The Kenya Ice Lions have hit the big league, and the Canadian who helped make it happen says now may be the time to hang up his whistle.

Head coach Tim Colby says it91裸聊视频檚 been impressive to watch the ice hockey team in Nairobi, Kenya, go from a few newbies to a large group that91裸聊视频檚 received international recognition.

In October, the Ice Lions were accepted into the International Ice Hockey Federation, allowing them to pair up with larger teams in Africa and grow their training program.

91裸聊视频淚t gets us legitimized in the international scene. We91裸聊视频檙e not just an anomaly anymore,91裸聊视频� Colby said in a phone interview from Kenya91裸聊视频檚 capital.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not easy (for the players). They spend their last dollars just getting to and from the rink, because some don91裸聊视频檛 make a lot of money. But they love the game.91裸聊视频�

Colby, 61, said he91裸聊视频檚 ready to pass on the torch.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 an old guy, I91裸聊视频檒l be gone soon 91裸聊视频� not too soon, I hope 91裸聊视频� and these guys are ready to take it on,91裸聊视频� he said.

The Ice Lions formed nearly 20 years ago after Canadian expats discovered a rink in Nairobi, near the equator, where it91裸聊视频檚 warm or hot year-round.

The country91裸聊视频檚 only ice rink is inside a hotel near a national park where lions, giraffes and zebras roam freely. The rink is modest in size, only big enough for four-on-four games rather than six-on-six, including goalies.

There are five African hockey teams in the International Ice Hockey Federation. Colby said the Ice Lions regularly play against smaller local teams made up of expats, but the plan is to start challenging other African teams.

Colby grew up in the Toronto area and coached minor hockey before moving to Kenya in 2010 for work. He took on the head coaching position in 2018 and says interest in the sport has only increased since.

91裸聊视频淵ou do all your work, which would be the same as if I was back in Canada, but then you realize, wow, hang on, what is this?91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 sitting here on the equator, it91裸聊视频檚 32 C out and I91裸聊视频檓 in Africa. This is unique and you got to catch yourself.91裸聊视频�

Colby said the Ice Lions got their big break in February 2018 after they were featured in an advertisement during the Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea. It created a buzz and a Canadian doughnut shop also took notice, approaching team members with an idea.

The players went to Colby about it, asking him to be their coach.

91裸聊视频淭hey said there91裸聊视频檚 a doughnut shop in Toronto that called us, and I91裸聊视频檓 like, 91裸聊视频榃hat?91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 thinking maybe it was a mom-and-pop store,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淚 said, 91裸聊视频楪uys, let91裸聊视频檚 not get too serious. Ice hockey is way too complex, too hard to take to a next level. There91裸聊视频檚 the equipment, the cost and the amount of organization.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

But the doughnut shop turned out to be Tim Hortons, he said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 like, 91裸聊视频榃hoa, hang on, hang on. This is serious.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

In October 2018, Tim Hortons flew in the Ice Lions for a game in Canada with hockey stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. They were also given jerseys emblazoned with the Kenyan flag.

A video of the players meeting Crosby and MacKinnon went viral online.

91裸聊视频淚t led to a real breakthrough for us. It gave us a big start, both not in just notoriety but allowed us to purchase some more gear,91裸聊视频� Colby said.

He said the team also took the sport more seriously and recruited additional players.

As of October, it had 36 senior players, including 12 women. More than 50 are in the youth program.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 separate men and women. They91裸聊视频檙e competing equally with them, which is great because it91裸聊视频檚 tough for young girls and women here in sports, a lot of discrimination in that sense,91裸聊视频� Colby said.

91裸聊视频淪o, they91裸聊视频檙e really competing, and then you can just see them developing as a person on and off the ice.91裸聊视频�