Spain men's national ice hockey team

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]

Spain
The coat of arms of Spain is the badge used on the players jerseys.
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 (24 April 2020)[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
2010 Mexico (Group A)
2014 Spain (Group B)
2018 Spain (Group B)
Division III / (Pool D)
1992 South Africa (Group C2)
1999 South Africa

History

On 10 March 1923,[2] Spain joined the IIHF after the Spanish Winter Sports Federation 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
YearDivisionPositionGPWDL
TierDiv.OvDiv.
19773Pool C22nd5th6105
19783Pool C23rd7th7106
19793Group C24th6th7205
1981Did not participate
19823Group C23rd7th7106
19833Group C23rd7th7115
19853Group C24th8th7007
19863Group C24th8th6204
1987Did not participate
19894Group D28th4th4103
19904Group D28th4th4022
1991Did not participate
19924Group C227th1st5500
19933Group C29th5th5104
19944Group C229th2nd5311
19954Group C232nd3rd5401
19964Group D31st3rd5212
19974Group D31st3rd5203
19983Group C32nd8th5023
19994Group D33rd1st4310
20003Group C31st7th4112
20013Div II31st2nd5410
20023Div II33rd3rd5302
20033Div II33rd3rd5320
20043Div II35th4th5212
20053Div II37th5th5104
20063Div II37th5th5104
20073Div II34th3rd5302
20083Div II34th3rd5302
20093Div II33rd3rd5302
20103Div II30th1st5500
20112Div I26th5th4103
20124Div II A30th2nd5401
20134Div II A34th6th5005
20145Div II B35th1st5500
20154Div II A32nd4th5203
20164Div II A30th2nd5410
20174Div II A34th6th5104
20185Div II B35th1st5500
20194Div II A32nd4th5203
20204Div II ACancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic[13]

Roster

Roster for the 2019 IIHF World Championship.[14]

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Height Weight Date of birth Club
1 Alder Alcaine L 189 cm 90 kg (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 CHH Txuri Urdin
20 Bruno Gonzalez L 180 cm 65 kg (1993-01-02) 2 January 1993 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 Ducs d'Angers
22 Guillermo Betran L 175 cm 80 kg (1985-10-12) 12 October 1985 CH Jaca
16 Alfonso Garcia L 183 cm 105 kg (1998-02-02) 2 February 1998 SAD Majadahonda
4 Rene Kortabitarte R 185 cm 80 kg (1996-09-18) 18 September 1996 CHH Txuri Urdin
2 Alex Torres L 186 cm 75 kg (1999-07-06) 6 July 1999 FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
19 Adrian Ubieto L 182 cm 83 kg (1993-03-11) 11 March 1993 FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
6 Jose Ignacio Vicente R 180 cm 82 kg (1991-10-05) 5 October 1991 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 CHH Txuri Urdin
12 Oriol Boronat L 180 cm 75 kg (1992-05-22) 22 May 1992 CG Puigcerdà
14 Alejandro Burgos L 180 cm 80 kg (2000-10-27) 27 October 2000 Anglet Hormadi Élite
13 Alejandro Carbonell L 177 cm 73 kg (1994-01-16) 16 January 1994 FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
23 Patrick Fuentes R 177 cm 70 kg (1995-03-13) 13 March 1995 CHH Txuri Urdin
17 Gaston Gonzalez L 178 cm 78 kg (1995-03-28) 28 March 1995 CH Jaca
5 Ignacio Granell L 175 cm 75 kg (1997-08-06) 6 August 1997 CG Puigcerdà
18 Imanol Lausen R 180 cm 78 kg (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 CHH Txuri Urdin
10 Alberto Martinez L 178 cm 86 kg (1998-10-16) 16 October 1998 SAD Majadahonda
11 Juan Muñoz L 180 cm 82 kg (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 CHH Txuri Urdin
7 Pablo Pantoja L 180 cm 84 kg (1996-09-23) 23 September 1996 CH Jaca
21 Oriol Rubio R 187 cm 71 kg (1997-03-08) 8 March 1997 FC Barcelona Ice Hockey
9 Pablo Zaballa L 182 cm 76 kg (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 CHH Txuri Urdin
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References
  1. "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. "Spain". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. "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. "2019 World Championships Division 2A Team Spain. (Men)". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
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