Original Story Published by: Emily Kaplan for ESPN
Photo Source: ©Robert Opiyo/Kenya Ice Lions
In October, we were introduced to the Ice Lions, Kenya's only ice hockey team. They play at what is believed to be the only ice rink in East Africa; the sheet at the Panari Hotel is typically used for recreational skating. It's a tad smaller than North American ice and enclosed by square corners.
Due to numbers (and lack of a goaltender), the Ice Lions had nobody to play but themselves. Over the summer, Tim Horton's flew the Ice Lions to Canada, outfitted them in fresh gear and organized a game with NHL superstars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. The video produced, "The Away Game," quickly went viral. In late October, Tim Horton's flew the Ice Lions' captain, Ben Azegere, back to Toronto to watch his first NHL game and reunite with Crosby.
When asked what it meant to him at the time, Azegere said, "Anything is possible. And every dream is valid."
It was a heartwarming story underscoring the universal language of sport. It was also an acute reminder of hockey's cost prohibitions and aspirations for inclusivity.
The Ice Lions returned to Kenya, their normal jobs, their normal routines, but not their normal practices. Tim Colby, a Canadian living in Nairobi who serves as the Ice Lions' coach and adviser, noticed something different about the players after their North American exposure.
To read the full article, visit ESPN.
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