Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hockey sticks to control, advance, and shoot a closed, vulcanized, rubber disc called a "puck" into the other team's goal. Each goal is worth one point. The team which scores the most goals is declared the winner. In a formal game, each team has six skaters on the ice at a time, barring any penalties, one of whom is the goaltender. Ice hockey is a full contact sport, and is considered to be one of the more physically demanding team sports.
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European Championships, the precursor to the World Championships, were first held in 1910. The tournament held at the 1920 Summer Olympics is recognized as the first Ice Hockey World Championship. From 1920 to 1968, the Olympic hockey tournament was also considered the World Championship for that year.
The Canada men's national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada internationally. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior amateur club teams. Canada's national men's team was founded in 1963 by Father David Bauer as a part of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, playing out of the University of British Columbia. The nickname "Team Canada" was first used for the 1972 Summit Series and has been frequently used to refer to both the Canadian national men's and women's teams ever since.
The men's ice hockey tournament at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was the 16th Olympic Championship. The Soviet Union won its seventh gold medal. The silver medal was won by Finland, marking its first ever Olympic ice hockey medal. Sweden won the bronze medal. Games were held in the Olympic Saddledome, the Stampede Corral, and Father David Bauer Olympic Arena. This is so far the only Olympic tournament held on North American soil that was not won by either Canada or United States.
The Russian men's national ice hockey team is the national men's ice hockey team of Russia, overseen by the Ice Hockey Federation of Russia. As of 2021, they were rated third in the IIHF World Ranking. The team has competed internationally from 1992 until a 2022 ban, and is recognized by the IIHF as the successor to the Soviet Union team and CIS team. Russia has been one of the most successful national ice hockey teams in the world and a member of the so-called "Big Six," the unofficial group of the six strongest men's ice hockey nations, along with Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. The European nations of the Big Six participate in the Euro Hockey Tour, which Russia won nine times since 2005. Since September 2021, the head coach is Alexei Zhamnov, who took over from Valeri Bragin.
Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games program in 1924, in France. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
The International Ice Hockey Federation is a worldwide governing body for ice hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 83 member countries.
Adolph Frank "Aggie" Kukulowicz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and Russian-language interpreter. He played four games in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, then played 12 combined seasons in the minor leagues and senior ice hockey leagues. He won two Turner Cup championships with the St. Paul Saints in the International Hockey League, and was a 1964 Allan Cup champion with the Winnipeg Maroons. He was fluent in Russian and Polish, had a brief coaching career with GKS Katowice in Poland, and later worked as a European scout for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Viktor Pavlovich Kostyuchenok is a Belarusian former professional ice hockey defenceman and currently an assistant coach for HC Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). During a playing career that lasted from 1995 until 2014 he played for multiple teams across Europe.
Adam Russo is a Canadian/Italian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an Unrestricted Free Agent. He participated at the 2010 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Italian National men's ice hockey team.
Stéphane Da Costa is a French professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born in France, Da Costa moved to the United States as a junior to develop as a player. After junior, Da Costa moved on to NCAA collegiate hockey, playing two seasons with Merrimack College. He then signed as a free agent with the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Ottawa Senators in 2011, and played three seasons in the organization, including 47 games with Ottawa. In 2014, he left the organization as a free agent, signing with CSKA Moscow.
Teddy Da Costa is a French professional ice hockey player. He is currently a free agent having last played for Brûleurs de Loups in the Ligue Magnus. Da Costa has represented France at two junior men's world championships and seven senior men's world championships.
Loïc Lampérier is a professional French ice hockey player who currently plays for Dragons de Rouen of the Ligue Magnus. He participated in the 2010 IIHF World Championship as a member of the France National men's ice hockey team.
Luc Tardif Jr. is a French ice hockey coach, and former professional player. He is the head coach and general manager for Spartiates de Marseille of the French FFHG Division 1. Tardif is the son of International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif. A product of the French ice hockey system, Tardif is also a citizen of Canada, his father's country of birth.
Fabrice Lhenry is a French former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the head coach of Dragons de Rouen of the Ligue Magnus.
Florian Hardy is a French professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with Les Ducs D’Angers of Ligue Magnus France. Hardy joined Dornbirner on June 24, 2015, after his first season in the DEL with EHC München.
Antonin Manavian is a French professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for Brûleurs de Loups of the Ligue Magnus.
Thomas Roussel is a French former professional ice hockey defenceman who played at the 2009 IIHF World Championship as a member of the France National men's ice hockey team.
Alexander Nikolaevich Galchenyuk is a Belarusian former professional ice hockey player who participated in the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 IIHF World Championships as a member of the Belarus men's national ice hockey team.
Walter Wasservogel was an Austrian ice hockey administrator. He served as president of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association and later as the general secretary of the International Ice Hockey Federation. He received the Olympic Order and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.
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