Ice hockey produces plenty Jewish stars

ILAN HERRMANN

Noam Levin (left) in his Gauteng Leopards jersey, arm in arm with Yuval Levi of Gauteng Leopards team.

The sport also has a nucleus of very strong Jewish players, who are making their mark.

Benjamin Pilatowsky (17), who attends Yeshiva College, plays for the Gauteng Province at under-20 and is a regular for his club in the top league, the PHL, or Professional Hockey League.

An outstanding player, Benjamin was in fact selected for the final cut of players for the training camp of the South African national team, but when it was discovered that he is of foreign citizenship, he was told he was not eligible to represent South Africa.

Then there are a host of younger Jewish players playing out of Kempton Park’s ice rink, who play for either the Vipers or Sabers. 

Yuval Levi (11) is arguably South Africa’s top up-and-coming player. He competes at under-12 and under-14 as well as under-16 at club level, where he is up against boys much older than him. Yuval has been the top scorer in the league for two years running; is captain of Gauteng Province; and was recently voted best under-12 player at the provincial tournament in June/July at Forest Hill Centurion. He has also been voted the best player in SA for under-12 for two years running.

The other Jewish players in the Gauteng provincial side are Noam (under-12) and brother Yaakov (under-16) Levin, both of Shaarei Torah School. It is no small feat to get provincial status, as the qualification process is intense and there is fierce competition from players across the province.

The sport takes a lot of commitment, both from the boys, as well as the parents. Games are held on early Sunday mornings with kick-off either at 05:00 or 06:00. The early start is to accommodate the senior players who utilise the rink and have first priority. 

“The dedication the kids show is amazing and it’s also a testimony to the sport, that it can charge them with such enthusiasm”, says Nissim Levi, Yuval’s father, who takes on the task of ensuring the early morning games are reached with lifts and arrangements.

“If a child needs to get there and can’t make arrangements, a plan will be made,” assures Nissim.

The Sunday games enable Shabbat observant players to compete and hence, the sport is growing within these circles. Yuval had to miss the first game of the provincial tournament due to it being on Shabbat. He was not fazed. He rallied so well in the follow-up games that he was eventually voted “Most Valuable Player” in the tournament.

Besides the sport, fun, health and discipline components it offers, the sport is also a major esteem booster to its players.

“It was an amazing thing. Yuval’s grades were poor and he wasn’t in the best space, but from the moment he began playing ice hockey, the shift was radical. His confidence and motivation grew and so did his grades and overall sense of self-belief. It’s remarkable and I’m delighted!”

The ice hockey league runs from March to November. Gauteng has seven clubs. The provincial tournament takes place annually in June/July. More can be learned about ice hockey in SA and opportunities at saicehockey.org.za.