Norway men's national ice hockey team

The Norway men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team from Norway that participates at the IIHF World Championships. The team is governed by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association and is coached by Petter Thoresen.

Norway
Nickname(s)Isbjørnene (The Polar Bears)
AssociationNIHF
General ManagerBjørn Mathisrud
Head coachPetter Thoresen
AssistantsPer-Erik Alcén
Sjur Robert Nilsen
CaptainJonas Holøs
Most gamesTommy Jakobsen (135)
Team colors              
IIHF codeNOR
Ranking
Current IIHF11 (24 April 2020)[1]
Highest IIHF8 (2012)
Lowest IIHF21 (2004)
First international
Czechoslovakia  7–0  Norway
(London, England; 17 February 1937)
Biggest win
Norway  24–0  Belgium
(Sofia, Bulgaria; 5 March 1975)
Norway  25–1  China
(Debrecen, Hungary; 22 April 2005)
Biggest defeat
Finland  20–1  Norway
(Hämeenlinna, Finland; 12 March 1947)
IIHF World Championships
Appearances61 (first in 1937)
Best result4th (1951)
Olympics
Appearances12 (first in 1952)
International record (W–L–T)
353–634–112
Medal record
Pool B / Division I
1961 Switzerland
1963 Sweden
1989 Norway
2005 Hungary (Group A)
Pool C
1973 Netherlands
1975 Bulgaria
1986 Spain

History
Norway prior to the 1937 World Championships, their first international tournament. They finished in ninth place.

The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (NIHA) was founded in 1934 and, adopting the international rules and regulations of ice hockey, became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1935.[2][3] Poor finances delayed the formation of a national team until 1937, and continued to hamper its development in the years prior to World War II. After missing out on the 1935 World Championships and 1936 Winter Olympics, the NIHF managed to raise enough funds to send a team to London for the 1937 World Championships. The national ice hockey team thus played its first game on 17 February 1937, losing 0–7 to Czechoslovakia, and was eliminated from the competition following a 2–13 loss to Switzerland.[4] Norway also took part in the next tournament in 1938, but was unable to participate in 1939. Results remained meagre throughout the pre-war years; of the nine international fixtures contested between 1937 and 1940, the closest Norway came to winning was 3–4 in the first game against Sweden, on 20 January 1939.[5]

After the war, ice hockey in Norway accelerated as new teams formed and improvements in infrastructure were made. The opening of the Jordal Amfi in Oslo made Norway's facilities state of the art.[6] Results began to improve on the international stage, though not before Norway had endured its worst defeat ever at the hands of Finland in 1947.

The period from 1949 to 1953 has been viewed as a "golden age" in the history of the national team, beginning with the maiden victory, a 2–0 win over Belgium at the 1949 World Championships. In 1951, the NIHF appointed Canadian Bud McEachern as head coach. McEachern brought a physical style which suited the players of the generation well,[7] and at the 1951 World Championships, Norway defeated the United States and Great Britain to finish fourth overall. Norway's inaugural Olympic tournament, was as host nation of the 1952 Winter Olympics. In 1953, Norway was the first Western nation to play the Soviet Union, overshadowed by the death of Joseph Stalin shortly after the team's arrival in Moscow.

Norway would continue during the 1950s to challenge the strongest national hockey teams. From the 1960s, the sport became more popular in the nation but national team achievements would decline as mild winters did not result in government support to construct artificial ice rinks to replace what had traditionally been relied on in the past due to weather conditions.[8] NIHA president Tore Johannessen managed Norway at the 1962 Ice Hockey World Championships.[9] After the 1965 World Championships, Norway was no longer allowed to compete at the highest level, and the NIHF resigned itself to competing at the top of Pool B instead.[8] Qualifying for the Winter Olympics was still within reach, however, and Norway managed to do so in both 1964 and 1968.

Norway would be relegated to Pool C after finishing in last place in Pool B of the 1972 World Championships. The NIHF was forced to revise its objectives; not to return to Pool A, but merely to survive in Pool B. The goal of qualifying for the Winter Olympics remained throughout this period, but after another stint in Pool C in 1975, the ice hockey tournament at the 1976 Winter Olympics went ahead without Norway's participation.[8]

In the 1970s, the unwillingness of the government to support the sport with improved training facilities encouraged a growing reluctance among players to represent Norway internationally.[8] This trend was finally reversed under the leadership of Georg Smefjell and Olav Dalsøren from 1978 to 1980. Smefjell and Dalsøren succeeded in reestablishing Norway competing internationally. At the 1979 World Championships, Norway finished fourth in Pool B and qualified for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. There, the team showed encouraging signs for the future, despite losing heavily against the top tier nations and eventually coming away from the tournament with only a single point.[10]

Game between France and Norway at Patinoire Pôle Sud in 2013.

The appointment of Ronald Pettersson as head coach in 1980 heralded an era of Swedish influence on Norway's international ice hockey. For the next nine years, four Swedish coaches in a row took charge of a team that proved to be highly unstable. For Pettersson, the 1981 World Championships were a disappointment. Wins against Yugoslavia and Japan were barely enough to avoid relegation from Pool B. His successor, Arne Strömberg experienced similar difficulties. At the 1982 World Championships, an otherwise strong performance was blighted by losses against newly promoted China and Austria.[10]

The next Swedish import was Hans Westberg in 1982, whose unorthodox methods lead Norway to the 1984 Winter Olympics. Expectations ahead of the Olympic tournament were only partially met, the 3–3 draw against the United States being the most notable result.[10][11] The following season, while initially promising, ended in catastrophe at the 1985 World Championships as Norway dropped out of Pool B for the third time.[12]

Norway stabilized itself in the lower half of Pool A in the 1990s, but the team was relegated again in 1997. After a spell with Swedish coach Leif Boork, Roy Johansen was hired in 2001. A new era of slow, but steady, growth began and Norway climbed thirteen places in the IIHF World Ranking during Johansen's reign, from a 21st place in 2004, to an 8th place in 2012. Johansen stepped down as head coach in 2016 and was replaced by Petter Thoresen.

Tournament record

Olympic record
Norwegian players prior to a game during the 2010 Winter Olympics, where they finished in 12th place.
Games GP W OW T OL L GF GA Coach Captain Finish Rank
1952 Oslo 8 0 0 0 0 8 15 46 Bud McEachern Round-robin 9th
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Did not participate
1960 Squaw Valley Did not participate
1964 Innsbruck 7 5 0 0 0 2 40 19 Rolf Kirkvaag Consolation Round (Group B) 10th
1968 Grenoble 6 3 0 0 0 3 16 18 Egil Bjerklund Consolation Round (Group B) 11th
1972 Sapporo 5 3 0 0 0 2 17 27 Ake Brask Consolation Round 8th
1976 Innsbruck Did not participate
1980 Lake Placid 5 0 0 1 0 4 9 36 Ronald Pettersson, Olav Dalsøren First round 11th
1984 Sarajevo 7 1 0 1 0 5 15 43 Hans Westberg First round 12th
1988 Calgary 6 0 0 1 0 5 18 38 Lenhart Åhlberg, Tore Jobs 11th place game 12th
1992 Albertville 6 1 0 0 0 5 12 40 Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs 9th place match 9th
1994 Lillehammer 7 1 0 0 0 6 11 26 Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs 11th place match 11th
1998 Nagano Did not qualify
2002 Salt Lake City Did not qualify
2006 Turin Did not qualify
2010 Vancouver 4 0 0 – 1 3 8 23 Roy Johansen Tommy Jakobsen Qualification playoffs 10th
2014 Sochi 4 0 0 – 0 4 3 16 Ole-Kristian Tollefsen Qualification playoffs 12th
2018 Pyeongchang 5 0 1 – 1 3 5 18 Petter Thoresen Jonas Holøs Quarter-finals 8th

World Championship
  • 1937 – 9th place
  • 1938 – 13th place
  • 1949 – 8th place
  • 1950 – 6th place
  • 1951 – 4th place
  • 1952 – 9th place
  • 1954 – 8th place
  • 1956 – 12th place (2nd in "Pool B")
  • 1958 – 7th place
  • 1959 – 8th place
  • 1961 – 10th place
  • 1962 – 5th place
  • 1963 – 9th place (Won "Pool B")
  • 1964 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B" after qualification)
  • 1965 – 8th place
  • 1966 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1967 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B")
  • 1968 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B" after qualification)
  • 1969 – 11th place (5th in "Pool B")
  • 1970 – 9th place (3rd in "Pool B")
  • 1971 – 10th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1972 – 13th place (7th in "Pool B")
  • 1973 – 15th place (Won "Pool C")
  • 1974 – 13th place (7th in "Pool B")
  • 1975 – 15th place (Won "Pool C")
  • 1976 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B")
  • 1977 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1978 – 14th place (6th in "Pool B")
  • 1979 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1981 – 14th place (6th in "Pool B")
  • 1982 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1983 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
  • 1985 – 15th place (7th in "Pool B")
  • 1986 – 17th place (Won "Pool C")
  • 1987 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
  • 1989 – 9th place (Won "Pool B")
  • 1990 – 8th place
  • 1991 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
  • 1992 – 10th place
  • 1993 – 9th place
  • 1994 – 11th place
  • 1995 – 10th place
  • 1996 – 10th place
  • 1997 – 12th place
  • 1998 – 21st place (5th in "Pool B")
  • 1999 – 12th place
  • 2000 – 10th place
  • 2001 – 15th place
  • 2002 – 22nd place (3rd in "Group B")
  • 2003 – 20th place (2nd in "Group B")
  • 2004 – 20th place (2nd in "Group A")
  • 2005 – 17th place (Won "Group A")
  • 2006 – 11th place
  • 2007 – 14th place
  • 2008 – 8th place
  • 2009 – 11th place
  • 2010 – 9th place
  • 2011 – 6th place
  • 2012 – 8th place
  • 2013 – 10th place
  • 2014 – 12th place
  • 2015 – 11th place
  • 2016 – 10th place
  • 2017 – 11th place
  • 2018 – 13th place
  • 2019 – 12th place
  • 2020 – Cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic[13]

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2019 IIHF World Championship.[14][15]

Head coach: Petter Thoresen

No. Pos. Name Height Weight Birthdate Team
4DJohannes Johannesen1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)85 kg (187 lb) (1997-03-01) 1 March 1997 Stavanger Oilers
5DErlend Lesund1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)93 kg (205 lb) (1994-12-11) 11 December 1994 Mora IK
6DJonas Holøs – C1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)93 kg (205 lb) (1987-08-27) 27 August 1987 HC Fribourg-Gottéron
8FMathias Trettenes1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)76 kg (168 lb) (1993-11-08) 8 November 1993 Krefeld Pinguine
10DMattias Nørstebø1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)82 kg (181 lb) (1995-06-03) 3 June 1995 Frölunda HC
13FSondre Olden1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)84 kg (185 lb) (1992-08-29) 29 August 1992 Vienna Capitals
15FTommy Kristiansen1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)98 kg (216 lb) (1989-05-26) 26 May 1989 Sparta Warriors
17DStefan Espeland1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)84 kg (185 lb) (1989-03-24) 24 March 1989 Vålerenga Ishockey
18FTobias Lindström1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)92 kg (203 lb) (1988-04-20) 20 April 1988 Vålerenga Ishockey
21DChristian Bull1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)90 kg (200 lb) (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 Storhamar Ishockey
22FMartin Røymark1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)86 kg (190 lb) (1986-11-10) 10 November 1986 Vålerenga Ishockey
26FKristian Forsberg1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)88 kg (194 lb) (1986-05-05) 5 May 1986 Stavanger Oilers
27FAndreas Martinsen1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)100 kg (220 lb) (1995-06-03) 3 June 1995 Anaheim Ducks
28FNiklas Roest1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)80 kg (180 lb) (1986-08-03) 3 August 1986 Sparta Warriors
31GJonas Arntzen1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)85 kg (187 lb) (1997-03-01) 1 March 1997 Leksands IF
33GHenrik Haukeland1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)83 kg (183 lb) (1994-12-06) 6 December 1994 HC TPS
38GHenrik Holm1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)80 kg (180 lb) (1990-09-06) 6 September 1990 Stavanger Oilers
41FPatrick Thoresen – A1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)92 kg (203 lb) (1983-11-07) 7 November 1983 Storhamar Ishockey
46FMathis Olimb – A1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)79 kg (174 lb) (1986-02-01) 1 February 1986 Skellefteå AIK
47DAlexander Bonsaksen1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)84 kg (185 lb) (1987-01-24) 24 January 1987 KooKoo
49DChristian Kåsastul1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)88 kg (194 lb) (1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 Frisk Asker Ishockey
51FMats Rosseli Olsen1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)82 kg (181 lb) (1991-04-29) 29 April 1991 Frölunda HC
61FAlexander Reichenberg1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)81 kg (179 lb) (1992-06-13) 13 June 1992 Färjestad BK
85FMichael Haga1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)77 kg (170 lb) (1992-03-10) 10 March 1992 Mora IK
93FThomas Valkvæ Olsen1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)88 kg (194 lb) (1993-05-18) 18 May 1993 Leksands IF

Individual all-time records
  Still active players are highlighted

Most matches played
Player Time Matches Club on debut
Tommy Jakobsen (D) 1992–2010 139 Furuset
Mats Trygg (D) 1999–present 122 Manglerud Star
Jim Marthinsen (G) 1980–1995 114 Vålerenga
Thor Martinsen (D) 1964–1980 113 Frisk Tigers
Per-Åge Skrøder (F) 1999–present 113 Lillehammer
Mads Hansen (F) 2000–present 110 Storhamar
Erik Kristiansen (F) 1983–1994 97 Storhamar
Ole Eskild Dahlstrøm (F) 1989–2005 96 Furuset
Petter Thoresen (F) 1980–1995 96 Vålerenga
Petter Salsten (D) 1987–1995 92 Furuset
Tore Vikingstad (F) 1995–2010 88 Stjernen
Trond Magnussen (F) 1992–2004 88 Stjernen
Ørjan Løvdal (F) 1983–1995 83 Stjernen
Marius Trygg (F) 1999–present 82 Manglerud Star
Robert Schistad (G) 1991–2000 82 Viking
Morten Ask (F) 2000–present 82 Vålerenga

Last updated: 4 January 2015
Source: hockey.no

Other notable players

Note: Still active players are bolded

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References
  1. "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 39–40.
  3. "Norway". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  4. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 59–62.
  5. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 71–72.
  6. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 97–101.
  7. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. p. 97.
  8. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 105–112.
  9. "2.73 Tore Johannessen". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  10. Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. pp. 115–126.
  11. "Berettning A-Landslaget 1983–1984". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (in Norwegian). 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  12. "Seniorlandslagene 1984/1985". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (in Norwegian). 26 June 2005. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  13. Steiss, Adam. "2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship cancelled". iihf.com. IIHF. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  14. "A-landslaget menn: VM 2019 – Uttatte spillere". hockey.no. 2 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  15. "2019 IIHF World Championship roster" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  • Langholm, Dag (1984). Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år. Norwegian Ice Hockey Association.
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