Norway men's national ice hockey team explained

Norway
Badge:NIHF-logo.png
Badge Size:180px
Nickname:Isbjørnene (The Polar Bears)
Association:NIHF
General Manager:Roger Harli
Coach:Tobias Johansson
Asst Coach:Niklas Andresen
Pär Johannson
Captain:Patrick Thoresen
Most Games:Tommy Jakobsen (135)
Iihf Code:NOR
Iihf Max:8
Iihf Max Date:2012
Iihf Min:21
Iihf Min Date:2004
First Game: 7–0
(London, England; 17 February 1937)
Largest Win: 24–0
(Sofia, Bulgaria; 5 March 1975)
25–1
(Debrecen, Hungary; 22 April 2005)
Largest Loss: 20–1
(Hämeenlinna, Finland; 12 March 1947)
World Champ Apps:70
World Champ First:1937
World Champ Best:4th (1951)
Olympic Apps:12
Olympic First:1952
Record:453–773–112

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.

History

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.[1] [2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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,[6] 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.[7] NIHA president Tore Johannessen managed Norway at the 1962 Ice Hockey World Championships.[8] 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.[7] 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.[7]

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.[7] 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.[9]

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.[9]

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.[9] [10] 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.[11]

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

GamesGPWOWTOLLGFGACoachCaptainFinishRank
1952 Oslo8000081546Bud McEachernRound-robin9th
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzodid not participate
1960 Squaw Valleydid not participate
1964 Innsbruck7500024019Rolf KirkvaagConsolation round (group B)10th
1968 Grenoble6300031618Egil BjerklundConsolation round (group B)11th
1972 Sapporo5300021727Ake BraskConsolation round8th
1976 Innsbruckdid not participate
1980 Lake Placid500104936Ronald Pettersson, Olav DalsørenFirst round11th
1984 Sarajevo7101051543Hans WestbergFirst round12th
1988 Calgary6001051838Lenhart Åhlberg, Tore Jobs11th place game12th
1992 Albertville6100051240Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs9th place match9th
1994 Lillehammer7100061126Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs11th place match11th
1998 Naganodid not qualify
2002 Salt Lake Citydid not qualify
2006 Turindid not qualify
2010 Vancouver40013823Roy JohansenTommy JakobsenQualification playoffs10th
2014 Sochi40004316Ole-Kristian TollefsenQualification playoffs12th
2018 Pyeongchang50113518Petter ThoresenJonas HoløsQuarter-finals8th
2022 Beijingdid not qualify

World Championship

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.[12] [13]

Head coach: Tobias Johansson

No.Pos.NameHeightWeightBirthdateTeam
2 D 1.89m (06.2feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 2 October 2003 Sparta Sarpsborg
4 D 1.81m (05.94feet) 85abbr=onNaNabbr=on 1 March 1997 Lahti Pelicans
7 D 1.82m (05.97feet) 82abbr=onNaNabbr=on 7 July 2002 Mikkelin Jukurit
8 F 1.8m (05.9feet) 82abbr=onNaNabbr=on 8 November 1993 Stavanger Oilers
10 D Mattias NørstebøA 1.78m (05.84feet) 80abbr=onNaNabbr=on 3 June 1995 IF Björklöven
12 F 1.85m (06.07feet) 86abbr=onNaNabbr=on 16 August 2004 Mora IK
13 F 1.81m (05.94feet) 78abbr=onNaNabbr=on 30 September 2004 Mora IK
17 F 1.85m (06.07feet) 88abbr=onNaNabbr=on 17 June 1994 Storhamar Hockey
18 F 1.86m (06.1feet) 92abbr=onNaNabbr=on 25 June 1995 Vålerenga Ishockey
19 F 1.88m (06.17feet) 90abbr=onNaNabbr=on 19 August 2000 Sparta Sarpsborg
20 F 1.8m (05.9feet) 82abbr=onNaNabbr=on 3 April 2000 Texas Stars
22 F 1.86m (06.1feet) 95abbr=onNaNabbr=on 24 January 1996 Storhamar Hockey
23 F Thomas Berg Paulsen – A 1.86m (06.1feet) 85abbr=onNaNabbr=on 6 August 1999 Malmö Redhawks
27 F 1.9m (06.2feet) 105abbr=onNaNabbr=on 13 June 1990 Storhamar Hockey
28 F 1.86m (06.1feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 5 October 2005 Mora IK
30 G 1.86m (06.1feet) 85abbr=onNaNabbr=on 3 August 2001 AIK IF
31 G 1.93m (06.33feet) 90abbr=onNaNabbr=on 21 November 1997 Örebro HK
33 G 1.88m (06.17feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 6 December 1994 Düsseldorfer EG
36 F 1.71m (05.61feet) 74abbr=onNaNabbr=on 1 September 1987 Minnesota Wild
37 F 1.94m (06.36feet) 96abbr=onNaNabbr=on 27 September 1999 Fischtown Pinguins
41 F Patrick ThoresenC 1.8m (05.9feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 7 November 1983 Storhamar Hockey
43 D 1.88m (06.17feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 21 October 1998 Östersunds IK
49 D 1.78m (05.84feet) 86abbr=onNaNabbr=on 9 April 1997 Pustertal Wölfe
54 D 1.85m (06.07feet) 85abbr=onNaNabbr=on 2 April 2000 Storhamar Hockey
71 F 1.87m (06.14feet) 93abbr=onNaNabbr=on 19 March 2002 BIK Karlskoga
72 D 1.89m (06.2feet) 92abbr=onNaNabbr=on 29 December 2005 Vålerenga Ishockey

Individual all-time records

Most matches played

PlayerTimeMatchesClub on debut
Tommy Jakobsen (D)1992–2010139Furuset
Mats Trygg (D)1999–present122Manglerud Star
Jim Marthinsen (G)1980–1995114Vålerenga
Thor Martinsen (D)1964–1980113Frisk Tigers
Per-Åge Skrøder (F)1999–present113Lillehammer
Mads Hansen (F)2000–present110Storhamar
Erik Kristiansen (F)1983–199497Storhamar
Ole Eskild Dahlstrøm (F)1989–200596Furuset
Petter Thoresen (F)1980–199596Vålerenga
Petter Salsten (D)1987–199592Furuset
Tore Vikingstad (F)1995–201088Stjernen
Trond Magnussen (F)1992–200488Stjernen
Ørjan Løvdal (F)1983–199583Stjernen
Marius Trygg (F)1999–present82Manglerud Star
Robert Schistad (G)1991–200082Viking
Morten Ask (F)2000–present82Vålerenga
Last updated: 4 January 2015
Source: hockey.no

Other notable players

Note: Still active players are bolded

All-time record

Updated as of 22 April 2024. Defunct teams are listed in italics.

OpponentPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGD
55 32 5 18 200 141 +59
39 12 4 23 91 114 −23
5 5 0 0 58 7 +51
5 4 1 0 31 11 +20
84 5 4 75 142 487 −345
11 9 1 1 93 20 +73
4 4 0 0 36 5 +31
31 1 2 28 33 121 −88
18 0 0 18 23 141 −118
97 46 9 42 310 245 +65
68 12 4 52 200 363 −163
2 1 0 1 4 2 +2
97 8 5 84 147 494 −347
97 58 14 25 335 225 +110
49 14 2 33 145 238 −93
21 16 1 4 113 55 +58
27 16 3 8 102 64 +38
46 26 3 17 167 132 +35
38 16 8 14 159 131 +28
7 3 1 3 21 18 +3
41 16 0 25 108 135 −27
3 2 0 1 15 8 +7
42 25 6 11 200 130 +70
77 31 7 39 243 316 −73
31 15 3 13 134 112 +22
18 1 1 16 25 75 −50
1 1 0 0 21 0 +21
36 7 2 27 65 140 −75
16 8 1 7 50 44 +6
6 6 0 0 31 6 +25
13 0 0 13 14 115 −101
1 1 0 0 18 3 +15
96 2 11 83 139 527 −388
76 26 5 45 221 289 −68
9 3 1 5 26 27 −1
44 5 3 36 106 246 −140
28 18 5 5 155 97 +58
Total 1,332 453 112 773 3,983 5,280 −1,297

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 39–40.
  2. Web site: Norway. International Ice Hockey Federation. 22 June 2011.
  3. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 59–62.
  4. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 71–72.
  5. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 97–101.
  6. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 97.
  7. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 105–112.
  8. Web site: 2.73 Tore Johannessen. Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. 22 February 2019.
  9. Book: Langholm, Dag . Norsk ishockey gjennom 50 år . 1984 . 115–126.
  10. Web site: Berettning A-Landslaget 1983–1984 . Norwegian Ice Hockey Association . 30 August 2005 . 9 January 2012 . no . https://archive.today/20120802012608/http://www.hockey.no/t2.asp?p=4915&x=1&a=142609 . 2 August 2012 . dead .
  11. Web site: Seniorlandslagene 1984/1985 . Norwegian Ice Hockey Association . 26 June 2005 . 9 January 2012 . no . https://archive.today/20120801233457/http://www.hockey.no/t2.asp?p=4915&x=1&a=137903 . 1 August 2012 . dead .
  12. Web site: Siste test før VM. hockey.no. 29 April 2024. no.
  13. Web site: Team roster: Norway. iihf.com. 10 May 2024.