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Kenya joins Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and South Africa among the IIHF’s 84-member African cohort, but captain Mburu says the next step will be the most difficult.
“Now we have to get to the IIHF standards, and that’s where the work gets cut,” he explained.
But it is a team that has already faced many challenges, establishing itself in a sport that is almost never seen in East Africa.
The Ice Lions were formed by a group of expats from the United States and Canada who held a recruitment drive.
With roller hockey becoming more accessible and popular in Kenya, many new members were sought after when they wore skates with wheels rather than blades.
Tim Colby, who has coached the Ice Lions since their inception, says their love and dedication to the sport has brought the team this far.
“Playing ice hockey on the equator is not easy,” the Canadian told the BBC.
“The biggest challenge is ice time. Access to ice is expensive.”
Just one hour on the ice rink at the Panari Hotel costs almost $100.
These high rates mean that the team is usually only able to train once a week.
Their home is also a quarter of the size of an Olympic rink, so the Ice Lions are limited to playing four-on-four games (goalies included).
Full games are six-a-side and require a goalkeeper, two defenders and three forwards.
Colby added that getting enough protective equipment for the team is difficult.
“We need a lot of specialized repairs and that’s only available in Europe and North America,” he said.
In the early years, many players used only shin guards, leaving aside equipment such as helmets.
Even replacing hockey sticks can take a few months.
