Caucasus Ice Hockey League getting set for puck drop

Caucasus Ice Hockey League getting set for puck drop

The Turkish Ice Hockey Federation, or TBHF, is nearing an agreement that will establish the Caucasus Ice Hockey League with the blessing of the International Ice Hockey Federation, or IIHF

The games in the Caucaus Ice Hockey League will be played in Erzurum.

The Turkish Ice Hockey Federation, or TBHF, is nearing an agreement that will establish the Caucasus Ice Hockey League with the blessing of the International Ice Hockey Federation, or IIHF.

Negotiations with Azerbaijan and Iran are currently underway, although Georgia is already set to join the league, while Armenia is also expected to participate. The move comes shortly after the establishment of the Balkan Ice Hockey Union, or BIHU, on June 4.

Games will be held at the Erzurum Ice Hockey Rink in Turkey’s eastern province of Erzurum, due to the ease of land transportation from neighboring Transcaucasus countries.

Despite the objections it raised regarding the inclusion of Armenia in the league, Georgia has also agreed to participate. Two teams from Turkey, two teams from Georgia and one team from Armenia will take part in the 2011-2012 season, although the status of the Armenian team remains unclear.

Preliminary accords with Iran and Azerbaijan have also been completed, according to Anatolia news agency.

Officials are aiming to formalize the Caucasus League during the semi-annual congress of the IIHF in Istanbul which will be attended by 400 delegates between Sept. 21 and 23.

The Balkan Ice Hockey Union was established on June 4 with the involvement of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, despite a six-month-long objection that was finally dropped by Greece regarding Macedonia’s name.