United Arab Emirates national ice hockey team
Encyclopedia
The UAE ice hockey team is the national ice hockey
team of the United Arab Emirates
. The team is operated under the UAE Ice Hockey Association
, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation
.
in Abu Dhabi, also involving the national teams of Algeria, Morocco and Kuwait. UAE went on to finish first in the standings and won the gold medal after defeating Kuwait
4-1. UAE won gold in the 2009 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia
.
In 2010, the team became the first from an Arab nation to play in the IIHF World Championships when they participated in the IIHF Division III World Championship
. Although the team was not ranked in the world rankings, they played against Ireland, Luxembourg
, and Greece
, and finished last in the group with a record of four losses. Their new head coach is Teemu Taruvuori of Finland. In May they participated in the Kuwaiti organised Gulf Ice Hockey Championship
, finishing first after winning all three of their games.
in which UAE and Israel were scheduled to participate.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The team is operated under the UAE Ice Hockey Association
UAE Ice Hockey Association
The UAE Ice Hockey Association is recognized as the official authority for all ice hockey activities within the United Arab Emirates.The UAEIHA actively encourages UAE nationals to participate and gives them the opportunities through recruitment, training, competitive sporting programs, role models...
, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
.
History
In June 2008, UAE took part in the inaugural Arab Cup of Ice HockeyArab Cup of Ice Hockey
The Arab Cup of Ice Hockey is an annual international ice hockey competition involving teams from Arab nations. The inaugural tournament took place on the 16th to 20 June 2008 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A 2009 competition was planned to be held in Kuwait City, Kuwait but was...
in Abu Dhabi, also involving the national teams of Algeria, Morocco and Kuwait. UAE went on to finish first in the standings and won the gold medal after defeating Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
4-1. UAE won gold in the 2009 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia
2009 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia
The 2009 IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 15 March to 20 March. It was the second annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation...
.
In 2010, the team became the first from an Arab nation to play in the IIHF World Championships when they participated in the IIHF Division III World Championship
2010 IIHF World Championship Division III
The 2010 IIHF World Championship Division III was an international Ice Hockey tournament run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The tournament was contested from April 13–18, 2010. For the first time in the third division the teams was separated into two groups...
. Although the team was not ranked in the world rankings, they played against Ireland, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and finished last in the group with a record of four losses. Their new head coach is Teemu Taruvuori of Finland. In May they participated in the Kuwaiti organised Gulf Ice Hockey Championship
Gulf Ice Hockey Championship
The Gulf Ice Hockey Championship, also known as the GCC Gulf Ice Hockey Championships, is an international ice hockey competition involving teams from the Gulf Cooperation Council region. The inaugural tournament took place on the May 25 to May 30 in Kuwait City, Kuwait and was organised by the...
, finishing first after winning all three of their games.
Withdrawal from 2011 IIHF tournament
UAE decided to withdraw from the Division III tournament in Cape Town, South Africa because the UAE national team refused to compete against IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in which UAE and Israel were scheduled to participate.
All-time record against other nations
As of May 28, 2009| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| TOTAL | 19 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 98 | 84 |