North Korea teams

[crobro]

Will they be playing this year in the iihf under 18 under 20 tournaments?

Click to read more...

 

[Albatros]

To my knowledge only senior men and women will be.

 

[baronsforever]

they haven't participated in u-20 since 2011, and only ever entered the u-18 worlds once (2001), not sure what it would take to change that.

 

[lakai17]

They're the favorites to take it all

 

[PanniniClaus]

Maybe Bob Hartley and Barry Smith will take on this challenge.

 

[ORRFForever]

Cool.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Will they be playing this year in the iihf under 18 under 20 tournaments?

You can contact the program directly

IIHF Member National Association DPR Korea

DPR Korea IIHF Member National Association since 8 Aug. 1963

www.iihf.com

 

[SoundAndFury]

It's somewhat silly they don't drop the pretense of hockey existing there altogether when they lack even the basic equipment to play it.

That might be the reason they pulled out of other competitions as well coupled with the heightened risk of defection they are parranoid about, etc.

 

[Albatros]

Their program is small and entirely state-run, but that's not really different to other sports in the country.

 

[kaiser matias]

It's somewhat silly they don't drop the pretense of hockey existing there altogether when they lack even the basic equipment to play it.

That might be the reason they pulled out of other competitions as well coupled with the heightened risk of defection they are parranoid about, etc.

They do play in North Korea. One of the Canadians who was detained by China (the two Michaels) was heavily involved in the program, and had contacts with North Korean officials regarding it (including Kim Jong-un, which was noted multiple times during his detention).

They reuse the equipment so it's old and worn down, but games do indeed get played there.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I went through the archives and the North Koreans joined the U20 set up in 1987... seemingly out of nowhere they finish 7th of 8 in the C Pool as it was then known. 20 goals for and 29 against. That's pretty incredible to be off the map and be competing against Denmark, Italy, GB etc...

They finish 2nd in the C Pool in 1990, well ahead of a debuting South Korean team. They win the C Pool in 91 to get to the B Pool for 92 where they get relegated..

They then disappear... not heard from, from 1994 on.. pretty remarkable entry and then disappearance..

 

[Leaf Fans]

I went through the archives and the North Koreans joined the U20 set up in 1987... seemingly out of nowhere they finish 7th of 8 in the C Pool as it was then known. 20 goals for and 29 against. That's pretty incredible to be off the map and be competing against Denmark, Italy, GB etc...

They finish 2nd in the C Pool in 1990, well ahead of a debuting South Korean team. They win the C Pool in 91 to get to the B Pool for 92 where they get relegated..

They then disappear... not heard from, from 1994 on.. pretty remarkable entry and then disappearance..

They were 3rd in division 3 in 2010 and 2012 according to Wikipedia

North Korea men's national junior ice hockey team - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

They also have a world ranking from 2023. Though it is admittedly not U20

IIHF World Ranking - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[PanniniClaus]

So odd... no other country like it at all. Appearing and competing well, disappearing... then reappearing out of nowhere and competing.. and off the map again. So there has to be a hockey culture of sorts.. just hidden.

 

[Leaf Fans]

So odd... no other country like it at all. Appearing and competing well, disappearing... then reappearing out of nowhere and competing.. and off the map again. So there has to be a hockey culture of sorts.. just hidden.

Yeah, hockey according to this magazine exits but is not that popular

These Photos Take You Inside North Korea's Ice Hockey League — Inertia Network

A SURPRISING HISTORY LESSON You may be surprised to learn that hockey exists in North Korea. Not only does it exist, but there are also over 1,200 players in the country at all levels and it’s been around since the Korean War. First popularized by Soviet and Chinese soldiers in the 1940s and 1950

www.inertianetwork.com