Algerian Ice and Inline Hockey Association ~ AAIHH ~

Harond Litim has signed for Français Volants de Paris in French division 2.

You’re just back from the week long training camp in Paris, how did it go?

Was a great success, the new players mixed in nicely with the players from last years Arab Cup, great atmosphere in the locker room, very positive. The new players are talented and great additions to the team.

Who were the new players and what did you think of them?

Two Swedish Algerians, Ali Khaldi an experienced guy, big, intelligent, and Felix Chougui, skillful young player who played in Swedish Division 1 last season.  Two young guys from France, Ali Chenini and Jordi Abbas, bring lots of energy to the team, two very experienced brothers Karim and Mourad Chaiblaine, another experienced guy from France Bachir Aghroud, a young goalie from London only just turned 16, Khalid Abdulwahid, and an aggressive young defender Akim Bouchabane who I like alot and think can be a great player for the future.

Being there from the start, what was it like to be part of the first ever victory?

wow was an amazing feeling, I felt so proud, still get a nice feeling inside when I think about it. Was the first but many more to come inshallah.

So what next for Team Algeria?

Arab Cup, African Nations Cup, exhibition games, events in Algeria, not sure yet really but we’ll know in the coming weeks.

Who is the AJOAH and what is their conflict with the AAIIH?

They are a small group of players who were on last years Arab Cup team and didn’t like how things were managed so decided to form their own association. They’ve formed this association which they’re well within their rights to do, however we do have a problem with some of the claims they’ve made publicly, but I wont discuss that as it may involved legal proceedings. Too make it clear thought we are the original founders from 2006.

There were some reports you were dating Amelle Berrabah from the Sugababes, any truth in this?

No,  I’m not sure where the story came from, but I was contacted by a couple British newspapers about it, and someone from The Mirror newspaper was on my personal facebook page scouting me out, and had a couple of her fans message me.

Now time for some questions from the public

“how did u get into hockey?” asked by Nour

When I was 13 I was playing NHL on the Sega Megadrive and all the fighting and hitting amused me, on my birthday I asked my mum to take to see a live game and to my suprise it really happened, I loved it and started to skate.

“have u got a girl friend” asked by Djouher

haha no I don’t.

“where would you like to be with this few yrs down the line” asked by Mona

Personally or the Algerian team? Well I’d like to see Algeria in the division 3 World Championships…

“Why is did you chouse ice hockey as you favourite sport” asked by Siham

I like contact sports, and once I started playing I couldn’t get enough.

OK thanks for you time Karim.

Yassine Fahas and Mohamed Benyahia have re-signed for their club teams for another season, Dijon in French Ligue Magnus and Evry in French division 2 respectively.

Team Algeria won their first ever game in an exciting exhibition game against French division 1 team Viry-Chatillon. Down 5-4, Team Algeria equalised late in the 3rd period  with Harond Litim scoring on a penalty shot, and with minutes left  Felix Chougui scored the game winner, ending 6-5.

Other scorers were Ali Khaldi and Karim Chaiblaine scoring two on his debut.

240 professional photos of the game can be seen at http://www.pascalchapuisphotosports.com/phpwebgallery/index.php?/category/126

A few examples of Pascal Chapuis’s great shots:

Team talk

Algerian captain Harond Litim with Rai n b fever singer Amine who dropped the puck in the first game.

New boy Akim Bouchabane

Harond Litim on the attack

We have also added some new videos to our YouTube channel @ http://www.youtube.com/user/HockeyAlgeria

See poster below for more details, everyong welcome to watch training sessions and games.

A big thank you to all our sponsors.

British newspapers have reported that Algerian ice hockey player Karim Kerbouche has began dating Amelle Berrabah, a Moroccan member of British girl band Sugababes.

We wait to see whether she will be present at Team Algeria’s two exhibition games in Paris.

Following our initial squad list for the camp and two games in Paris, the final roster is as follows:

ABBAS, Jordi

ABDULWAHID, Khalid

AGHROUD, Bachir

BELARBI, M’hamed

BENYAHIA, Mohamed

BOUCHABANE, Akim

BOUKHALOUA, Hakim

BOULAKDEM, Nassim

BOUSLAMA, Sid-Ahmed

CHAIBLAINE, Karim

CHAIBLAINE, Mourad

CHENINI, Ali

CHOUGUI, Felix

FAHAS, Yassine

KERBOUCHE, Karim

KHALDI, Ali

LITIM, Harond

MAHDIDI, Nordine

SEBAA, Said

ZOUAOUI, Junaid

We are pleased to announce Nordine Mahdidi as the new Head Coach of the Algerian ice hockey team. Nordine is currently coaching one of the best junior teams in france, and played with the Algerian team in last years Arab Cup.

Djamel Bouhadouf, coach of last years Arab Cup team has been let go with immediate affect. Also not returning will be Djilali and Yannick Hamri, who have been suspended indefinately for disciplinary issues.

Also added to staff is Farouk Igheldane who will be joining management.

Added to our training camp in Paris is another fixture, on the 21st also against Viry.

We are pleased to announce the dates for Team Algeria’s first game of 2009, an exhibition game against French Division 1 team Viry Chatillon Essonne. The game will take place on Tuesday 19th of May, face-off time at 19.30, at Viry.

Along with this game, Team Algeria will hold a warm-up camp between 18th and 22nd of May in Paris, the public are welcome to watch the Algerian team train.

Final squad for the camp and roster for the game will be announced early April.

The warm-up roster for the Arab Cup 2009.

Goaltenders

1, ABDULWAHID, Khalid
2, DRIF, Didier
3, KHEROUFI, Aladean

Defenders

4, BENTURQUI, Malik
5, BOULAKDEM, Nassim
6, BOUMEDIENNE, Josef
7, BOUMEDIENNE, Karim
8, BOUSLAMA, Sid-Ahmed
9, SEBAA, Said
10, ZOUAOUI, Junaid

Forwards

11, BELARBI, Mhamed
12, BENYAHIA, Mohamed
13, BOUALEM, Malik
14, BOUKHALOUA, Hakim
15, CHAIBLAINE, Mourad
16, CHAIBLAINE, Karim
17, FAHAS, Yassine
18, HADDANOU, Ali
19, KERBOUCHE, Karim
20, KERDOUGLI, Fawzi
21, LITIM, Harond
22, MAHDIDI, Nordine
23, SEBBOUH, Drisse

The roster will be reduced and finalised before the start of the Arab Cup 2009.