Spain men's national ice hockey team

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Spain
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationFederación Española de Deportes de Hielo
Head coachLuciano Basile
AssistantsMaurizio Mansi
CaptainGuillermo Bertrán
Most gamesIñaki Salegui (61)
Most pointsIñaki Salegui (72)
Team colors       
IIHF codeESP
Ranking
Current IIHF31 Steady (6 June 2021)[1]
Highest IIHF29 (first in 2011)
Lowest IIHF37 (first in 2005)
First international
Spain  6–4  Belgium
(Luchon, France; 21 December 1923)
Biggest win
Spain  38–0  Turkey
(Johannesburg, South Africa; 27 March 1992)
Biggest defeat
Netherlands  19–0  Spain
(Las Palmas, Spain; 13 March 1978)
IIHF World Championships
Appearances31 (first in 1977)
Best result22nd (1977)
International record (W–L–T)
77–111–13
Medal record
Division II
Gold medal – first place 2010 Mexico (Group A)
Gold medal – first place 2014 Spain (Group B)
Gold medal – first place 2018 Spain (Group B)
Division III / (Pool D)
Gold medal – first place 1992 South Africa (Group C2)
Gold medal – first place 1999 South Africa

The Spanish men's national ice hockey team (Spanish: Selección de hockey sobre hielo de España) is the national men's ice hockey team of Spain. The team is administered by the Spanish Ice Sports Federation, itself a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). As of April 2020, the Spanish men's national program is 31st on the IIHF World Rankings and has 135 registered players. The men's national team currently competes at the IIHF World Championship Division II, Group A level.[2]

History[]

On 10 March 1923,[2] Spain joined the IIHF after the was founded in the same year. After building an artificial rink in Madrid, Spain, they entered their first international tournament in late 1923. Spain won their first international game against Belgium in the Challenge de Haute–Garonne tournament held in Bagnères-de-Luchon, France. They lost their next game in the tournament to France.[3]

In 1924, Spain competed in the Ice Hockey European Championships held in Milan, Italy. During their first game against Switzerland, two of Spain's seven players were injured. Due to this, Switzerland agreed to play with only five players allowing the game to continue. Switzerland ended up winning 12–0. Spain was forced to forfeit their second game against Sweden due to the injuries suffered by their players. Sweden had also agreed to play with five players.[3]

After the European Championships, Spain entered the Coupe de Davos in Davos, Switzerland. Days before the tournament, Spain had upset Switzerland 4–0. The tournament had 12 teams broken into four groups with Spain being placed in group two along with Switzerland and Germany. Spain lost to Switzerland, 6–0 and to Germany, 7–0. Spain also lost to Germany's second team, 2–0 but avoided being in last place by beating Italy, 4–0. On 1 January 1925, Spain played Germany's second team again, winning in double overtime 3–1. After beating Germany, Spain went on a Swiss tour winning three of the games they played. Spain played in the Challenge de Haute–Garonne for the second time in January 1925. During the tournament, they defeated Belgium's second team 4–1 and tied France 3–3.[3]

In 1926, Spain again competed in the European Championships held in Davos, Switzerland. In their first game against Belgium, Spain lost 5–0. They also lost their second game to Czechoslovakia (9–2). In the consolation pool, Spain tied Italy 2–2 and lost to Poland, 4–1.[3]

Spain has competed in the IIHF World Championship Division II since it began in 2001. During the first year of the tournament in 2001, Spain defeated South Africa, Iceland, Australia and New Zealand. However they lost to South Korea preventing Spain from finishing in first.[4] In 2002, Spain finished in third place in Group B after defeating Bulgaria, Iceland and Luxembourg and losing to Yugoslavia and Lithuania.[5] During the 2003 version of the tournament, Spain defeated South Africa, Mexico and Australia and lost to Yugoslavia and South Korea. Spain finished in third place in Group A.[6] Spain hosted the Division II tournament in 2004 and finished fourth place in Group A by defeating Israel and Luxembourg. Spain lost to China, Croatia and Australia.[7] 2005 was a down year for Spain as they finished in fifth place in Group B with only two points. Spain's only win came against Iceland while they lost to Serbia and Montenegro, Belgium, Israel and North Korea.[8]

In 2006, they lost to Serbia and Montenegro, Romania men's national ice hockey team and twice to Bulgaria while beating South Africa for their lone win. They finished in fifth place in Group A for the second straight year.[9] In 2007 they defeated Bulgaria, Turkey and Serbia and lost to Belgium and Croatia. Unlike the prior two years Spain finished in third place with nine points.[10] In 2008, Spain finished in third place by defeating Australia, Iceland and Mexico and lost to China and New Zealand.[11] Spain won three games and lost two in 2009, their three wins came against Mexico, Bulgaria and South Africa while they lost to South Korea and Belgium. Spain finished in third place with nine points.[12]

Spain was ranked 34th in the IIHF World Rankings in 2009. In 2010, Spain rose in the rankings to 30th and competed in Division II of the 2010 IIHF World Championship. They finished first in their group at the tournament and hence got promoted to Division I for the first time in their history.[2]

World Championship record[]

Year Division Position GP W D L
Tier Div. Ov Div.
1977 3 Pool C 22nd 5th 6 1 0 5
1978 3 Pool C 23rd 7th 7 1 0 6
1979 3 Group C 24th 6th 7 2 0 5
1981 Did not participate
1982 3 Group C 23rd 7th 7 1 0 6
1983 3 Group C 23rd 7th 7 1 1 5
1985 3 Group C 24th 8th 7 0 0 7
1986 3 Group C 24th 8th 6 2 0 4
1987 Did not participate
1989 4 Group D 28th 4th 4 1 0 3
1990 4 Group D 28th 4th 4 0 2 2
1991 Did not participate
1992 4 Group C2 27th 1st 5 5 0 0
1993 3 Group C 29th 5th 5 1 0 4
1994 4 Group C2 29th 2nd 5 3 1 1
1995 4 Group C2 32nd 3rd 5 4 0 1
1996 4 Group D 31st 3rd 5 2 1 2
1997 4 Group D 31st 3rd 5 2 0 3
1998 3 Group C 32nd 8th 5 0 2 3
1999 4 Group D 33rd 1st 4 3 1 0
2000 3 Group C 31st 7th 4 1 1 2
2001 3 Div II 31st 2nd 5 4 1 0
2002 3 Div II 33rd 3rd 5 3 0 2
2003 3 Div II 33rd 3rd 5 3 2 0
2004 3 Div II 35th 4th 5 2 1 2
2005 3 Div II 37th 5th 5 1 0 4
2006 3 Div II 37th 5th 5 1 0 4
2007 3 Div II 34th 3rd 5 3 0 2
2008 3 Div II 34th 3rd 5 3 0 2
2009 3 Div II 33rd 3rd 5 3 0 2
2010 3 Div II 30th 1st 5 5 0 0
2011 2 Div I 26th 5th 4 1 0 3
2012 4 Div II A 30th 2nd 5 4 0 1
2013 4 Div II A 34th 6th 5 0 0 5
2014 5 Div II B 35th 1st 5 5 0 0
2015 4 Div II A 32nd 4th 5 2 0 3
2016 4 Div II A 30th 2nd 5 4 1 0
2017 4 Div II A 34th 6th 5 1 0 4
2018 5 Div II B 35th 1st 5 5 0 0
2019 4 Div II A 32nd 4th 5 2 0 3
2020 4 Div II A Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[13]
2021 4 Div II A Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[14]

Roster[]

Roster for the 2019 IIHF World Championship.[15]

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Height Weight Date of birth Club
1 Alder Alcaine L 189 cm 90 kg (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 30) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
20 Bruno Gonzalez L 180 cm 65 kg (1993-01-02) 2 January 1993 (age 29) Spain CH Jaca
Defencemen
# Player Shoots Height Weight Date of birth Club
3 Bruno Baldris L 175 cm 75 kg (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 23) France Ducs d'Angers
22 Guillermo Betran L 175 cm 80 kg (1985-10-12) 12 October 1985 (age 36) Spain CH Jaca
16 Alfonso Garcia L 183 cm 105 kg (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 (age 23) Spain SAD Majadahonda
4 Rene Kortabitarte R 185 cm 80 kg (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 (age 25) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
2 Alex Torres L 186 cm 75 kg (1999-07-06) 6 July 1999 (age 22) Spain FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
19 Adrian Ubieto L 182 cm 83 kg (1993-03-11) 11 March 1993 (age 28) Spain FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
6 Jose Ignacio Vicente R 180 cm 82 kg (1991-10-05) 5 October 1991 (age 30) Spain FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
Forwards
# Player Shoots Height Weight Date of birth Club
15 Ander Arraras R 181 cm 73 kg (1998-12-23) 23 December 1998 (age 23) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
12 Oriol Boronat L 180 cm 75 kg (1992-05-22) 22 May 1992 (age 29) Spain CG Puigcerdà
14 Alejandro Burgos L 180 cm 80 kg (2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 (age 21) France Anglet Hormadi Élite
13 Alejandro Carbonell L 177 cm 73 kg (1994-01-16) 16 January 1994 (age 28) Spain FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
23 Patrick Fuentes R 177 cm 70 kg (1995-03-13) 13 March 1995 (age 26) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
17 Gaston Gonzalez L 178 cm 78 kg (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 (age 26) Spain CH Jaca
5 Ignacio Granell L 175 cm 75 kg (1997-08-06) 6 August 1997 (age 24) Spain CG Puigcerdà
18 Imanol Lausen R 180 cm 78 kg (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 25) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
10 Alberto Martinez L 178 cm 86 kg (1998-10-16) 16 October 1998 (age 23) Spain SAD Majadahonda
11 Juan Muñoz L 180 cm 82 kg (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 31) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin
7 Pablo Pantoja L 180 cm 84 kg (1996-09-23) 23 September 1996 (age 25) Spain CH Jaca
21 Oriol Rubio R 187 cm 71 kg (1997-03-08) 8 March 1997 (age 24) Spain FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
9 Pablo Zaballa L 182 cm 76 kg (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 21) Spain CHH Txuri Urdin

References[]

  1. ^ "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Spain". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d "History of Ice Hockey in Spain" (PDF). Spanish Ice Sports Federation. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  4. ^ "2001 IIHF World". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  5. ^ "2002 IIHF World Championship Div II, Group B". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  6. ^ "2003 IIHF World Championship Div II,Group A". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  7. ^ "2004 IIHF World Championship Div II Group A". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  8. ^ "2005 IIHF World Championship Div II Group B". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  9. ^ "2006 IIHF World Championship Div II Group A". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  10. ^ "2007 IIHF World Championships Group A". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  11. ^ "2008 IIHF World Championship Div. II Group B". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  12. ^ "2009 IIHF World Championship Div. II Group B". IIHF. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Men's Division II, III cancelled". IIHF. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  14. ^ "IIHF – IIHF Council announces more cancellations". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  15. ^ "2019 World Championships Division 2A Team Spain. (Men)". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 18 September 2019.

External links[]

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