Belgium

Belgium is a country in Western Europe. Brussels is the capital and largest city.

History of hockey in Belgium
Belgium's first artificial ice rink opened in Brussles in 1895. On December 17, 1903, the first Belgian club, Fédération des Patineurs de Belgique, was founded. The club played its first international match against Club des Patineurs de Paris in 1905.

The Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation was founded in 1908, and the country became the fifth member of the IIHF (then known as the LIHG) the same year.

The Belgian Hockey League was first held in the 1911-12 season. Brussels Royal IHSC has won the most league titles, with 23, the last of them coming in 1982. The Belgian National League operates as the second level of Belgian hockey.

The Belgian national team made its debut at the Coupe de Chamonix in 1909. At the first official European Championship a year later, they won a bronze medal, a feat which they would repeat in 1911 and 1914. They won a gold medal at the European Championship in 1913, and a silver medal in 1927. They participated at the Olympic Games four times, the last of them coming in 1936. Since the pool system was devised in 1951, Belgium has not made an appearance in the top division.

The national junior team made its debut at the World Junior Championships in 1979. Their best finish was 16th in their first appearance.

The women's national team made its debut at the Women's World Championships in 2000. Their best result was third in Division III in 2003.