16th CEC Cup Ice hockey championship 2022-2023 began at NDS Ice hockey stadium Leh on January 6.

The championship is being organized by the Department of youth services in collaboration with the Ladakh winter sports club. A total of 7 women's teams and 15 men's teams are participating in the championship. 

The opening match of the men’s category was played between Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Blue and Skara team while in the Women’s category ITBP and Lalok team played the match. Team Skara won the match by a score of 2-1 and in the women’s category Team ITBP won the match by a score of 15-0.

Inaugurating the championship, Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk appreciated the enthusiasm of the athletes and the efforts of the organising committee for timely organising the Ice Hockey Championship. He expressed regret for the delay in the completion of the infrastructure development of the ice rink due to technical issues. He stressed that the council will do its best to accelerate the completion of well standard ice hockey rink at par with that of the international level by next year. He further emphasized that the Hill Council, Leh has been promoting Ice-hockey in the region at the grassroots level. He further wished the best for all the participating teams during the entire tournament.

He also conveyed best wishes to all the teams participating in the tournament.

While addressing, he appreciated the enthusiasm of the athletes and the efforts of the organising committee for timely organising the Ice Hockey Championship. He further informed that the Hill Council, Leh, and UT Administration Ladakh are taking every possible step to expedite the completion of the well-standard Ice-Hockey Rink and stadium at the current site and hoped that by next year the project would be completed. He further emphasized that the Hill Council, Leh has been promoting Ice-hockey in the region at the grassroots level. He further wished the best for all the participating teams during the entire tournament.

Ladakh Winter Sports Club, General Secretary, Noney P Wangchuk informed that the championship will be followed by the 3rd LG cup and Indo-Canadian friendship cup. A UT Ladakh team will be selected later for the upcoming Khelo India games which are to be held in Gulmarg in February.

Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee; Joint director Youth and Sports, Moses Kunzang; District youth services and sports officer Tsering Tashi were also present at the inauguration ceremony.