Hockey Attracting Homesick Expats In Thailand

[george]

Hockey attracting homesick expatriots and curious in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- In tropical Thailand, ice and sticks are most commonly found together in a tall glass holding a colourful cocktail.

But despite Bangkok's scorching temperatures, ice hockey is attracting a dedicated following among homesick expats and curious locals. The country has an amateur league and even a Thai National Team.

Over the past week, Bangkok has hosted the 10th edition of the international Bangkok Ice Hockey Tournament, attracting more than 200 competitors, many of whom travelled halfway round the world to crash and bang on the ice rather work on their tan.

The tournament featured teams from Russia, Canada, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia, mixing it with Asian outfits from Japan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia for four days of high-calibre hockey reminiscent of that played in Europe and North America.

The regular Thai-World Hockey League has also proven a success after launching its inaugural season in September. The league comprises some 60 players -half of which are Thai.

The TWHL is made up mainly of has-beens and never-will-bes who simply can't get the game out of their system, even in the tropics. The competition's biggest name is one Sheldon Bailey, formerly of the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls.

But regardless of background or skill, players hailing from California to Massachusetts, British Columbia to Newfoundland -along with a handful of Europeans -lace up the blades and hit the ice twice a week to get their hockey fix.

"It's a wild experience playing hockey in Thailand," says TWHL Commissioner Scott Whitcomb, originally from Appleton, Wisconsin. "Expats are pumped that they can play the game they love despite being far away from home."

The sport is making quite an impact on local players as well.

Vanchalerm Rattapong, star player on the Thai national team, resolved to become a hockey player after watching Canada's Mario Lemieux score his memorable series-clinching goal against the Soviet Union in the 1987 Canada Cup.

With a laser-beam shot and blazing speed, Vanchalerm is known as the "Jaromir Jagr of Thailand." And for him, hockey is more than just a game.

"It is a very important part of my life," he says. "I work so I can afford to play hockey."

While Bangkok is becoming known as Southeast Asia's "hockey town," the sport's development here hasn't been without hiccups.

The game was almost shut down before it got off the ground when Bangkok's main rink closed in 2000. Many players balked at the next best venue, which resembled a swimming pool more than a skating surface.

Notorious for their violent outbursts, the east-meets-west hockey rivalry between Thai and expatriate teams in the early days also threatened to bench the game permanently. A spiteful stick-swinging incident left a foreigner's head bloodied, and a bench-clearing brawl ended with a Thai player's arm fractured.

"It was like a war out there," recalls Toronto native Scott Murray, player-coach of the Flying Farangs team. Farang is the general Thai term for westerners. "The Thais wanted to beat us. And of course, we always wanted to win."

Murray worked to keep the game alive and tirelessly recruited players from hockey-playing nations to inject the necessary lifeblood.

But the biggest boost arrived in November 2003 when Bangkok's Central World Plaza overcame its fear of flying pucks and dropped its long-standing policy of banning the game from its rink. Thai hockey now had a pristine, Olympic-sized ice surface. It was game on.

And despite taking several thrashings in international competition that would have disillusioned a less resilient culture, the Thai National Hockey Team keeps coming back for more.

In one of the worst defeats in hockey history, Thailand lost 92-0 to South Korea at a tournament in 1998.

Things hadn't improved much by the time Thailand made its first ever appearance at the Asian Winter Games in February 2003. It was hammered 39-0 by Japan and 24-2 by China.

But unfazed by the lopsided results, the Thais played the game of their lives against Mongolia. Thailand's 4-2 win was their most important in international play, and kept the team from a last place finish.

-- canoe.ca 2004-11-07

[igotworms]

I know of a few Canadian expats who play hockey in Bangkok. Lucky bastards.

I'd like to see the Thai National team play an all-star team of drunken Canadian expats. I'm sure the score would surpass the 92-0 thrashing that the South Koreans gave them.

[penzman]

Hey Worms, can you arrange it so that Don Cherry will coach?

[Padkapow Guy]

When Mario shows up then I will ge excited.

[igotworms]

Hey Worms, can you arrange it so that Don Cherry will coach?

I'll send him a mail. I believe he's heading to Pattaya for the x-mas holidays. He claims the strike is the best thing to happen to him in a long time, as it will allow him some leisure time with the soi Honies. The women of Pattaya beware...Grapes will be on the prowl.

[igotworms]

When Mario shows up then I will ge excited.

I agree. Super Mario (Lemieux) is a god in my book.

[Padkapow Guy]

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. The town that Mario rebuilt.

[merlin1]

Hey Worms, can you arrange it so that Don Cherry will coach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll send him a mail. I believe he's heading to Pattaya for the x-mas holidays. He claims the strike is the best thing to happen to him in a long time, as it will allow him some leisure time with the soi Honies. The women of Pattaya beware...Grapes will be on the prowl.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Didn't know that Mr Cherry was a fan of the LOS. Well done, grapes!

The only question I have is: did this happen only after his wife passed?

[igotworms]

Hey Worms, can you arrange it so that Don Cherry will coach?

I'll send him a mail. I believe he's heading to Pattaya for the x-mas holidays. He claims the strike is the best thing to happen to him in a long time, as it will allow him some leisure time with the soi Honies. The women of Pattaya beware...Grapes will be on the prowl.

Didn't know that Mr Cherry was a fan of the LOS. Well done, grapes!

The only question I have is: did this happen only after his wife passed?

He's a regular fixture on the Pattaya scene. All the tailors admire his attire and have been emulating his style.

Ha! Just messing about Merlin. But, I sure would be intrigued to have a few drinks with that chap in these parts.

[igotworms]

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. The town that Mario rebuilt.

To be a hockey fan living in Pittsburgh during Mario's prime...man, that would have been amazing. The term lucky bastard(s) comes to mind!

During his reign, he was the greatest player ever to lace 'em up in my opinion. He had everything: intimidating size and strength, unquestionable heart, speedy wheels, golden hands and old-school class. Who says that hockey heroes are raging thugs? Out of all the professional athletes, hockey players are by far the best statesmen for their sport (not considering the current NHL strike...and the fans they will lose if it persists).

[Padkapow Guy]

I totally agree.

I hope they get this crap straightened out quick before it is to late.

I just bought a sattelite radio so I can listen to the games at work and on the road.I hope I get the chance to use it.

[penzman]

He's a regular fixture on the Pattaya scene. All the tailors admire his attire and have been emulating his style.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Man, I can just imagine the severe skin rashes with those shirt collars and the heat in Pattaya.

[merlin1]

I totally agree.

I hope they get this crap straightened out quick before it is to late. 

I just bought a sattelite radio so I can listen to the games at work and on the road.I hope I get the chance to use it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the players are losing fan support fast. Half of them are galavanting off to Europe to play there. Funny, no? Here are union members taking jobs away from European players. I wonder how they'd feel about the NHL hiring replacement players?

Bad show, guys.