When Odisha’s First Ice Hockey Player Stood Tall Under India Goalpost In International Meets

Bhubaneswar: Pariket Mahapatra (Neel), raised in the US, is Odisha’s first and only ice hockey player to represent India.

He was the goalie of the Indian ice hockey team in the U-20 international championship held in Kuala Lumpur in December 2017. “He was 15 years old then and competing against 20-year-old players from Malaysia, the Philippines, Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan,” said Pariket’s mother Toya Mahapatra.

He also participated in the Winter National Games held in Ladakh in January 2019.

“We lived in a town called Millersville in Pennsylvania and from a young age, he was trained in the goalie position. When an opportunity came knocking, he was roped in because of his intensive training and the confidence to face shots. He faced 200-plus shots in 4 games. My husband Subrat Mahapatra took him to Kuala Lumpur at his expense,” she said.

As he played for a private club in the US, he had to register with the Indian ice hockey organization in Delhi to verify his Indian citizenship.

Pariket attended three-four goalie coaching sessions every year and summer camps in New Jersey, Princeton, Boston University, Harvard University to get exposure to superior training, she added.

Last year they were preparing to go to Thailand for an international championship, but it got cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“I began by playing street hockey and since I was older than others, they made me the goalie. I also played in a local team. A parent then suggested that I play in the ice hockey team as a goaltender. From there on began the rigorous disciplined practice sessions, twice a week, and hours were spent in the gym. There were games on weekdays as well as at weekends,” said Pariket.

He took to the sport in 5th grade but learnt the nuances very quickly. “When children enjoyed and relaxed in the evenings, he was extremely focused to learn all the nuances of goalkeeping. His steadfastness and love for the game always pushed him to better himself in the game,” said Toya.

His parents drove me around for practice sessions and games, at times 200-mile round trips. “As I went higher up in high school, the game became very challenging and exciting and I enjoyed playing it more,” said Pariket.

“I have taken my academics seriously and part of the discipline was to finish my homework and then go for practice. I have worked hard and ensured my grades were good,” he added.

Toya further said that Pariket always secured high marks and was recently awarded Dean’s scholarship. 

Though the sport has been a passion for him, he is not keen to take it up professionally.

“Since the opening of the first lockdown, practice resumed… but this year as colleges started on campus, he has taken a break due to studies,” added Toya.