Croatia men's national ice hockey team
Croatia's national ice hockey team, IIHF member since 1992.
The Croatian men's national ice hockey team represents the country in International Ice Hockey Federation events. Croatia joined the IIHF on May 6, 1992, less than a year after gaining independence from Yugoslavia. The team played its first international games in 1993 at the Men's Ice Hockey World Championships, where they lost both matches to fellow former Yugoslav republic Slovenia.
Croatia's highest achieved level is Division I B, which they have reached several times, including five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018. Their best World Championship result came in 2014, when they finished second in Division I B (24th overall). They missed promotion to Division I A by just two points; Poland finished one point ahead and held the tiebreaker after beating Croatia earlier in the tournament.
For home games, Croatia has used several venues since joining the IIHF. When hosting IIHF World Championship events between 2003 and 2016, matches were played at Dom Sportova in Zagreb. In 2022, Croatia hosted Division II A of the World Championship at Klizalište Velesajam. The team has also hosted Olympic qualifying tournaments twice. Group K of preliminary qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi took place at Dom Sportova. In December 2019, Croatia hosted Olympic qualifiers for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing at Ledena dvorana Zibel in Sisak.
Croatia has never qualified for the Olympic Games.
Quick Facts
- Association
- Croatian Ice Hockey Federation
- Coach
- Vlastimil Wojnar
- Asst Coach
- Marko Šakić / Miro Smerdelj
- Captain
- Borna Rendulić
- Most Games
- Marko Tadić (82)
- Top Scorer
- Marko Lovrenčić (36)
- Most Points
- Borna Rendulić (76)
- Home Stadium
- Various
- Iihf Code
- CRO
- Iihf Max
- 25
- Iihf Max Date
- 2018
- Iihf Min
- 32
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Croatia was admitted into the IIHF on May 6, 1992, less than a year after declaring independence from Yugoslavia. The team made its international debut in 1993 at the Men's Ice Hockey World Championships, where they lost both games to Slovenia, another former Yugoslav republic. Croatia's highest achieved division is Division I B, which they have reached on numerous occasions, including five straight years from 2014 to 2018. Their best ever finish at the World Championships was a second place in Division I B of the 2014 tournament (24th overall), missing promotion to Division I A by two points as Poland finished one point ahead and held the tiebreaker after beating Croatia earlier in the tournament. Croatia has hosted IIHF World Championship events between 2003 and 2016 at Dom Sportova in Zagreb, and in 2022 hosted Division II A at Klizalište Velesajam. They have also hosted Olympic qualifiers twice: Group K preliminary qualification for the 2014 Winter Olympics at Dom Sportova, and qualifiers in December 2019 for the 2022 Winter Olympics at Ledena dvorana Zibel in Sisak. Croatia has yet to qualify for the Olympics.
Reader's Guide
Croatia's national ice hockey team represents a nation that joined the IIHF shortly after independence from Yugoslavia. Their international debut in 1993 featured losses to Slovenia, another breakaway state. The team's highest achievement is reaching Division I B, where they competed for five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018. Their best World Championship finish came in 2014, placing second in Division I B (24th overall), missing promotion by two points to Poland. Croatia has hosted IIHF events at multiple venues: Dom Sportova in Zagreb (2003–2016), Klizalište Velesajam (2022), and Ledena dvorana Zibel in Sisak (2019 Olympic qualifiers). Despite hosting Olympic qualifiers twice, the team has never qualified for the Olympic Games. The team's history is tied to the post-Yugoslav period and gradual development within lower IIHF divisions.
Did You Know?
- Croatia's international debut in 1993 consisted of two losses to fellow Yugoslavian breakaway state Slovenia.
- Croatia's best World Championship finish was second place in Division I B in 2014 (24th overall), missing promotion by two points to Poland.
- Croatia has hosted Olympic qualifiers twice: at Dom Sportova for 2014 and at Ledena dvorana Zibel for 2022.
More in International and Olympic Ice Hockey 1-24
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