View source for Spain men's national ice hockey team

{{Infobox national hockey team
| Name               = 
| Badge              = Escudo de España (mazonado).png
| Badge_size         = 150px
| caption            = The coat of arms of Spain is the badge used on the players jerseys.
| Nickname           = 
| Association        = [[Spanish Ice Sports Federation]]
| Most games         = Iñaki Salegui (61)
| Top scorer         = 
| Most points        = Iñaki Salegui (72)
| Home Stadium       = 
| IIHF code          = ESP
| IIHF Rank          = 31 {{decrease}}1
| IIHF max           = 29
| IIHF max date      = first in 2011
| IIHF min           = 37
| IIHF min date      = first in 2005
| Team_Colors        = {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#AA151B}} {{color box|#F1BF00}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| Jerseys            = 
| First game         = {{ih|ESP}} 6–4 {{ih-rt|BEL}}<br><small>([[Bagnères-de-Luchon|Luchon]], [[France]]; December 21, 1923)</small>
| Largest win        = {{ih|ESP}} 38–0 {{ih-rt|TUR}}<br><small>([[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]; March 27, 1992)</small>
| Largest loss       = {{ih|NED}} 19–0 {{ih-rt|ESP|1977}}<br><small>([[Las Palmas]], [[Spain]]; March 13, 1978)</small>
| World champ apps   = 30
| World champ first  = 1977
| World champ best   = 22nd ([[1977 World Ice Hockey Championships|1977]])
| Record             = 73–111–12
}}
The '''Spanish men's national ice hockey team''' is the national men's [[ice hockey]] of [[Spain]], and a member of the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF).

==History==
On March 10, 1923,<ref name="IIHF">{{cite news|url=http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/countries/spain.html|title=Spain|work=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]]|accessdate=19 February 2010}}</ref> Spain joined the IIHF after the [[Spanish Winter Sports Federation]] was founded in the same year. After building an artificial rink in [[Madrid]], [[Spain]], they entered their first international tournament in late 1923. Spain won their first international game against [[Belgium men's national ice hockey team|Belgium]] in the Challenge de Haute–Garonne tournament held in [[Bagnères-de-Luchon]], [[France]]. They lost their next game in the tournament to [[France men's national ice hockey team|France]].<ref name="history">{{cite news|url=http://www.fedhielo.com/images/hockey/docs/fedh_historia_hockey_hielo.pdf|title=History of Ice Hockey in Spain|work=[[Spanish Ice Sports Federation]]|accessdate=19 February 2010}}</ref>

In 1924, Spain competed in the [[Ice Hockey European Championships]] held in [[Milan]], [[Italy]]. During their first game against [[Switzerland men's national ice hockey team|Switzerland]], two of Spain's seven players were injured. Due to this, Switzerland agreed to play with only five players allowing the game to continue. Switzerland ended up winning 12&ndash;0. Spain was forced to forfeit their second game against [[Sweden men's national ice hockey team|Sweden]] due to the injuries suffered by their players. Sweden had also agreed to play with five players.<ref name="history" />

After the European Championships, Spain entered the Coupe de Davos in [[Davos]], [[Switzerland]]. Days before the tournament, Spain had upset Switzerland 4&ndash;0. The tournament had 12 teams broken into four groups with Spain being placed in group two along with Switzerland and [[Germany men's national ice hockey team|Germany]]. Spain lost to Switzerland, 6&ndash;0 and to Germany, 7&ndash;0. Spain also lost to Germany's second team, 2&ndash;0 but avoided being in last place by beating [[Italy men's national ice hockey team|Italy]], 4&ndash;0. On January 1, 1925, Spain played Germany's second team again, winning in double overtime 3&ndash;1. After beating Germany, Spain went on a Swiss tour winning three of the games they played. Spain played in the Challenge de Haute–Garonne for the second time in January 1925. During the tournament, they defeated Belgium's second team 4&ndash;1 and tied France 3&ndash;3.<ref name="history" />

In 1926, Spain again competed in the European Championships held in Davos, Switzerland. In their first game against Belgium, Spain lost 5&ndash;0. They also lost their second game to [[Czechoslovakia men's national ice hockey team|Czechoslovakia]] (9-2). In the consolation pool, Spain tied Italy 2&ndash;2 and lost to [[Poland men's national ice hockey team|Poland]], 4&ndash;1.<ref name="history" />

A Spanish team was intended to compete in the [[1924 Winter Olympics]], but withdrew prior to the start of the tournament. The following players were named to the 1924 Olympic non-starter squad: Fernando Muguiro, Angel Arche, Ricardo Arche, Andrés Otermin, Revilla, and Aurelio Botella.<ref>[http://olimpismo2007.blogspot.com/2010/01/cuando-la-seleccion-espanola-de-hockey.html Spanish Hockey History]</ref>

Plans were later made for Spain to field a hockey team at the [[1928 Winter Olympics]]. Throughout 1927, the Madrid press expressed confidence in this materializing, and Spain's participation was confirmed toward the end of the year. 10 players were chosen to play on the team: Aquilino Sobrino, Pedro Rivas, Ricardo Arche, Juan Arche, Angel Arche, Edgar Neville, Ricardo Urgoiti, Antonio Guerra, Insidoro Uceda, and Fernando Muguiro.

By this time the [[Palacio del Hielo y del Automovil]] had closed, so the players had to train using roller skates at the Retiro Park. At the last minute, the federation and the Spanish government decided to withdraw the entire Spanish delegation from the Winter Olympics, including the hockey and bobsleigh teams. 

Spain has competed in the [[IIHF World Championship Division II]] since it began in 2001. During the first year of the tournament in [[2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships#Division II|2001]], Spain defeated [[South Africa men's national ice hockey team|South Africa]], [[Iceland men's national ice hockey team|Iceland]], [[Australia men's national ice hockey team|Australia]] and [[New Zealand men's national ice hockey team|New Zealand]]. However they lost to [[South Korea men's national ice hockey team|South Korea]] preventing Spain from finishing in first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0001/Wsiia/cs/pg000003.htm|title=2001 IIHF World |work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> In [[2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships#Division II|2002]], Spain finished in third place in Group B after defeating [[Bulgaria men's national ice hockey team|Bulgaria]], Iceland and [[Luxembourg national ice hockey team|Luxembourg]] and losing to [[Yugoslavia men's national ice hockey team|Yugoslavia]] and [[Lithuania national ice hockey team|Lithuania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0102/WSIIB/cs/pg000003.htm|title=2002 IIHF World Championship Div II, Group B|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> During the [[2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships#Division II|2003]] version of the tournament, Spain defeated South Africa, [[Mexico men's national ice hockey team|Mexico]] and Australia and lost to Yugoslavia and South Korea. Spain finished in third place in Group A.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/WSIIA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm|title=2003 IIHF World Championship Div II,Group A|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> Spain hosted the Division II tournament in [[2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships#Division II|2004]] and finished fourth place in Group A by defeating [[Israel men's national ice hockey team|Israel]] and Luxembourg. Spain lost to [[China men's national ice hockey team|China]], [[Croatia men's national ice hockey team|Croatia]] and Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments/output/WSIIA/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=32|title=2004 IIHF World Championship Div II Group A|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> [[2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships#Division II|2005]] was a down year for Spain as they finished in fifth place in Group B with only two points. Spain's only win came against Iceland while they lost to [[Serbia national ice hockey team|Serbia and Montenegro]], Belgium, Israel and [[North Korea men's national ice hockey team|North Korea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_05/output/wsiib/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=1000000015|title=2005 IIHF World Championship Div II Group B|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> 

In [[2006 IIHF World Championship Division II|2006]], they lost to Serbia and Montenegro, [[Romania men's national ice hockey team]] and twice to Bulgaria while beating South Africa for their lone win. They finished in fifth place in Group A for the second straight year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_06/output/wsiia/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=51|title=2006 IIHF World Championship Div II Group A|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> In [[2007 IIHF World Championship Division II|2007]] they defeated Bulgaria, [[Turkey men's national ice hockey team|Turkey]] and Serbia and lost to Belgium and Croatia. Unlike the prior two years Spain finished in third place with nine points.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_07/output/wsiia/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=108|title=2007 IIHF World Championships Group A|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> In [[2008 IIHF World Championship Division II|2008]], Spain finished in third place by defeating Australia, Iceland and Mexico and lost to China and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iihf.com/index.php?id=587|title=2008 IIHF World Championship Div. II Group B|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref> Spain won three games and lost two in [[2009 IIHF World Championship Division II|2009]], their three wins came against Mexico, Bulgaria and South Africa while they lost to South Korea and Belgium. Spain finished in third place with nine points.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iihf.com/channels0809/wm-iib|title=2009 IIHF World Championship Div. II Group B|work=IIHF|accessdate=20 February 2010}}</ref>

Spain was ranked 34th in the [[IIHF World Ranking]]s in 2009. In 2010, Spain rose in the rankings to 30th and competed in Division II of the [[2010 IIHF World Championship Division II|2010 IIHF World Championship]]. They finished first in their group at the tournament and hence got promoted to Division I for the first time in their history.<ref name="IIHF" />

==World Championship record==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- 
! rowspan=2|Year !! colspan=2|Division !! colspan=2|Position !! rowspan=2 width=30|{{Tooltip|GP|Games played}} !! rowspan=2 width=30|{{Tooltip|W|Wins}} !! rowspan=2 width=30|{{Tooltip|D|Draws}} !! rowspan=2 width=30|{{Tooltip|L|Losses}}
|-
! Tier !! {{Tooltip|Div.|Name of the Division}} !! width=30|{{Tooltip|Ov|Overall}} !! width=30|{{Tooltip|Div.|Position in Division}}
|-
| [[1977 World Ice Hockey Championships|1977]] || 3 || Pool C || 22 || 5 || 6 || 1 || 0 || 5
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[1978 World Ice Hockey Championships|1978]] || 3 || Pool C || 23 || 7 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 6
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[1979 World Ice Hockey Championships|1979]] || 3 || Group C || 24 || 6 || 7 || 2 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[1981 World Ice Hockey Championships|1981]] || colspan=8|''Did not participate''
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[1982 World Ice Hockey Championships|1982]] || 3 || Group C || 23 || 7 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 6
|-
| [[1983 World Ice Hockey Championships|1983]] || 3 || Group C || 23 || 7 || 7 || 1 || 1 || 5
|-
| [[1985 World Ice Hockey Championships|1985]] || 3 || Group C || 24 || 8 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[1986 World Ice Hockey Championships|1986]] || 3 || Group C || 24 || 8 || 6 || 2 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[1987 World Ice Hockey Championships|1987]] || colspan=8|''Did not participate''
|-
| [[1989 World Ice Hockey Championships|1989]] || 4 || Group D || 28 || 4 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3
|-
| [[1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1990]] || 4 || Group D || 28 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
| [[1991 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1991]] || colspan=8|''Did not participate''
|-
| [[1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1992]] || 4 || Group C2 || 27 || style="background:#ACE1AF"|1 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1993]] || 3 || Group C || 29 || style="background:#FFCCCC"|{{Tooltip|5|Group 2}} || 5 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[1994 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1994]] || 4 || Group C2 || 29 || 2 || 5 || 3 || 1 || 1
|-
| [[1995 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1995]] || 4 || Group C2 || 32 || 3 || 5 || 4 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1996]] || 4 || Group D || 31 || 3 || 5 || 2 || 1 || 2
|-
| [[1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1997]] || 4 || Group D || 31 || style="background:#ACE1AF"|3 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 3
|-
| [[1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1998]] || 3 || Group C || 32 || style="background:#FFCCCC"|8 || 5 || 0 || 2 || 3
|-
| [[1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|1999]] || 4 || Group D || 33 || style="background:#ACE1AF"|1 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[2000 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2000]] || 3 || Group C || 31 || 7 || 4 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2001]] || 3 || Div II || 31 || {{Tooltip|2|Group A}} || 5 || 4 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2002]] || 3 || Div II || 33 || {{Tooltip|3|Group B}} || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2
|-
| [[2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2003]] || 3 || Div II || 33 || {{Tooltip|3|Group A}} || 5 || 3 || 2 || 0
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2004]] || 3 || Div II || 35 || {{Tooltip|4|Group A}} || 5 || 2 || 1 || 2
|-
| [[2005 IIHF World Championship Division II|2005]] || 3 || Div II || 37 || {{Tooltip|5|Group B}} || 5 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[2006 IIHF World Championship Division II|2006]] || 3 || Div II || 37 || {{Tooltip|5|Group A}} || 5 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[2007 IIHF World Championship Division II|2007]] || 3 || Div II || 34 || {{Tooltip|3|Group A}} || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2
|-
| [[2008 IIHF World Championship Division II|2008]] || 3 || Div II || 34 || {{Tooltip|3|Group B}} || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2
|-
| [[2009 IIHF World Championship Division II|2009]] || 3 || Div II || 33 || {{Tooltip|3|Group B}} || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2
|-
| [[2010 IIHF World Championship Division II|2010]] || 3 || Div II || 30 || style="background:#ACE1AF"|{{Tooltip|1|Group A}} || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[2011 IIHF World Championship Division I|2011]] || 2 || Div I || 26 || style="background:#FFCCCC"|{{Tooltip|5|Group A}} || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3
|-
| [[2012 IIHF World Championship Division II|2012]] || 4 || Div II A || 30 || 2 || 5 || 4 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[2013 IIHF World Championship Division II|2013]] || 4 || Div II A || 34 || style="background:#FFCCCC"|6 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
|style="border: 3px solid red"| [[2014 IIHF World Championship Division II|2014]] || 5 || Div II B || 35 || style="background:#ACE1AF"|1 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[2015 IIHF World Championship Division II|2015]] || 4 || Div II A || 32 || 4 || 5 || 2 || 0 || 3
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fedhielo.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.iihf.com/sk/iihf-home/countries/spain/ IIHF profile]

{{Men's national teams}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:National ice hockey teams in Europe]]