encountered.


The Indochine Cobras are Malaysia's only expatriate ice hockey team comprising professionals from around the world - all sharing a common passion for this cool sport. As youth and player development has always been an important faction in the development of the ice hockey scene in Malaysia, the Indochine cobras take an active role in creating training programs and help coach the Malaysian team. Due to their passion in the sport, they also take an active role in promoting the sports through the various mediums available.

Although the Indochine Cobras play ice hockey socially, in the spirit of competition and perhaps to test their own abilities, they have traveled around the region participating in various competitions.



As a note, Indochine Cobras is sponsored by the IndoChine group that owns and manages a chain of entertainment outlets in Singapore and Malaysia. Here in Malaysia, the group takes an active role and interest in development of extraordinary sports.


Many are under the impression that ice hockey is a sport for the "elite". This is no longer true. Over the years, as passion, knowledge and interest in ice hockey has developed in Malaysia; ice hockey is becoming more accessible to all.

If a bit of puck action and adrenaline pumping is your cup of tea, head down to Pyramid Ice and watch the Indochine cobras practice every Mondays from 9.30pm – 11.00pm. Alex Kam is Manager and Johnny Boulianne is the captain. Having spent sometime exploring the game, I

I am convinced that it is not merely about cute sexy macho hunks competing against each other but a lot more - striking a balance, strategy, skills, courage, team work, friendship, bonding and best of all having fun on the ice!
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