Jewish Breaking NewsFrom a Tiny Rink in Holon to an NHL Arena: Israeli Hockey Draws Thousands to New York as Jerusalem Capitals Complete Dramatic 6–5 Comeback Victory
Written by Ben Baruch / IEHL
In a tremendous display of Jewish unity and pride, the Israel Elite Hockey League (IEHL) returned to UBS Arena on Sunday, May 17, for the second annual USA Challenge Cup.
The league’s premier showcase event has brought the league’s most popular teams, HC Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem Capitals, to UBS Arena, home of the NHL’s New York Islanders. The Capitals defeated HC Tel Aviv 6-5 in an epic, come-from-behind victory.
The event was more than just a hockey game. An 88-year-old Holocaust survivor named Ivan Gluck skated onto the ice as the Capitals’ honorary captain. Israel’s Olympic bobsled captain AJ Edelman was HC Tel Aviv’s honorary captain. Sid Rosenberg, host of WABC’s Sid and Friends in the Morning, conducted the ceremonial puck drop and received the Defender of Judaism award. The league and its partner Barzel Media honored multiple social media influencers fighting antisemitism online.
Marc Brunengraber, commissioner and co-founder of the IEHL, spoke about the league’s mission before the game.
“Our league is a way to positively highlight Israel, the Jewish people, and Israel’s longstanding friendship with the United States,” he said. Brunengraber also noted the league exists as a “high-publicity way to combat boycott, divestment, and sanctions efforts to alienate and delegitimize Israel.”
The IEHL was born in the summer of 2021 in Ice Peaks in Holon, a rink too small to fit five skaters and a goalie on the ice for each team. The on-ice mission was to raise the level of Israeli hockey by bringing in Jewish and non-Jewish foreign-born players to mix and blend with the Israelis.
The league grew into larger, newer venues. First OneIce Arena outside Netanya, then Blue Ice Arena in Ashdod. It expanded from four teams to eight. The foreign-born players received an authentic Israeli experience, enjoying Tel Aviv’s beaches and even taking trips around the country on off days.
After three successful summer seasons, the league set its sights on playing in a major North American venue. The USA Challenge Cup was born and drew over 8,500 fans to UBS Arena last year. Jerusalem won the initial match as well, 7-6 in an overtime thriller. It was the first professional hockey game between two Israeli teams in North America.
The IEHL is symbolic of Israeli resilience. The 2025 summer season was supposed to mark a return to normalcy after the Israel-Hamas War reduced foreign player participation in 2024. Instead, the 12-day Israel-Iran War paused the season, and many foreign players evacuated the country.
Still, the league resumed play with four teams and awarded a championship to the Kfar Saba Wolves, one of the league’s new teams last season.
The 2026 IEHL USA Challenge Cup was postponed due to a historic New York blizzard in February. Still, the league reassembled its players in New York for the May 17th rematch and delivered another exciting match.
The game has turned into an outlet for Jewish New Yorkers to express their Israeli pride through sports. Jewish children got to witness professional Israeli athletes competing at a high level. For the IEHL, it develops international reach and visibility.
The league’s efforts have paid off in spades. For the first time this summer, the league will be played at two venues with eight teams: OneIce Arena near Netanya and Blue Ice Arena in Ashdod, expanding Israeli hockey’s accessibility.
The league is also producing elite talent. 17-year-old Jerusalem Capitals forward Nikita Zitserman scored a goal and an assist in this year’s game. That followed three goals last year. He is eligible for the NHL Draft in June and has the potential to be the first Israel-born player to make the NHL.
The IEHL is excited to build on the momentum from last Sunday’s game. The 2026 summer season kicks off on June 28 and concludes on July 14, with games taking place six days a week with a day off for Shabbat.
And stateside, plans are in the works for future USA Challenge Cups and events across the United States and Canada as the IEHL continues to grow and inspire Jewish hockey players worldwide.