Andorra | |
Continent | Europe |
Population | 78,115 |
Registered players | 52 |
Referees | 0 |
Rinks | 1 |
National teams | None |
National federation | Andorran Federation of Ice Sports |
IIHF since | May 4, 1995 |
IIHF ranking | N/A |
Top league | None |
Andorra is a tiny country located in the Pyrenees mountains of Europe. Andorra la Vella is the capital and largest city.
History of hockey in Andorra[]
The Andorran Federation of Ice Sports is the governing body for ice hockey in the country. Andorra became an IIHF member on May 4, 1995.[1]
The small town of Canillo, where Andorra's sole rink, the Palau de gel d'Andorra, is located, hosted the 1997 D Pool World Championships, played between April 7 and 14.[2]
There is currently no national league in Andorra. The country's first team, known as Andorra Hoquei Gel, was founded on March 23, 1990, after having had its statutes approved by the Andorran government om December 20, 1989.[3] Junior players from Andorra played games against juniors from France and Spain in the 1990s. They also played in the French lower leagues.
The juniors later took part in the Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées regional competition. In 2003-04 they shared their team with Font Romeau. In recent years the junior clubs (ranging from U9 to U18) have played in the international Tawa Cup and, for the U15 and U18 teams, the Pyrenees League, which also features teams from Spain and France.[4]
In 2009 Andorra Hoquei Gel played a recreational team from Spain, Stick Cansat, losing 5-4 in overtime. The AHG senior team entered the 2a división, the second-level Spanish competition, for the 2010-11 season. They qualified for the national final as the only registered team in the Eastern Group, before losing 9-2 to CH Jaca B in the semifinals.[5]
The Andorran national team has yet to make its debut in an international competition.
References[]