 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(May 2018) |
| Ice hockey in Turkmenistan | |
|---|---|
| Country | Turkmenistan |
| Governing body | Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Federation |
| National team(s) | Men's national team |
| First played | 2013 |
National competitions | |
International competitions | |
Ice hockey is a minor sport that is gaining popularity in Turkmenistan .
Ice hockey never gained popularity in independent post-Soviet Turkmenistan until the president Saparmurat Niyazov ordered the construction of an Ice Palace in the desert foothills of the Kopet Dag. In 2006, the company Bouygues completed construction of the first Ice Palace. In 2011, the country had opened the second Ice Palace worth €134.4 million. The total area of the new sports palace is 107,000 square meters, and in its center is the ice arena measuring 60 by 30 meters.
Turkmenistan became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on 15 May 2015. It has been a full member of the IIHF and was the third former Soviet republic from Central Asia after Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to join the IIHF. [1] [2]
The first national team was formed in 2011, comprising players from Ashgabat-based teams: Oguzkhan, Alp Arslan, Shir and Burgut. In 2013, the under-20 national team played its first game against Minsk City, which was won by 7–2. In 2016, Turkmenistan played its first game against Ashgabat, which was won by 12–2.
In 2017, Turkmenistan made its international debut at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan. Turkmenistan played in Division II and their first official game against Malaysia, winning by 9–2, and later went on to win the division by defeating Kyrgyzstan, 7–3 in the final. Their third game against Iran, winning by 12–2, but their opposition was disqualified due to the number of Iranian players were deemed ineligible. Iran still played their scheduled game against Turkmenistan on 23 February 2017. However, the game was considered as an exhibition game and its results has no bearing in the standings of the tournament. [3] In 2018, the under-20 national team was supposed to make their debut at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship Division III Qualification tournament, but they withdrew prior to the tournament starting. The (senior) national team made its debut at the 2018 IIHF World Championship Division III qualification tournament in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They won all of their games and earning a promotion to Division III for 2019. [4] The national team finished third place in the 2019 IIHF World Championship Division III tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The Armenian national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Armenia. They hosted the Division III, Group B tournament of the 2010 World Championships. They are managed by the Ice Hockey Federation of Armenia.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation through the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ice Hockey Federation.
The Greek men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Greece. They played in two World Junior Championships in 1991 and 1992, as well as the qualification tournament for 1993. They have not officially participated since 1993 then.
The Georgian men's national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Georgia, and has been a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since 8 May 2009. As of 2022, Georgia is ranked 43rd in the World Ranking. Georgia first played in the World Championships tournament in 2013, and remained at Division III level until winning at that level in 2018 and earning a promotion to Division II Group B, where they currently play.
The Kyrgyzstan national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Kyrgyzstan. They are controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic and has been an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). As of 2022, Kyrgyzstan is ranked 49th in the IIHF World Ranking.
The Turkmenistan national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Turkmenistan. The team is controlled by the Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Federation and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Turkmenistan is currently ranked 49th in the IIHF World Ranking and made its debut in the 2018 World Championship Division III Qualification tournament.
The United Arab Emirates men's national junior ice hockey team is the men's national under-20 ice hockey team of the United Arab Emirates. The team is controlled by the UAE Ice Sports Federation, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Since debuting in 2013 the United Arab Emirates have competed in a series of exhibition games and competed in the 2018 IIHF U20 Challenge Cup of Asia where they finished third.
Ice hockey is a sport played primarily in cold weather countries in the world. The International Ice Hockey Federation has 76 members.
The Turkmenistan Ice Hockey Federation is the governing body of ice hockey in Turkmenistan.
The Iran national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Iran. The team was founded in June 2016, is controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Skating Federation, and on 26 September 2019, became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Iran made its debut in the IIHF World Championship in 2022. As of 2022, Iran is ranked 56th in the IIHF World Ranking.
Ice hockey at the 2017 Asian Winter Games was held in Sapporo, Japan between 18–26 February at three venues.
Turkmenistan is scheduled to compete in the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo and Obihiro, Japan from February 19 to 26. This will mark the country's debut at the Asian Winter Games. The country is scheduled to compete in one sport: ice hockey.
The men's Ice hockey tournament at the 2017 Asian Winter Games was held in Sapporo, Japan between 18 and 26 February at three venues.
The Indonesian national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Indonesia and has been an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Indonesia is currently not ranked in the IIHF World Ranking and have not entered in any World Championship tournaments or at any Olympic Games, but have played in the Challenge Cup of Asia, a regional tournament for lower-tier hockey nations in Asia.
The 2018 IIHF World Championship Division III was an international ice hockey tournament run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. It was held in Cape Town, South Africa and the qualification tournament in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina after the original hosts, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, withdrew their application.
The 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship Division III was played with one group of six teams, as well as a three team qualification tournament for the 2019 tournament. Israel won all their games and were promoted to Division II B. The team which placed first in the qualification tournament was expected to be promoted to Division III, swapping places with the sixth place team in Division III, but the 2019 organizers chose to make Division III a single tournament making these placings irrelevant.
The Kyrgyzstan men's national junior ice hockey team is the men's national under-20 ice hockey team of Kyrgyzstan. The team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. In December 2017 the team made their international debut at the 2018 IIHF U20 Challenge Cup of Asia where they finished second behind Malaysia.
The 2019 Men's Ice Hockey World Championships was the 83rd such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Teams participated at several levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for division placements in the 2020 competition. Two national teams, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand, made their debut in the World Championships.
The 2019 IIHF World Championship Division III was an international ice hockey tournament run by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The 2022 IIHF World Championship Division IV was an international ice hockey tournament organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
 | This ice hockey article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article related to sport in Turkmenistan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |