Venezuela men's national ice hockey team
Venezuela's national team, a non-IIHF side competing in the Amerigol LATAM Cup.
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The Venezuela men's national ice hockey team represents the country in international play and is run by the Venezuelan Ice and Inline Hockey Association. Because Venezuela is not a member of the IIHF, the team cannot compete in IIHF World Championship tournaments. Only two NHL players were born in Venezuela: Rick Chartraw and Don Spring. Chartraw played ten seasons in the NHL, winning four straight Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens (1976–1979) and another with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984.
Spring played four seasons with the Winnipeg Jets from 1980 to 1984. Chartraw represented the United States at the 1976 Canada Cup, while Spring represented Canada at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Venezuela debuted internationally at the 2018 Amerigol LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida. Their first official game was a 12–1 loss to Colombia on November 9.
After starting 0–3, they beat Brazil 5–3 on November 10, knocking Brazil out of the preliminary round and advancing to the semifinals. On November 11, they lost 13–0 to Colombia, finishing fourth. At the 2019 Amerigol LATAM Cup, Venezuela beat Chile 8–4 and the Mexico Selects 5–3. They lost 7–4 to Colombia in the semifinals and then fell 3–2 to the Mexico Selects in the bronze medal game, placing fourth for the second year in a row.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Venezuela play their first official international ice hockey game?
The team made their competitive debut at the 2018 Amerigol LATAM Cup, falling 12–1 to Colombia on 9 November. The very next day they picked up a 5–3 victory over Brazil, marking the nation's first-ever international win.
What is Venezuela's best result in an international tournament?
Finishing fourth at the Amerigol LATAM Cup is the highest placement the side has achieved, a mark they reached in both the 2018 and 2019 editions of the event.
Why can't Venezuela enter the IIHF World Championship?
Venezuela is not a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, which is a prerequisite for participation in IIHF-sanctioned World Championship tournaments. Their international exposure therefore comes through non-IIHF competitions like the Amerigol LATAM Cup.
What's the Venezuela connection to the NHL?
Two players born in Venezuela went on to play in the NHL: Don Spring, who spent four seasons with the Winnipeg Jets from 1980 to 1984, and Rick Chartraw, who played ten NHL seasons and collected five Stanley Cups (four consecutive with Montreal from 1976 to 1979 plus one with Edmonton in 1984). They remain the only Venezuelan-born players to have appeared in an NHL game.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Venezuela men's national ice hockey team (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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