Iran men's national ice hockey team
 | |
| Nickname(s) | White Lions (Persian: شیرهای سفید) |
|---|---|
| Association | Islamic Republic of Iran Skating Federation |
| Most games | three players (17) |
| Top scorer | Jalal Keyhanfar (13) |
| Most points | Jalal Keyhanfar (22) |
| Home stadium | Ice Box, Tehran[1][2] |
| IIHF code | IRI |
| IIHF ranking | 54 |
| Highest IIHF ranking | 54 (since 2023) |
| Lowest IIHF ranking | 56 (2022) |
| Team colors | |
| First international | |
Macau  7–1  Iran(Sapporo, Japan; 18 February 2017) | |
| Biggest win | |
Iran 14–4  Malaysia(Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 27 February 2023) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
Kyrgyzstan  18–0 Iran(Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 3 March 2023) | |
| IIHF World Championships | |
| Appearances | 3 (first in 2022) |
| Best result | 46th (2022) |
| Asian Winter Games | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2017) |
| Best result | Disqualified (2017) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 7–13–0 (30 March 2024) | |
main
The Iran national ice hockey team (Persian: تیم ملی هاکی روی یخ ایران) is the national men's ice hockey team of Iran. The team was founded in June 2016, is controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Skating Federation, and on 26 September 2019, became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).[3] Iran made its debut in the IIHF World Championship in 2022. As of 2024, Iran is ranked 54th in the IIHF World Ranking.
2017 Asian Winter Games was the team's first tournament.[4]
History
Back in the 1970s, Ice Hockey was played as a recreation sport by the general public at "Ice Palace" (Persian: قصر یخ) which was located in Pahlavi Street before Vanak Square,[5] there was also another ice rink located in Aryamehr Sport Complex which was only used for Ice Skating. As a result of Iranian Revolution Ice Hockey and Ice Skating became banned, hence ice rinks got closed down.
Farzad Houshidari is among the first Iranians who is playing Ice Hockey abroad. Houshidari became the first player who has started hockey in Iran and played professionally abroad. Although there were or currently are many notable players of Iranian-origin across the globe, Daniel Rahimi, Mika Zibanejad and Rhett Rakhshani all play/played in the NHL, Rahimi and Zibanejad have represented Sweden in international competitions while Rakhshani represented USA. Currently there are two players of Iranian-origin in Omani National Team, Mustafa Hamedi[6][7] and Ali Reza Rasoli[8] and Umut Taherzadeh[9] have represented Turkey internationally. Other notable players are Mark Ardelan] Ryan Mior,[10][11] Farzad Khojasteh[12] and Arian Ali-Zade.[13] Also Canadian player Calvin Crowe was born in Tehran.[14]
There are currently three Ice Rinks which are Aramis Sports Complex (Tehran),[15] Damoon Shopping Center (Kish Island)[16] and Padide Shandiz Shopping Center (Mashhad),[17][18] which were respectively opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015. There is a standard Ice Rink underconstruction in Tehran.[19]
In July 2015 Taylan Aytac from Turkey,[20][21] together with Iranian trainee-instructors Pooya Ghandali and Saman Goodarzi,[22] taught in Iran's first Ice Hockey workshop which was held in Aramis Sports Complex in Tehran.
From 26 to 28 June 2016 Iran's first national team camp was held in Asiago, Italy which was headed by Christian Muller in the absence of head coach Kaveh Sedghi. In order to fast track the creation of a national team, the coaching staff decided that it would be best to include the entire Iran men's national inline hockey team powered by hockey players of Iranian-origin from abroad.[23]
The second national team camp held in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 20–27 August 2016, headed by Saman Goodarzi. Head coach Kaveh Sedghi and his assistants Christian Muller and Ramin Atighechi were unable to attend the camp. As part of the camp Iran team has been attending courses by Kazakh instructor Sergei Shavernev.[24]
On 23 August 2016 Iran national team played its first international against Kazakh team HC Almaty winning 5-4 in Almaty.[25]
Iran was to participate at the 2017 Asian Winter Games, but was disqualified after a number of Iranian players were deemed ineligible to compete in the regional games. Reported concerns leading to the disqualification includes some players failing to reside in Iran for at least three years despite having Iranian heritage, and claims of some players having represented other countries.[26] The games was supposed to be the team's first tournament.[27]
The Olympic Council of Asia allowed Iran to play its scheduled games at the Asian Winter Games but the matches were considered exhibition games and results did not count in the competition standings.[26] Iran's first match against a national team was the 7–1 defeat to Macau in Sapporo, Japan. The game was supposed to be Iran's first match at the Asian Winter Games if they were not disqualified.[28] They won 10–3 in their second exhibition game against Indonesia in Sapporo.[29]
Tournaments
World Championship
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 through 2019 | Not a member of the IIHF | ||||||
| 2020 | .png){kind=small} Bishkek |
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2021 | All lower division tournaments cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
| 2022 | 46th place (2nd in Division IV) |
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2023 |  Sarajevo |
50th place (5th in Division IIIB) |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2024 | Sarajevo |
52nd place (6th in Division IIIB) |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 3/3 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
Asian Winter Games
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 through 2011 | did not enter | ||||||
| 2017 |  Sapporo |
Disqualified[30] | |||||
| Total | 0/1 | – | – | – | – | – | |
All-time record against other nations
Last match update: 29 February 2024[31]
- Only official matches.
| Positive balance (more Wins) | |
| Neutral balance (Wins = Losses) | |
| Negative balance (more Losses) |
| Team | M | W | T | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 10 | +19 |
 Indonesia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 |
 Kuwait |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 |
 Oman |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | +6 |
 Singapore |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 21 | -9 |
 United Arab Emirates |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 9 | -3 |
 North Korea |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -5 |
| Macau |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | -10 |
 Turkmenistan |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | -10 |
 Philippines |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 | -12 |
 Hong Kong |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 22 | -18 |
| Kyrgyzstan |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | -30 |
| Total (13) | 20 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 94 | 158 | -64 |
Unofficial
- 8/23/16: Iran - HC Almaty B 5:4
- 8/24/16: Iran - Delta Almaty 9:2
- 8/25/16: Iran - BI-Group Almaty 8:4
- 12/21/16: Dubai Camel Stars - Iran 5:2
- 12/23/16: Dubai White Bears - Iran 13:7
- 12/24/16: Dubai Newsmakers - Iran 9:7
- 2/14/17: Kuala Lumpur Cobras - Iran 8:3
- 2/18/17: Macau - Iran 7:1 @ Sapporo
- 2/20/17: Iran - Indonesia 10:3 @ Sapporo
- 2/22/17: Iran - Malaysia 8:3 @ Sapporo
- 2/23/17: Turkmenistan - Iran 12:2 @ Sapporo
- 2020 Dubai Ice Hockey Open Cup
- 2022 4 friendly matches (as Online Tire) with Gümüş Patenler SK, Ankara, Turkey (Men) : 3-7 / 7-7 / 9-6 / 7-7
- 2022 2 friendly matches with KGZ U20 (Men) : Iran U20 0-4 / Iran Senior 3-5
- 2023 Kazan Hockey Cup (Men and Women)
References
- ↑ Ice Box at Facebook
- ↑ Iran Mall Ice Rink (@icehox_ir) at Instagram
- ↑ "Iran". 27 September 2019. https://www.iihf.com/en/associations/14688/iran.
- ↑ http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4590-interview-with-iranian-ice-hockey-head-coach-kaveh-sedghi.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJXmgbAeU0
- ↑ http://www.omanicehockey.com/Team.html
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=452965
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=452966
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=345609
- ↑ http://icehockey.wikia.com/wiki/Ryan_Mior
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=15624
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5456
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=265738
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=159894
- ↑ http://www.sportaramis.com/%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DB%8C/%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%DA%98.html
- ↑ http://www.damoonicerink.com/
- ↑ http://تورکیش-تورمشهد.com/mashhad-tour/pist-eskeit-ru-yakh-padide-shandiz-mashhad/
- ↑ http://www.boxnewsbox.com/opening-ceremony-for-the-first-ice-skating-center-in-mashhad/
- ↑ http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4219-warning-to-the-world-iran-hockey-is-coming.html
- ↑ http://varzeshzanan.blogfa.com/post/38
- ↑ http://www.eurohockey.com/player/575962-taylan-ayta.html
- ↑ http://sepantaskate.rzb.ir/post/27
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BD7_cJYPJ02/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BJW14J4j3QJ/?taken-by=iranhockey
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BJdKmUbDlig/?taken-by=iranhockey
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Iranian ice hockey team disqualified from Sapporo 2017 over ineligible players", Inside the Games, 19 February 2017. Retrieved on 21 February 2017.
- ↑ Formánek, Project: Martin. "Interview With Iranian Ice Hockey Head Coach Kaveh Sedghi - Eurohockey.com". http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4590-interview-with-iranian-ice-hockey-head-coach-kaveh-sedghi.html.
- ↑ "Iran makes Asian ice hockey debut with Macau loss", Iran Daily, 21 February 2017. Retrieved on 21 February 2017.
- ↑ "Ice Thaws", Iran Daily, 21 February 2017, p. 11. Retrieved on 21 February 2017.
- ↑ "ماکائو اولین حریف ایران در رقابتهای هاکی روی یخ". 17 February 2017. https://www.isna.ir/news/95112719424/%D9%85%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%81-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%A7%DA%A9%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%DB%8C%D8%AE.
- ↑ https://nationalteamsoficehockey.com/
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