(VOVWORLD) -On the bustling streets of Hanoi, few would expect to find a community of ice hockey players. Hanoi, known more for its rich culture and historic temples, is an unlikely setting for a sport born on frozen lakes half a world away. Yet inside a small rink, the crack of sticks, the scrape of skates, and the laughter of players reveal a growing passion. For three days, local athletes welcomed international visitors from the Friendship League – and together they proved that hockey can thrive anywhere.
 Ice Hockey players of Friendship League and Hanoi Team, September 2025, Hanoi. (Photo: Laura) |
“I've met some of the best people I've ever met in my life playing the game. Just being in locker rooms with amazing people has been really helpful to me. So I really value what it's done for me, and I love to share that with others, and I appreciate that the Friendship League has given me the opportunity to do that.”
Joe Mitchell, an American software engineer from Detroit has been playing with the Friendship League and traveling the world to play hockey for several years.
Since its founding in 2016, the Friendship League has redefined what it means to play sport abroad. Rather than chasing trophies or glory, its players travel just to build friendships, nurture new talent, and bring communities together in places where hockey is still finding its footing. Laura Ann Murphy, an Icelander player of more than 20 years, described the group’s mission in powerful terms: "The Friendship League is a group of like-minded people who want to go to a country where hockey is not very popular, or is completely unknown, and promote hockey. The aim of the Friendship League is to go to places where hockey is still developing, and help by coaching, playing some friendly games, and getting to know the locals. We also bring equipment to help the local team develop their hockey, because finding equipment in a country where hockey isn't very popular is very difficult."
For the players of the Hanoi team, meeting the Friendship League is an opportunity to face international opponents while for the visitors, it’s a chance to share their passion in a place where access to equipment, coaching, and ice time is still limited. For everyone involved, it’s about far more than the game itself.
 Laura Ann Murphy (Photo: Laura) |
Laura, who grew up playing in a country where hockey is part of the cultural fabric, said the contrast of the game was striking. In Hanoi, the rink is smaller, the conditions unfamiliar, the resources scarce. But that challenge, she said, is exactly what makes these exchanges so meaningful.
"The rink here in Hanoi is quite different from the one I play on back home. It’s quite an experience to play in different circumstances against the locals, and see how their love of the sport grows with every game," said Laura.
John Hutton, a teacher from the UK who has been a Hanoi resident for the past seven years, is a member of the Hanoi Ice Hockey Team. For John, the Friendship League’s visit wasn’t just about meeting international players, it was about seeing his adopted community embraced and supported by the wider hockey world.
John said: "After we played for three days together, the visiting players donated much of the gear they had used – gloves, sticks, all sorts of things. Sticks especially are really expensive and hard to get in Vietnam, so this makes a huge difference. Now we have spare equipment to support new recruits. They were really friendly guys – fun to play with, generous, and great to spend time with off the ice. We ate and drank together, and it was just a really fun experience."
As someone who has witnessed hockey slowly take root in Vietnam, John knows how difficult it can be to sustain momentum in a place with limited ice time, high costs, and little public awareness of the sport. That’s why he sees the Friendship League’s support as invaluable.
For Joe Mitchell, an American software engineer from Detroit, the Friendship League is both a charitable project and a personal passion.
“I started playing hockey in my 30s. Now I’m in my late 40s. It was something I always wanted to do, but I grew up without a lot of money. I was kind of a poor child, and ice hockey is expensive. The equipment's expensive. Ice time’s expensive, and that's one of the things that makes me passionate about what the Friendship League is doing, because we're able to bring equipment and resources and ice time to people. Knowing how much that costs, it's a personal passion of mine to share this sport, because it's really given so much to me,” said Joe.
On the ice, players at every level are represented, from those with professional experience to adult league enthusiasts who picked up the sport later in life. As one participant put it, the real joy comes from “sharing the ice with amazing people.”
Joe said: "The best way to get involved with the Friendship League is by visiting their website at https://friendshipleague.org/ or connecting through social media. There's a trip coming up in December. If you’d like to come along, you don't have to be a hockey player. You can come and just enjoy the touring aspect of it. They do a remarkable job of keeping the trips affordable, and it's available to non-players and players of all skill levels. We've got guys that had tons of experience growing up, or played professionally, and guys like me that got a later start, just adult league players that have a passion for it, but may not be particularly good. It's been a tremendous experience sharing the ice with amazing people. Everyone is welcome."
At its core, the Friendship League embodies the idea that sport is more than just a game. It can be a catalyst for peace, understanding, and social progress.