Chile men's national ice hockey team
Chile men's ice hockey team, IIHF affiliate since 2000.
The Chile men's national ice hockey team represents Chile in international ice hockey and is overseen by the Chilean Ice and Inline Hockey Federation (Federación Chilena de Hockey en Línea y en Hielo). The team holds no ranking in the IIHF World Ranking and has never competed in an IIHF World Championship event. Chile joined the IIHF in 2000 as the third South American nation to do so, following Brazil and Argentina. It currently holds affiliate membership, meaning the IIHF recognizes the federation only for inline hockey, not ice hockey. The country has three ice rinks, located in Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas.
Chile made its international ice hockey debut at the 2017 Pan American Tournament in Mexico City. The team’s first game, on June 5, 2017, was a 26–0 loss to Argentina "A." The second game, against eventual tournament champions Mexico "A," ended in a 17–0 defeat. In the third game, Chile achieved several firsts: captain Carlos Valdebenito Jr. scored the country’s first goal, which also proved to be the game-winner, finishing with three goals and two assists for five points—the team’s highest single-game point total—in a 6–0 win over Brazil "B." Goaltender Leonidas Aceitón recorded the team’s first shutout. However, because the victory was against a club or "B" team, it does not count as an official international result. After sustaining injuries in the first three games and traveling with only eight skaters and one goalie, tournament organizers allowed Chile to use players from Mexico and Brazil starting with the fourth game. That game was a 4–3 win over Argentina "B." The fifth game was a 6–0 loss to Colombia (Red), and the final game, on June 11, was a 9–0 defeat to Brazil "A." Chile finished seventh with a 2–4 record.
On September 6, 2019, Chile played at the Amerigol LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida, its second tournament appearance and first at that event, competing in Division I. The team went 0–3, losing 8–4 to Venezuela, 12–2 to the Mexico Selects, and 11–2 to Colombia in the quarter-finals. Chile has also participated in the Amerigol Cup, earning silver medals in the U16 and Adults Division 2 categories in past years.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- La Roja sobre Hielo / (The Red One on Ice)
- Manager
- Monica Arias
- Association
- Federación Chilena de Hockey en Línea y en Hielo
- Iihf Code
- CHI
- First Game
- ARG 26–0 CHI / (Mexico City, Mexico; 5 June 2017)
- Largest Win
- CHI 13–1 COL / (Coral Springs, United States; 22 August 2024)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Chilean Ice and Inline Hockey Federation was founded and joined the IIHF in 2000, making Chile the third South American nation to do so. The country has three ice rinks, located in Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. Chile made its international debut at the 2017 Pan American Tournament in Mexico City, playing with only eight skaters and one goalie. After suffering several injuries in the first three games, the team was permitted to use players from Mexico and Brazil for the remaining matches. Chile finished 7th place with a record of 2–4, though its win over Brazil 'B' was unofficial and does not count toward the official international record. The team's first goal in history was scored by captain Carlos Valdebenito Jr., who recorded 3 goals and 2 assists in that game, and goalkeeper Leonidas Aceitón earned the first shutout. Chile later participated in the Amerigol LATAM Cup in Coral Springs, Florida, in September 2019, skating in Division I with a 0–3 record, losing to Venezuela, Mexico Selects, and Colombia. The team also obtained silver medals in U16 and Adults Division 2 at the Amerigol Cup in past years.
Reader's Guide
Chile's national ice hockey team occupies a marginal position in international hockey. As an IIHF affiliate member, it is not recognized for ice hockey competition, only inline hockey, and has never entered an IIHF World Championship event. Its debut at the 2017 Pan American Tournament highlighted the team's resource limitations: traveling with only eight skaters and one goalie, and relying on borrowed players from Mexico and Brazil after injuries. The team's first goal and shutout were achieved in an unofficial win over a 'B' team. Subsequent appearances at the Amerigol LATAM Cup resulted in winless records. Despite these constraints, Chile's participation marks its presence as one of the few South American nations in the sport, and its silver medals in youth and adult divisions at the Amerigol Cup indicate some developmental activity. The team's history reflects the challenges of building ice hockey in a country with only three rinks and limited IIHF recognition.
Did You Know?
- Chile became the third South American nation to join the IIHF, after Brazil and Argentina, in 2000.
- Chile's first international ice hockey game was a 26–0 loss to Argentina 'A' on 5 June 2017.
- Captain Carlos Valdebenito Jr. scored Chile's first goal in history, with 3 goals and 2 assists in a 6–0 win over Brazil 'B'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Chile men's national ice hockey team?
The Chile men's national ice hockey team is the squad that represents Chile in international ice hockey competition. It is governed by the Chilean Ice and Inline Hockey Federation (FCHLH) and has held IIHF affiliate membership since 2000.
Why is Chile not ranked in the IIHF World Ranking?
Chile holds only affiliate membership with the IIHF, a status that recognizes the federation for inline hockey rather than ice hockey. As a result, the team has never qualified for or competed in an IIHF World Championship event.
When did Chile play its first international ice hockey game?
The team's debut came on 5 June 2017, when it faced Argentina 'A' and suffered a 26–0 defeat.
Who scored Chile's first goal in international ice hockey?
Carlos Valdebenito Jr., serving as team captain, recorded the nation's first-ever international goal during a 6–0 victory over Brazil 'B'. He finished that match with three goals and two assists.
Why is the Chile men's ice hockey team significant in South American hockey?
Chile became the third South American country to join the IIHF in 2000, trailing only Brazil and Argentina. Despite limited infrastructure—just three ice rinks in the country—the nation has built a small but active national ice hockey program.
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