THE tenth world championship ice hockey tournament to be held at Dumfries Ice Bowl in the past 12 years reached its conclusion earlier this week.
The Great Britain women’s team finished third in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Division One Group B tournament, earning the bronze medal.
And it was the Italian national team that cut ‘la bella figura’ on the ice, smartly winning gold, and winning convincingly all five of their matches. The Italians are looking good ahead of the 2025 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Dozens of volunteers helped the smooth delivery of the World Championship. The tournament was a major financial boost for local hotels, caterers and coach hire companies. Each world championship generates over £200,000 for the regional economy. That is a healthy return on the council’s investment of £25,000 in the event.
Councillor Maureen Johnston chair of the council’s education, skills and community wellbeing committee, attended many of the matches.
She said: “This was a friendly, well organised tournament that brought young women to Dumfries and Galloway from as far afield as Korea, Kazakhstan and Latvia.
“The Ice Bowl has sparkled and the spectators have been really enthusiastic.
“We are delighted to have reached the milestone of hosting ten world championships in such a short period of time.”
More than £4m is being invested in the venue to upgrade its infrastructure and decarbonise its energy use through the installation of heat pumps.
The council has received a Scottish Government £2.5m ‘decarbonisation grant’ to part-fund the development.
They are confident that it can attract further international and world championship ice sports events to Dumfries on an ongoing basis.
Chairman of Ice Hockey UK Clifton Wrottesley said: “The hockey development programmes in Dumfries and a decade of partnership working with the council makes it a positive, well informed decision to host world championships at the Ice Bowl.
“Dumfries is a hot spot for ice hockey and the sport is going from strength to strength across the UK.”
