Moldova
| Moldova | |
 | |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population | 3,559,500 |
| Registered players | N/A |
| Referees | N/A |
| Rinks | N/A |
| National teams | None |
| National federation | National Ice Hockey Federation of Moldova |
| IIHF since | May 20, 2008 (left in 2023) |
| IIHF ranking | N/A |
| Top league | None |
Moldova is a country in Eastern Europe. Chisinau is the capital and largest city.
Overview
Domestic Teams
See Category:Ice hockey teams in Moldova
Arenas
See Category:Arenas in Moldova
History of hockey in Moldova
The National Ice Hockey Federation of Moldova is the governing body of ice hockey in the country. Moldova became an IIHF member on May 20, 2008.[1] Their membership ended in 2023 following a prolonged lack of ice hockey activity.
While still part of Romania, ice hockey was first documented to have been played in Chisinau in 1935 when Pfadfinder defeated Mihai Viteazu 5-4. Mihai Viteazu and Sporting later met, the former winning 3-2 in 1937, and the latter taking a 6-2 victory in 1938.
The country has two ice rinks, one in Chisinau (Ice Bravo Patinoar), and one in Tiraspol (Snejinka). There is no national league in Moldova, but informal games are played at the Tiraspol facility.
A team from Moldova known as Solar Moldova Chisinau participated in the Westa-Neftek International Cup in Ukraine in May 2007. They finished in third place with a 5-4 shootout victory over Vityaz Kharkiv.[2] Youth clubs known as HC Acvila and Ice Hockey Club Bravo were founded in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and another junior outfit, Dinamo Chisinau, was formed in 2009.
Moldova hosted several international youth tournaments in 2010 and 2011. Some Moldovan clubs have played in the Romanian junior leagues. In 2009-10, Dinamo Chisinau participated in the Romanian U12 League, and the following year, they played in the Romanian U14 League. Platina Chișinău joined the Romanian U18 League for the 2010-11 season. They won the league championship by defeating SC Miercurea Ciuc in the final.
With a team composed entirely of Russian and Belarusian players, Platina joined the top-level Romanian Hockey League for the 2011-12 season. After only three games, the club withdrew from the competition. The next year, Platina took part in the Minor Hockey League B, a multi-national junior competition, which they played in yearly until 2015.
A monument to the late Soviet hockey star Vladimir Krutov was erected at the Snejinka ice rink’s entrance in Tiraspol in August 2013. His widow Nina Krutov and former Soviet hockey players Alexander Yakushev, Sergei Makarov and Alexander Kozhevnikov attended the ceremony. The Vladimir Krutov Hockey Academy was opened at the rink, and the first international youth tournament in memory of him was held at the same time.
The Moldovan national team has yet to make its international debut.
