Mongolia
| Mongolia | |
 | |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population | 2,754,685 |
| Registered players | 1,001 |
| Referees | 8 |
| Rinks | 12 |
| National teams | Men's Junior |
| National federation | Mongolian Ice Hockey Federation |
| IIHF since | May 15, 1999 |
| IIHF ranking | 46 |
| Top league | Mongolia Hockey League |
Mongolia is a country in East and Central Asia. Ulan Bator is the capital and largest city.
Overview
National Teams
Men's · Men's-U20 · Men's-U18 · Women's · Women's-U18
Domestic Teams
See Category:Ice hockey teams in Mongolia
Arenas
See Category:Arenas in Mongolia
Competitions
| Competition | Founded | Folded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolia Hockey League | 1991 | - | National competition |
| Mongolian junior competitions | - | Various junior competitions |
History of hockey in Mongolia
Ice hockey activities in Mongolia date back to 1960, when Soviet workers living abroad introduced the game. Outdoor facilities existed in the more populous locales such as Darkhan, Baganuur, Bor-Under and Khotol. A "traditional hockey tournament" was organized by the Zaluu Ue (Youth) newspaper in 1972. The military club "Aldar" and the Hudulmur (Munca) team from Ulan-Bator took the first places. A very nice impression was also left by the team of the provincial city of Darhan, where several young people, former players of the Spartak Moscow club, were active.[1] In 1983, a Mongolian team played in a 15-team tournament hosted by China. The Mongolian Ice Hockey Federation was founded in 1991, and the country joined the IIHF on May 15, 1999.[2]
The federation organized various tournaments such as the State and Ulaanbaatar Championships, Teenage Championship and the Federation Cup before 1997. In 1998, there were six domestic and two international tournaments staged in Mongolia. The Mongolia Hockey League was first contested during the 1991-92 season. Eermel Ulaanbaatar won the first league championship.
The national team made its international debut at the 1999 Asian Winter Games.[3] They lost 40-0 to Kazakhstan and 14-1 to South Korea, but defeated Kuwait 5-4 in the fifth place game for their first international victory. They next participated at the 2003 Asian Winter Games, finishing winless with an 0-3 record. In 2011, Mongolia finished fourth in the Premier Division with a 3-3 record.
Mongolia made their debut at the World Championships in 2007, playing in the Division III tournament. They made a total of five appearances at the World Championships between 2007 and 2012, recording one win, a 6-0 decision over Georgia in the 2013 Division III Qualification tournament.
There is little money for hockey in Mongolia. The only rinks in the country are the crude outdoor variety, and equipment is very rudimentary. Due to financial issues and a lack of equipment, Mongolia withdrew from the World Championships in 2009 and 2011.
They have been ineligible to participate since 2013, when the IIHF enacted new "minimum participation standards", stipulating that a country must have a functional, full-sized indoor rink in order to compete at the World Championships. However, Mongolia is still eligible to play in the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia, which they have taken part in five times since 2009.
The U18 national team participated in the IIHF Asian Oceanic U18 Championships from 2000-2002. They won the Division II tournament in 2002. The U18s later played in the IIHF World U18 Championship at the Division III level from 2008-2010.
References
- ↑ Sportul, 1972-04-20
- ↑ IIHF.com - Mongolia
- ↑ National Teams of Ice Hockey - Mongolia
