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The Norway men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team from Norway that participates at the IIHF World Championships. The team is governed by the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association and is coached by Petter Thoresen.
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Isbjørnene (The Polar Bears) |
|---|---|
| Association | NIHF |
| General manager | Roger Harli |
| Head coach | Tobias Johansson |
| Assistants | Niklas Andresen Pär Johannson |
| Captain | Patrick Thoresen |
| Most games | Tommy Jakobsen (135) |
| Team colors | |
| IIHF code | NOR |
 | |
| Ranking | |
| Current IIHF | 12  (27 May 2024)[1] |
| Highest IIHF | 8 (2012) |
| Lowest IIHF | 21 (2004) |
| First international | |
Czechoslovakia  7–0  Norway(London, England; 17 February 1937) | |
| Biggest win | |
Norway 24–0  Belgium(Sofia, Bulgaria; 5 March 1975) Norway 25–1  China(Debrecen, Hungary; 22 April 2005) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
Finland  20–1 Norway(Hämeenlinna, Finland; 12 March 1947) | |
| Olympics | |
| Appearances | 12 (first in 1952) |
| IIHF World Championships | |
| Appearances | 70 (first in 1937) |
| Best result | 4th (1951) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 453–775–112 | |
The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (NIHA) was founded in 1934 and, adopting the international rules and regulations of ice hockey, became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1935.[2][3] Poor finances delayed the formation of a national team until 1937, and continued to hamper its development in the years prior to World War II. After missing out on the 1935 World Championships and 1936 Winter Olympics, the NIHF managed to raise enough funds to send a team to London for the 1937 World Championships. The national ice hockey team thus played its first game on 17 February 1937, losing 0–7 to Czechoslovakia, and was eliminated from the competition following a 2–13 loss to Switzerland.[4] Norway also took part in the next tournament in 1938, but was unable to participate in 1939. Results remained meagre throughout the pre-war years; of the nine international fixtures contested between 1937 and 1940, the closest Norway came to winning was 3–4 in the first game against Sweden, on 20 January 1939.[5]
After the war, ice hockey in Norway accelerated as new teams formed and improvements in infrastructure were made. The opening of the Jordal Amfi in Oslo made Norway's facilities state of the art.[6] Results began to improve on the international stage, though not before Norway had endured its worst defeat ever at the hands of Finland in 1947.[citation needed]
The period from 1949 to 1953 has been viewed as a "golden age" in the history of the national team, beginning with the maiden victory, a 2–0 win over Belgium at the 1949 World Championships. In 1951, the NIHF appointed Canadian Bud McEachern as head coach. McEachern brought a physical style which suited the players of the generation well,[7] and at the 1951 World Championships, Norway defeated the United States and Great Britain to finish fourth overall. Norway's inaugural Olympic tournament, was as host nation of the 1952 Winter Olympics. In 1953, Norway was the first Western nation to play the Soviet Union, overshadowed by the death of Joseph Stalin shortly after the team's arrival in Moscow.[citation needed]
Norway would continue during the 1950s to challenge the strongest national hockey teams. From the 1960s, the sport became more popular in the nation but national team achievements would decline as mild winters did not result in government support to construct artificial ice rinks to replace what had traditionally been relied on in the past due to weather conditions.[8] NIHA president Tore Johannessen managed Norway at the 1962 Ice Hockey World Championships.[9] After the 1965 World Championships, Norway was no longer allowed to compete at the highest level, and the NIHF resigned itself to competing at the top of Pool B instead.[8] Qualifying for the Winter Olympics was still within reach, however, and Norway managed to do so in both 1964 and 1968.
Norway would be relegated to Pool C after finishing in last place in Pool B of the 1972 World Championships. The NIHF was forced to revise its objectives; not to return to Pool A, but merely to survive in Pool B. The goal of qualifying for the Winter Olympics remained throughout this period, but after another stint in Pool C in 1975, the ice hockey tournament at the 1976 Winter Olympics went ahead without Norway's participation.[8]
In the 1970s, the unwillingness of the government to support the sport with improved training facilities encouraged a growing reluctance among players to represent Norway internationally.[8] This trend was finally reversed under the leadership of Georg Smefjell and Olav Dalsøren from 1978 to 1980. Smefjell and Dalsøren succeeded in reestablishing Norway competing internationally. At the 1979 World Championships, Norway finished fourth in Pool B and qualified for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. There, the team showed encouraging signs for the future, despite losing heavily against the top tier nations and eventually coming away from the tournament with only a single point.[10]
The appointment of Ronald Pettersson as head coach in 1980 heralded an era of Swedish influence on Norway's international ice hockey. For the next nine years, four Swedish coaches in a row took charge of a team that proved to be highly unstable. For Pettersson, the 1981 World Championships were a disappointment. Wins against Yugoslavia and Japan were barely enough to avoid relegation from Pool B. His successor, Arne Strömberg, experienced similar difficulties. At the 1982 World Championships, an otherwise strong performance was blighted by losses against newly promoted China and Austria.[10]
The next Swedish import was Hans Westberg in 1982, whose unorthodox methods lead Norway to the 1984 Winter Olympics. Expectations ahead of the Olympic tournament were only partially met, the 3–3 draw against the United States being the most notable result.[10][11] The following season, while initially promising, ended in catastrophe at the 1985 World Championships as Norway dropped out of Pool B for the third time.[12]
Norway stabilized itself in the lower half of Pool A in the 1990s, but the team was relegated again in 1997. After a spell with Swedish coach Leif Boork, Roy Johansen was hired in 2001. A new era of slow, but steady, growth began and Norway climbed thirteen places in the IIHF World Ranking during Johansen's reign, from a 21st place in 2004, to an 8th place in 2012. Johansen stepped down as head coach in 2016 and was replaced by Petter Thoresen.
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Olympic record
| Games | GP | W | OW | T | OL | L | GF | GA | Coach | Captain | Finish | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 Oslo |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 46 | Bud McEachern | Round-robin | 9th | |
 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo |
did not participate | |||||||||||
 1960 Squaw Valley |
did not participate | |||||||||||
 1964 Innsbruck |
7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 19 | Rolf Kirkvaag | Consolation round (group B) | 10th | |
 1968 Grenoble |
6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 18 | Egil Bjerklund | Consolation round (group B) | 11th | |
 1972 Sapporo |
5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 27 | Ake Brask | Consolation round | 8th | |
| 1976 Innsbruck |
did not participate | |||||||||||
| 1980 Lake Placid |
5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 36 | Ronald Pettersson, Olav Dalsøren | First round | 11th | |
 1984 Sarajevo |
7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 43 | Hans Westberg | First round | 12th | |
 1988 Calgary |
6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 38 | Lenhart Åhlberg, Tore Jobs | 11th place game | 12th | |
| 1992 Albertville |
6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 40 | Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs | 9th place match | 9th | |
| 1994 Lillehammer |
7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 26 | Bengt Olsson, Tore Jobs | 11th place match | 11th | |
| 1998 Nagano |
did not qualify | |||||||||||
| 2002 Salt Lake City |
did not qualify | |||||||||||
| 2006 Turin |
did not qualify | |||||||||||
| 2010 Vancouver |
4 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 3 | 8 | 23 | Roy Johansen | Tommy Jakobsen | Qualification playoffs | 10th |
 2014 Sochi |
4 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 4 | 3 | 16 | Ole-Kristian Tollefsen | Qualification playoffs | 12th | |
 2018 Pyeongchang |
5 | 0 | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | 5 | 18 | Petter Thoresen | Jonas Holøs | Quarter-finals | 8th |
| 2022 Beijing |
did not qualify | |||||||||||
| 2026 Milan and Cortina | ||||||||||||
World Championship
- 1937 – 9th place
- 1938 – 13th place
- 1949 – 8th place
- 1950 – 6th place
- 1951 – 4th place
- 1952 – 9th place
- 1954 – 8th place
- 1956 – 12th place (2nd in "Pool B")
- 1958 – 7th place
- 1959 – 8th place
- 1961 – 9th place (Won "Pool B" after qualification)
- 1962 – 5th place
- 1963 – 9th place (Won "Pool B")
- 1964 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B" after qualification)
- 1965 – 8th place
- 1966 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1967 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B")
- 1968 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B" after qualification)
- 1969 – 11th place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1970 – 9th place (3rd in "Pool B")
- 1971 – 10th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1972 – 13th place (7th in "Pool B")
- 1973 – 15th place (Won "Pool C")
- 1974 – 13th place (7th in "Pool B")
- 1975 – 15th place (Won "Pool C")
- 1976 – 11th place (3rd in "Pool B")
- 1977 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1978 – 14th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1979 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1981 – 14th place (6th in "Pool B")
- 1982 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1983 – 12th place (4th in "Pool B")
- 1985 – 15th place (7th in "Pool B")
- 1986 – 17th place (Won "Pool C")
- 1987 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
- 1989 – 9th place (Won "Pool B")
- 1990 – 8th place
- 1991 – 10th place (2nd in "Pool B")
- 1992 – 10th place
- 1993 – 9th place
- 1994 – 11th place
- 1995 – 10th place
- 1996 – 10th place
- 1997 – 12th place
- 1998 – 21st place (5th in "Pool B")
- 1999 – 12th place
- 2000 – 10th place
- 2001 – 15th place
- 2002 – 22nd place (3rd in "Group B")
- 2003 – 20th place (2nd in "Group B")
- 2004 – 20th place (2nd in "Group A")
- 2005 – 17th place (Won "Group A")
- 2006 – 11th place
- 2007 – 14th place
- 2008 – 8th place
- 2009 – 11th place
- 2010 – 9th place
- 2011 – 6th place
- 2012 – 8th place
- 2013 – 10th place
- 2014 – 12th place
- 2015 – 11th place
- 2016 – 10th place
- 2017 – 11th place
- 2018 – 13th place
- 2019 – 12th place
- 2020 – Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[13]
- 2021 – 13th place
- 2022 – 13th place
- 2023 – 13th place
- 2024 – 11th place
- 2025 –
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Current roster
Roster for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.[14][15]
Head coach: Tobias Johansson
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | D | Isak Hansen | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 2 October 2003 | Sparta Sarpsborg |
| 4 | D | Johannes Johannesen | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 1 March 1997 | Lahti Pelicans |
| 7 | D | Sander Vold Engebråten | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | 7 July 2002 | Mikkelin Jukurit |
| 8 | F | Mathias Trettenes | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | 8 November 1993 | Stavanger Oilers |
| 10 | D | Mattias Nørstebø – A | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | 3 June 1995 |  IF Björklöven |
| 12 | F | Noah Steen | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | 16 August 2004 | Mora IK |
| 13 | F | Petter Vesterheim | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 78 kg (172 lb) | 30 September 2004 | Mora IK |
| 17 | F | Eirik Salsten | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | 17 June 1994 | Storhamar Hockey |
| 18 | F | Thomas Olsen | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | 25 June 1995 | Vålerenga Ishockey |
| 19 | F | Håvard Salsten | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 19 August 2000 | Sparta Sarpsborg |
| 20 | F | Mathias Emilio Pettersen | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | 3 April 2000 | Texas Stars |
| 22 | F | Martin Rønnild | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) | 24 January 1996 | Storhamar Hockey |
| 23 | F | Thomas Berg Paulsen – A | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 6 August 1999 | Malmö Redhawks |
| 27 | F | Andreas Martinsen | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | 13 June 1990 | Storhamar Hockey |
| 28 | F | Michael Brandsegg-Nygård | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 5 October 2005 | Mora IK |
| 30 | G | Tobias Normann | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 3 August 2001 | AIK IF |
| 31 | G | Jonas Arntzen | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 21 November 1997 | Örebro HK |
| 33 | G | Henrik Haukeland | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 6 December 1994 |  Düsseldorfer EG |
| 36 | F | Mats Zuccarello | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | 74 kg (163 lb) | 1 September 1987 | Minnesota Wild |
| 37 | F | Markus Vikingstad | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | 27 September 1999 | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 41 | F | Patrick Thoresen – C | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 7 November 1983 | Storhamar Hockey |
| 43 | D | Max Krogdahl | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 21 October 1998 | Östersunds IK |
| 49 | D | Christian Kåsastul | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | 9 April 1997 | Pustertal Wölfe |
| 54 | D | Sander Hurrod | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 85 kg (187 lb) | 2 April 2000 | Storhamar Hockey |
| 71 | F | Eskild Bakke Olsen | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | 19 March 2002 | BIK Karlskoga |
| 72 | D | Stian Solberg | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | 92 kg (203 lb) | 29 December 2005 | Vålerenga Ishockey |
Individual all-time records
Still active players are highlighted
Most matches played
| Player | Time | Matches | Club on debut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Jakobsen (D) | 1992–2010 | 139 | Furuset |
| Mats Trygg (D) | 1999–present | 122 | Manglerud Star |
| Jim Marthinsen (G) | 1980–1995 | 114 | Vålerenga |
| Thor Martinsen (D) | 1964–1980 | 113 | Frisk Tigers |
| Per-Åge Skrøder (F) | 1999–present | 113 | Lillehammer |
| Mads Hansen (F) | 2000–present | 110 | Storhamar |
| Erik Kristiansen (F) | 1983–1994 | 97 | Storhamar |
| Ole Eskild Dahlstrøm (F) | 1989–2005 | 96 | Furuset |
| Petter Thoresen (F) | 1980–1995 | 96 | Vålerenga |
| Petter Salsten (D) | 1987–1995 | 92 | Furuset |
| Tore Vikingstad (F) | 1995–2010 | 88 | Stjernen |
| Trond Magnussen (F) | 1992–2004 | 88 | Stjernen |
| Ørjan Løvdal (F) | 1983–1995 | 83 | Stjernen |
| Marius Trygg (F) | 1999–present | 82 | Manglerud Star |
| Robert Schistad (G) | 1991–2000 | 82 | Viking |
| Morten Ask (F) | 2000–present | 82 | Vålerenga |
Last updated: 4 January 2015
Source: hockey.no
Other notable players
- Geir Hoff
- Ron 'Ole' Bakerson
- Martin Knold
- Åge Ellingsen
- Roy Johansen
- Jenson Stott
- Bjørn "Botta" Skaare
- Espen "Shampo" Knutsen
- Morten Ask
- Anders Myrvold
- Patrick Thoresen
- Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
- Mats Zuccarello Aasen
Note: Still active players are bolded
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Updated as of 12 December 2024. Defunct teams are listed in italics.
| Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 55 | 32 | 5 | 18 | 200 | 141 | +59 |
 Belarus | 39 | 12 | 4 | 23 | 91 | 114 | −23 |
| Belgium | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 7 | +51 |
 Bulgaria | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 11 | +20 |
| Canada | 84 | 5 | 4 | 75 | 142 | 487 | −345 |
| China | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 20 | +73 |
 Croatia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 5 | +31 |
| Czech Republic | 31 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 33 | 121 | −88 |
| Czechoslovakia | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 23 | 141 | −118 |
 Denmark | 97 | 46 | 9 | 42 | 310 | 245 | +65 |
 East Germany | 68 | 12 | 4 | 52 | 200 | 363 | −163 |
 Estonia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 |
| Finland | 97 | 8 | 5 | 84 | 147 | 494 | −347 |
| France | 97 | 58 | 14 | 25 | 335 | 225 | +110 |
| Germany | 49 | 14 | 2 | 33 | 145 | 238 | −93 |
 Great Britain | 21 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 113 | 55 | +58 |
 Hungary | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 102 | 64 | +38 |
| Italy | 46 | 26 | 3 | 17 | 167 | 132 | +35 |
| Japan | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 159 | 131 | +28 |
 Kazakhstan | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 18 | +3 |
 Latvia | 42 | 16 | 0 | 26 | 108 | 138 | −30 |
 Lithuania | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 |
 Netherlands | 42 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 200 | 130 | +70 |
 Poland | 77 | 31 | 7 | 39 | 243 | 316 | −73 |
 Romania | 31 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 134 | 112 | +22 |
| Russia | 18 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 25 | 75 | −50 |
 Serbia and Montenegro | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | +21 |
 Slovakia | 37 | 7 | 2 | 28 | 66 | 143 | −77 |
 Slovenia | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 50 | 44 | +6 |
| South Korea | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | +25 |
 Soviet Union | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 115 | −101 |
 Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | +15 |
| Sweden | 96 | 2 | 11 | 83 | 139 | 527 | −388 |
 Switzerland | 76 | 26 | 5 | 45 | 221 | 289 | −68 |
 Ukraine | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 27 | −1 |
| United States | 44 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 106 | 246 | −140 |
| Yugoslavia | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 155 | 97 | +58 |
| Total | 1,334 | 453 | 112 | 775 | 3,984 | 5,286 | −1,302 |
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