Philippines men's national ice hockey team
 | |
| Association | Federation of Hockey League in the Philippines |
|---|---|
| Most games | Lenard Lancero (31) |
| Top scorer | Steven Füglister (51) |
| Most points | Steven Füglister (106) |
| IIHF code | PHI |
| IIHF ranking | 53 |
| Highest IIHF ranking | 53 (2024) |
| Lowest IIHF ranking | 55 (2023) |
| Team colors | |
 | |
| First international | |
Philippines  10–0  Macau(Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong; September 13, 2014) | |
| Biggest win | |
Philippines 17–1  Malaysia(Pasay, Philippines; December 8, 2019) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
Thailand  10–1 Philippines(Pasay, Philippines; December 6, 2019) | |
| IIHF World Championships | |
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2023) |
| Best result | 50th (2024) |
| Asian Winter Games | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2017) |
| Best result | 13th (2017) |
| IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia | |
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2018) |
| Best result |
 2nd (2019) |
| Southeast Asian Games | |
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2017) |
| Best result |
 1st (2017) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 25–8–0 | |
main
The Philippines national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of the Philippines. They are controlled by the Federation of Hockey League in the Philippines (FIHL) and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since May 20, 2016. Prior to that period, a national team has played in regional tournaments in Hong Kong since the 2000s.
The Philippines is currently ranked 53rd in the IIHF World Ranking and have entered in the World Championship since 2023. They have played in the Challenge Cup of Asia, a regional tournament for lower-tier hockey nations in Asia.
History
Early history
Prior to 2008, there were no organized leagues and an unofficial Philippine national team composed of players from selected clubs participated in regional tournaments.[1] One such unofficial national team was "Manila Pilipinas" that participated at the HKAHC Invitational Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament in 2005. They were second runners-up team in the Bauhinia Division, the lowest of the three divisions in the invitational tournament.[2]
Starting 2008, ice hockey in the Philippines began to gain traction.[1] The Philippine national team participated again at the 2014 edition of the HKAHC invitational tournament. The team were champions of the Silver Plate Division, the second highest division in the tournament.[3] It was in this tournament that the Philippines played against another national side. They won 10–0[4] over a Macau squad, sanctioned by the Macau Ice Sports Federation.[5]
The Federation of Ice Hockey League (FIHL), a national ice hockey federation was then established in February 2015 to govern ice hockey in the Philippines[6] making efforts to organize a formal national team easier.[1]
French-Filipino general manager, Francois Gautier[7] led the Philippine national team in open tournaments in 2015. Gautier mentored the Philippine squad that finished third at the adult division of the 2015 Hong Kong Fives, as well the Philippines that took the Gold Cup Division title at the 2015 HKAHC Invitational Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament.[8]
As an FIHL affiliate
The FIHL became an associate member of the IIHF on 20 May 2016[9][10] and by July 2016, the federation also became a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). The FIHL's membership with these two bodies made them eligible to send national teams including a men's national team to the official tournaments such as the Challenge Cup of Asia and the Southeast Asian Games.[1]
The Philippine national team participated once again at the HKAHC Invitational Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament for the 2016 edition. They settled for first runner-up place after they lost 4–3 in overtime to Mitsubishi Corp. in the Gold Plate Division final. They also played against the national team of Oman in the tournament.[11]
Official tournament debut
The Philippine national team participated at the 2017 Asian Winter Games,[12] which was their first official tournament.[13] They participated in Division II of the tournament.[14] The team, captained by Swiss-Filipino, Steven Füglister,[15] underwent a seven-month training which started in July 2016 prior to the competition.[16]
The team lost 10–5 in their first official match against Kyrgyzstan.[17] Philippines secured their first official win as a FIHL member when they defeated Qatar with a score of 14–2[18] and was followed by an 8–3 triumph against Kuwait, who were competing as the Independent Olympic Athletes. The team finished third in their division following their 9–2 win over Macau in the play-off for third place.[17]
2017 Southeast Asian Games
The Philippines participated at an ice hockey tournament event of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.[19] To prepare for the tournament, they participated at the 2017 Philippine Ice Hockey Tournament which was held at the SM Megamall Skating Rink in Mandaluyong.[20] The national team finished third behind second placed New York-based Islanders Red and first placed Singaporean side Pandoo Nation.[21]
The Philippine national team mentored by Czech head coach Daniel Brodan[22] started their Southeast Asian Games campaign with a 12–0 victory over Indonesia.[23] This was followed by their game against Singapore which ended with a 7–2 triumph.[24]
This was then followed by their game against Malaysia which saw the ejection of the Philippine captain, Steven Füglister from the game in the first period. He was given a game misconduct penalty for hitting a Malaysian player in a head while pursuing the puck although the skipper said the infraction was an unintentional accident.[25] The match ended with a 7–7 tie after regulation time after an extra five-minute-period which led to a shootout. The Philippines outshot Malaysia to register a win.[24]
The Malaysian organizers decided to suspend Fuglister for the final match against Thailand. The Philippines appealed this decision but failed to overturn the suspension.[25] Despite playing sans their captain, the Philippines wrapped up their campaign, undefeated with a 5–4 win over Thailand and clinched the first ever ice hockey gold medal in the history of the regional tournament.[26]
2018 and 2019 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia
The Philippines hosted the Top Division of the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia from 3 to 8 April 2018, their first IIHF-sanctioned tournament, at the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink in Pasay, Metro Manila.[27] The team was mentored by American head coach, Jonathan De Castro.[28] The national team settled for bronze after tying in points with champions Mongolia and runners-up Thailand. Goal differences of the three teams with matches against the two other teams, Kuwait and Singapore, disregarded was used as tiebreaker to determine the final standing.[29] The national team improved its best finish in the tournament in the following edition of the tournament in 2019 hosted in Malaysia. They lost to Mongolia in the final settling for second place.[30]
2019 Southeast Asian Games
The Philippines failed to defend their Southeast Asian Games title at home in the 2019 edition of the regional games settling for a bronze medal finish.
b|Kaspersky, an internet security firm, sponsored their participation in the regional games.[31]
IIHF World Championships
The Philippines' ice hockey governing body, the Federation of Hockey League in the Philippines, from 2017, projects the national team's first participation in the IIHF World Championships within three to five years.[32] They have applied to participate in the inaugural Division IV of the World Championships for the 2020 edition.[30][33] However the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[34] The 2021 Division IV tournament would also get cancelled. The Philippines' debut in the World Championship would be further postponed, after it withdrew from the 2022 Division IV tournament citing inability to train due to closure of ice rinks in the past two years due to the pandemic.[35][36]
By August 2022, the ice rinks reopened[37] and in October 2022, Finnish instructor Juhani Ijäs was appointed as head coach and program director of the Philippine national team.[38]
They would finally make their World Championship debut by taking part in the 2023 Division IV tournament in Mongolia. They swept all three games against Indonesia, the hosts, and Kuwait to earn a promotion to Division III.[39][40]
Tournament record
World Championships
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 through 2015 | Not an IIHF member | ||||||
| 2016 through 2019 | did not enter | ||||||
| 2020 | .png){kind=small} Bishkek |
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (was to enter Division IV) | |||||
| 2021 | All lower division tournaments cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[41] (was to enter Division IV) | ||||||
| 2022 | Withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic[42] (was to enter Division IV) | ||||||
| 2023 |  Ulaanbaatar |
52nd place (1st in Division IV) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 |  Sarajevo |
50th place (4th Division III B) |
5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 2/3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
Asian Winter Games
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 through 2011 | did not enter | ||||||
| 2017 |  Sapporo |
13th place (3rd in Division II) |
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 1/1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Challenge Cup of Asia
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 through 2017 | did not participate | ||||||
| 2018 |  Pasay |
 3rd Place |
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 |  Kuala Lumpur |
2nd Place |
5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 |  Singapore |
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| Total | 2/12 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
Southeast Asian Games
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kuala Lumpur |
1st place |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | Pasay |
3rd Place |
6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 2/2 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
All-time record against other national teams
Last match update: 29 February 2024[43]
| Positive balance (more Wins) | |
| Neutral balance (Wins = Losses) | |
| Negative balance (more Losses) |
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
 Hong Kong |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
 Indonesia |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
 Iran |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
 Kuwait |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 |
 Kyrgyzstan |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| Macau |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Malaysia |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 13 |
 Mongolia |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 21 |
 Oman |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
 North Korea |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
 Qatar |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
 Singapore |
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 17 |
| Thailand |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 21 |
| Total | 32 | 25 | 0 | 7 | 269 | 108 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "A cooling trend". 28 July 2016. http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=10964&cHash=0767c2ebfdadde4d8d2b839f29f95b5b. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ↑ "Japan Team Wins Hong Kong Hockey Tournament". Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club. http://hkahc.com/new_tournament/2005/hkahc_summary_results2005.htm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "2014 HKAHC Invitational Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament" (in English, Chinese). Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club. http://hkahc.com/new_tournament/2014/hkahc_tour_news.htm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "2014 HKAHC Tour Schedule". Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club. http://hkahc.com/new_tournament/2014/hkahc_tour_schedule.htm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "2014 HKAHC Invitational Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament Teams" (in English, Chinese). http://hkahc.com/new_tournament/2014/hkahc_tour_teams.htm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ Henson, Joaquin (25 October 2015). "Pinoys break ice in hockey". The Philippine Star. http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/10/25/1514581/pinoys-break-ice-hockey. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=518767
- ↑ "Focus on youth in ice hockey", The Philippine Star, 30 October 2015. Retrieved on 22 February 2017.
- ↑ "Philippines". International Ice Hockey Federation. http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/countries/philippines/. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ↑ "IIHF grows in Asia". 21 May 2016. http://www.iihfworlds2016.com/en/news/iihf-grows-in-asia/.
- ↑ "2016 HKAHC Tour Schedule". Hong Kong Amateur Club. http://hkahc.com/new_tournament/2016/hkahc_tour_schedule.htm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "29 Filipino athletes to compete in 2017 Asian Winter Games", 25 November 2016.
- ↑ "Southeast Asian newcomers", International Ice Hockey Federation, 1 March 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2017.
- ↑ "PH hockey team off to Japan for Asian Winter Games", ABS-CBN News, 16 February 2017. Retrieved on 17 February 2017.
- ↑ http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=49002
- ↑ "Ice hockey for Pinoys – why not", The Philippine Star, 25 February 2017. Retrieved on 25 February 2017.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "PH Ice Hockey Team ranks 3rd in Asian Winter Games", Philippine News Agency, 28 February 2017. Retrieved on 2 March 2017.
- ↑ "Philippines Win First Official Game, Thailand in Good Standing", National Teams of Hockey, Eurohockey.com, 23 February 2017. Retrieved on 25 February 2017.
- ↑ "Exciting times for Asia". IIHF. http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=11391. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ↑ "PHIT tournament a big part of Philippine ice hockey team's buildup for SEA Games", Sports Interactive Network Philippines, 16 June 2017. Retrieved on 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "Quest:2017 Philippine Ice Hockey Tournament", Business & Leisure, Sunshine Television, 12 December 2017. Retrieved on 12 December 2017.
- ↑ "Team Roster Philippines (PHI) – Ice Hockey Southeast Asian Games". International Ice Hockey Federation. 20 August 2017. http://stats.iihf.com/mihf/4/IHM0040PHI_33_1_0_PHI.pdf. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ↑ "SEA Games: PH ice hockey team shuts down Indonesia", ABS-CBN News, 21 August 2017. Retrieved on 21 August 2017.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Philippine ice hockey team moves past Malaysia and into gold medal match against Thais", Sports Interactive Network Philippines, 24 August 2017. Retrieved on 24 August 2017.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Tough ordeals make historic gold worth it for Ice Hockey Team", Tiebreaker Times, 2 September 2017. Retrieved on 4 September 2017.
- ↑ "Philippines defeats Thailand to win first ever SEA Games ice hockey gold", Rappler, 24 August 2017. Retrieved on 24 August 2017.
- ↑ "Philippines hosts 2018 IIHF Challenge Cup", Dugout Philippines, 27 March 2018. Retrieved on 9 April 2018.
- ↑ "IIHF Ice Hockey Challenge Cup of Asia - Team Roster (PHI - Philippines)". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2 April 2018. https://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/684/IHM6840PHI_33_1_0_PHI.pdf. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ↑ "Mongolia win IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia on goal difference", Inside the Games, Dunsar Media Company Limited, 8 April 2018. Retrieved on 9 April 2018.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Philippine Hockey Team goes one better with silver in Challenge Cup 2019", Tiebreaker Times, 9 March 2019. Retrieved on 9 March 2019.
- ↑ "PH ice hockey, tennis teams for 30th SEA Games get support from Kaspersky", Philippine Information Agency, 12 July 2019.
- ↑ "After SEA Games, Pinoy Mighty Ducks now eye World Championships", 31 August 2017.
- ↑ "Philippine hockey jersey displayed in Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame", The Philippine Star, 26 June 2019.
- ↑ "IIHF cancels March tournaments". IIHF. 2 March 2020. https://www.iihf.com/en/news/18277/iihf-cancels-march-tournaments.
- ↑ "Debut for Philippines postponed", IIHF, 13 December 2021. (en)
- ↑ "Unable to train for 18 months, PH withdraws from hockey world championships", Sports Interactive Network Philippines, 14 December 2021. (en)
- ↑ "ICE to see you again at SM Skating", Manila Bulletin, 11 August 2022.
- ↑ "Hockey Philippines hails new coach", The Manila Times, 6 October 2022. (en)
- ↑ "Golden debut for the Philippines". IIHF. 27 March 2023. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2023/wmiv/news/42682/golden_debut_for_the_philippines.
- ↑ "PH hockey team earns promotion after unbeaten campaign", 28 March 2023. (en)
- ↑ "IIHF – IIHF Council announces more cancellations". IIHF. https://www.iihf.com/en/news/23178/iihf-council-announces-more-cancellations.
- ↑ "Debut for Philippines postponed". IIHF. 13 December 2021. https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/wmiv/news/31133/debut_for_philippines_postponed.
- ↑ "Philippines Men All Time Results". National Teams of Ice Hockey. https://www.nationalteamsoficehockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Philippines-Men-All-time-Results.pdf.
External links
External links
