Growth of hockey around the world

[Albatros]

Absolutely shocking that hockey is not more developed in Norway and Iceland

Heck, Iceland soccer team is much better than their hockey, makes no sense

The oceanic climate isn't that favorable, Iceland sucks at pretty much all winter sports. All of their Olympic medals were won in summer too.

 

[S E P H]

Absolutely shocking that hockey is not more developed in Norway and Iceland

Heck, Iceland soccer team is much better than their hockey, makes no sense

From what I read, which I admit was a decade ago stated that Norway always shut down their rinks and remove the ice during summer. It is hard to get better when you can develop your skills for only half of the season. Hopefully, that has changed now...

Iceland simply does not have the population to sustain sports, but I do agree they should be better. The problem with their country is because the population is so spread out around the coastline, they only have rinks in two major cities, with three teams being in the capital city. it is similar to Italy, if you want to be a top-tier nation, you gotta have players playing the game throughout and not just in the major cities as it is for Iceland. For Italy, their problem is that it is so regionalised in the north, that nobody knows or cares about it south of Rome.

Yes, they were last week at the IIHF semi-annual congress in Rhodes, Greece. Bahrain also became a member.

PS: I do love Kenya's jersey

I don't think either of them are full-time members, correct? I think both are partial members hoping to eventually become full-time nations.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

I don't think either of them are full-time members, correct? I think both are partial members hoping to eventually become full-time nations.

Indeed, they are associate members. If I recall correctly, full membership is currently given only if the country fulfills minimum standard requirements for WC participation. I guess Bahrain will eventually get it. Kenya very unlikely.

 

[Albatros]

With growing middle classes in Africa we might very well eventually see similar developments as in some South East Asian countries.

 

[MeHateHe]

Indeed, they are associate members. If I recall correctly, full membership is currently given only if the country fulfills minimum standard requirements for WC participation. I guess Bahrain will eventually get it. Kenya very unlikely.

Correct. Full membership is for countries that actually play in world championships. There are other requirements as well - a functioning indoor arena large enough to play an actual game (as opposed to a small rink at a mall, for example).

The International Ice Hockey Federation has 83 member national associations. There are two categories of IIHF membership.

The first category is IIHF Full Member. These are the nations that have their own, independent, ice hockey association, separate from a winter sports federation, and they participate annually in the IIHF championship program.

The second category is IIHF Associate Member. These are nations that either do not have fully independent national associations or who have independent national associations, but participate to only a limited extent in IIHF championships.

Only full members have voting rights at the IIHF Congresses.

Below is a list of the member national associations. Click on each nation to learn more about hockey in that country, or visit the country link at the top of this page.

IIHF - Associations

IIHF - Associations

www.iihf.com

 

[Albatros]

Though not even all relatively major countries fulfill all of those requirements more than perhaps on paper, for example Italy does not have a separate ice hockey association yet they have hosted top-level tournaments.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

From the IIHF Statites & Bylaws (2021-2024):

11.1. Full Membership
11.1.1. Full membership may be accorded to an ice hockey association that controls solely ice hockey, operates independently of any other organization, meets minimum participation standards as specified in Bylaw 3.1.1 and/or Bylaw 3.2.1 and has taken part in an IIHF Championship in the Senior Men or Women Category

11.1.2.. Where an MNA has been granted associate membership status in accordance with Statute 11.2.1, but the laws and/or political environment of its independent state preclude it from becoming an independent organization controlling solely ice hockey, the IIHF may grant full membership status, using such criteria as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, the requirements that the MNA meetsminimum participation standards as specified in Bylaw 3.1.1 and Bylaw 3.2.1 and has taken part in an IIHF Championship in the Senior Men or Women Category.