Matchday action at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium delivered another emphatic reminder of how quickly the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL) Season 3 is gathering pace, with Humas Warriors producing a record-breaking performance to go top of the table.
Alongside their demolition of Kharu Falcons, Shakar Chiktan Royals and Zanskar Chadar Tamers also registered their first victories of the season, while Sham Wolves closed the day with a gritty win.
Organised in partnership with the UT Administration of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh, the league once again brought together packed stands, fast-paced hockey and an unmistakable sense of community around the rink.
Shakar Chiktan Royals finally find their stride
The day began with Shakar Chiktan Royals getting their campaign up and running in style, beating Maryul Spawo 6–2 for their maiden win of Season 3.
The Royals were driven by a blistering display from Tayief Ali, who scored four goals, repeatedly finishing off slick combinations with Hamid Khan and Villayat Ali. Ali’s movement through the slot kept Spawo’s defence under constant pressure, and his clinical finishing ensured that every opening was punished.
Ali Akbar added another with a fine top-right corner finish late in the second period, before Stanzin Chosphel capped the scoring with a powerful slapshot from centre ice.
Maryul Spawo did respond briefly in the second period through Skarma Dawa’s long-range slapshot and a neat wrist-flick from Stanzin Stanba, but the gap was already too wide for a serious comeback. For the Royals, it was a much-needed confidence boost after early-season struggles.
Zanskar Chadar Tamers grind out a vital win
If the Royals’ game was full of attacking flair, the clash between Zanskar Chadar Tamers and United Nubra was all about discipline and patience.
Both teams defended superbly in a scoreless first period, trading controlled possession without allowing clear shooting lanes. The breakthrough finally came late in the second period when Rinchen Wangyal sliced through Nubra’s defensive line and lifted a wrist-flick into the top-left corner to give Zanskar a 1–0 lead. Early in the third, Jigmet Tundup added a second with a precise wrist shot, sealing a 2–0 victory and giving the Tamers their first win of the season a result that could prove crucial in a tightly contested league.
Humas Warriors rewrite the record books
The headline act of the day belonged to Humas Warriors, who delivered a ruthless 12–2 demolition of Kharu Falcons to post the largest winning margin of the season and the best goal difference so far. The performance lifted Humas to the top of the points table, overtaking defending champions Kangs Sing, and sent a clear message to the rest of the field.
Waseem Bilal was the star of the show with four goals, his final strike coming via a wrist-flick just eight seconds from time. He was ably supported by Shahid Shabir and Mohd Ibrahim, who both netted twice, while Mahroof Gulzar, Ghulam Nabi Tak, Mohd Issa and captain Moheb Ur Rehman Mir each chipped in with a goal.
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Kharu Falcons managed to get on the board in the second period through Jigmet Choster, whose direct shot beat the Humas goalkeeper, before Stanzin tapped in a second from Choster’s assist. But by then the Warriors’ relentless pressure had already blown the game wide open.
The result not only extended Humas’ unbeaten run but also firmly established them as one of the favourites for the latter stages.
Sham Wolves edge Changla Blasters in a thriller
The final match of the day saw Sham Wolves claim a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Changla Blasters.
The Wolves struck almost immediately, with Dorjay Gyaltson opening the scoring inside the first 30 seconds by lifting the puck over the goalkeeper. Chinba Sonam then took control, adding a drag-flick and later a tap-in to give Sham a two-goal cushion. Changla refused to go quietly. Stanzin Namgyal pulled them back with a grounded drag and later a sharp drag-flick, but despite sustained pressure, the Blasters couldn’t find the equaliser.
What’s next
The league resumes on Monday, February 2, with another packed slate:
- Purig Warriors vs Shakar Chiktan Royals
- Changla Blasters vs United Nubra
- Changthang Shans vs Sham Wolves
- Kangs Sing vs Humas Warriors
With Humas now in red-hot form and Kangs Sing still looming as defending champions, the final match of the day promises to be a major early-season test.
As the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League Season 3 continues to blend elite competition with grassroots energy, the momentum is building steadily toward the club semi-finals on February 12, the women’s final on February 13, and the men’s championship showdown on February 14 a fitting climax to Ladakh’s winter sporting spectacle.
