2023 UK ARMED FORCES ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

2023 UK ARMED FORCES ICE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

The first week in June signals ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, the highlight of my ice hockey calendar – the UK Armed Forces Ice Hockey Tournament. The 2023 Tournament marks my 8th year as Tournament Photographer, it’s a real privilege to be a part of this prestigious military competition.

Corps and regional teams from across the three Services compete against each other over four days in two mini leagues for the Tri-Service Championship Cup. The evenings are reserved for the Inter-Service Championship, where the best of the best from the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy battle it out for the highly coveted ISC Cup.

Photographing ice hockey is one of my great passions; the days are long, it’s often very cold, but it’s worth every second to capture the highs and lows of such a great competition – four amazing days, 13,000 plus images captured from 59 games!

The stage was set and puck dropped on the 2023 Tournament with a 6-0 win for the reigning Tri-Service Champions, the Royal Navy Kings.

Tuesday evening saw the first of the Inter-Service Championship games between the Royal Navy Destroyers and the RAF Aces, both teams vying for a place in Thursday’s Cup Final. It proved a disappointing night for the RAF Aces as the Destroyers sailed into Thursday’s Final with a convincing 4 – 0 win.

As a photographer, I love to capture emotions, so it’s always great to be invited into the locker room to document the tension and anticipation ahead of a big game.

Wednesday evening and the RAF Aces faced reigning Champions, The British Army Blades. It was another tough night for the RAF Aces as the Army punished them with a 7-0 defeat.

Thursday evening and the one we had all been waiting for, the ISC Cup Final between the British Army Blades and the Royal Navy Destroyers. The tension was palpable as the teams failed to break the deadlock in the first two periods and we entered the third period wondering where the goal would come from. In the end it was so, so close…it came down to a single goal scored by Rory Ashmore to seal a second consecutive victory for the British Army Blades.

Final day of the Tournament and the teams played for the Tri-Service Cup, Plate, Bowl and Quaiche. The Royal Navy Kings, unstoppable in their pursuit of a fifth Title met the Infantry in the Final, beating them to be crowned 2023 Tri-Service Champions.