Vail International Hockey

Providing a global perspective since 1985

About VIH

Vail International Hockey has organized and provided cultural exchanges to Eastern Europe and China for hundreds of Colorado hockey player youth and their families. On our trips, youth hockey players participate in hands-on witnesses to history Visits to historical sites, unique cultural experiences and team cultural exchanges that include USA hockey sanctioned exhibition matches and training sessions. As with every trip since 1985, education is THE KEY role in the experience.

Never stop learning they say. Learning is a huge reason why our program exists. We want players to experience something unfamiliar and leave with new skills or knowledge.

Travel like this is a condensed crash course in discovering how the rest of the world lives. Every destination has something unique to teach you. We try to immerse players in a completely different world to show them totally different ways of doing things and to gain awareness of new customs, cultures, people and places. We strive to change perspectives. More than ever an open mind and cultural sensitivity should be valued. Your world view isn’t the same as everyone else’s.Travel forces players to consider fresh ideas, it gives them a wider world view, one that will make a better, more rounded global citizen.

Vail International Hockey is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

“Shared experiences bring us together.”

— MERV LAPIN, FOUNDER

Our Mission

Providing lifelong memories through hockey and the invaluable experience of cultural immersion, striving to create cultural understanding and globally aware youth.

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