South Africa’s ice hockey teams, affectionately known as the Rhinos, are gearing up for a demanding and exciting 2025 season. Following a productive 2024, the teams are ready to hit the ice once again, with their first international tournaments set to begin in just a couple of weeks.
Significant Progess for the Rhinos
Ice hockey may not traditionally be associated with South Africa, but the country saw significant progress across various divisions and age groups in the last few years. With valuable experience gained, the Rhinos are looking to build on their achievements and continue their upward trajectory in the coming season.
South Africa competes annually in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, with all teams participating in Division III, except the U18 women, who are set to compete in Division II this year. The IIHF World Championship employs a tiered divisional structure that ensures fair competition at varying skill levels, allowing for promotion and relegation between divisions. This format applies across men’s, women’s, U18, and U20 categories.
IIHF World Championship Structure
The top division of the IIHF World Championship features the 16 best national teams, with the bottom two teams relegated to Division I Group A. Division I is divided into Groups A and B, with Group A representing the stronger tier. As teams work their way through the system, they aim for promotion to higher divisions, while lower-performing teams face the risk of relegation.
2024 Performances
In 2024, South Africa’s U20 Men’s Rhinos claimed bronze in Division III Group B, held from January 25-30 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, the U18 Men’s Rhinos competed in Division III B on home ice in Cape Town from March 4-7, finishing in 4th place.
The senior women’s team, competing in Division II B, participated in the tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 1-7. Despite a valiant effort, the team finished 6th and was relegated to Division III A. The senior men’s team competed in Division III A from March 10-16 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, securing 5th place.
2025 a full schedule
Looking ahead to 2025, the action begins in just 13 days with the U18 women’s Rhinos competing in Division II Group B in Istanbul, Turkey. South Africa will face Belgium, Iceland, Mexico, and host nation Turkey at the Zeytinburnu Ice Rink. The schedule for South Africa’s matches is as follows:
- January 18: South Africa vs Iceland – 16:00 SAST
- January 19: South Africa vs Mexico – 16:00 SAST
- January 21: South Africa vs Turkey – 19:00 SAST
- January 22: South Africa vs Belgium – 16:00 SAST
Following the U18 women’s competition, the U18 men’s team will take to the ice in Bangkok for their Division III Group B tournament from February 28 to March 6, 2025. The senior women’s team will then compete in Division III Group A in Belgrade, Serbia, from March 2-8, 2025. Rounding off the season, the senior men’s Rhinos will return to Istanbul for their Division III A tournament, set to take place from April 21-27, 2025.
Sports South Africa will be closely following the Rhinos’ progress and providing updates to ensure fans remain informed and engaged throughout the season. With a packed schedule ahead, the Rhinos are ready to represent South Africa proudly on the international ice hockey stage.
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