Iran men's national ice hockey team

The Iranian national ice hockey team (Persian: تیم ملی هاکی روی یخ ایران‎) is the national ice hockey team of Iran. The team was founded in June 2016, is controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Skating Federation, and on 26 September 2019, became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).[4]

Iran
Nickname(s)The White Lions (شیرهای سفید)
AssociationIslamic Republic of Iran Skating Federation
General ManagerKaveh Sedghi
Head coachChristian Müller
CaptainShahryar Amini
Home stadiumIce Box, Tehran[1][2]
Team colors         
IIHF codeIRI
Ranking
Current IIHFNR (24 April 2020)[3]
First international
Macau  7–1  Iran
(Sapporo, Japan; 18 February 2017)
Biggest win
Iran  10–3  Indonesia
(Sapporo, Japan; 20 February 2017)
Biggest defeat
Turkmenistan  12–2  Iran
(Sapporo, Japan; 23 February 2017)
International record (W–L–T)
2–2–0

History

Ice hockey in Iran

Back in the 1970s, ice hockey was played as a recreation sport by the general public at the "Ice Palace" (Persian: قصر یخ‎) which was located in Pahlavi Street before Vanak Square,[5] there was also another ice rink located in Aryamehr Sport Complex which was only used for ice skating. As a result of Iranian Revolution, ice hockey and skating became banned, hence ice rinks got closed down.

Farzad Houshidari is among the first Iranians who played ice hockey abroad. Houshidari became the first player who has started ice hockey in Iran and played professionally abroad. Although there were or currently are many notable players of Iranian-origin across the globe, Daniel Rahimi, Mika Zibanejad and Rhett Rakhshani all were selected in the NHL Entry Draft, with Zibanejad and Rakhshani playing in the NHL. Both Rahimi and Zibanejad have represented Sweden in international competitions while Rakhshani represented the United States. Currently there are two players of Iranian-origin in Oman, Mustafa Hamedi[6][7] and Ali Reza Rasoli.[8] Umut Taherzadeh[9] have represented Turkey internationally. Other notable players are Mark Ardelan,[10] Ryan Mior,[11] Farzad Khojasteh[12] and Arian Ali-Zade.[13] Also a Canadian player, Calvin Crowe was born in Tehran.[14]

There are currently four Ice Rinks which are Aramis Sports Complex (Tehran),[15] Damoon Shopping Center (Kish Island)[16] and Padide Shandiz Shopping Center (Mashhad),[17][18] which were respectively opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015. There is a standard Ice Rink called Ice Box, located in Iran Mall, Tehran, that was opened in 2019.

In July 2015, Taylan Aytac from Turkey,[19][20] taught in Iran's first ice hockey workshop which was held in Aramis Sports Complex in Tehran, which was also attended by Iranian trainee-instructors Pooya Ghandali and Saman Goodarzi.[21]

On 1 October 2016, the first ice hockey match was played between two Iranian club teams in a friendly in Padide Ice Rink in Mashhad, Padide defeated Khorasan Razavi 5–4.[22][23] Both teams have been training twice a day since September 2016.[24]

National team

As of 2015, Iran decided to form a national ice hockey team with the intension of participating at the 2017 Asian Winter Games. A team was formed in the first quarter of 2016 after Iran made a campaign of recruiting players of Iranian heritage who live abroad. In order to fast track the creation of a national team, the coaching staff decided that it would be best to select players from the Iranian inline hockey national team powered by hockey players of Iranian-origin from abroad.[25] In 2016, three national camps were held, 26–28 June in Asiago (Italy), 20–27 August in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and 21–24 December in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). In each camp players were coached by three different instructors, Christian Müller from Germany, Former head coach of Kyrgyzstan and Yenbek Almaty, Sergei Shavernev from Kazakhstan, and head coach of Dubai White Bears, Troy Kahler from Canada.[26][27]

On 23 August 2016, Iran national team played its first match against a non-Iranian team. Iran won 5–4 over Kazakh team HC Almaty in the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan.[28]

Iran was supposed to participate at the 2017 Asian Winter Games, but was disqualified after a number of Iranian players were deemed ineligible to compete in the regional games. Reported concerns leading to the disqualification includes some players failing to reside in Iran for at least three years despite having Iranian heritage, and claims of some players having represented other countries.[29] Games were supposed to be the team's first tournament.[30]

The Olympic Council of Asia allowed Iran to play its scheduled games at the Asian Winter Games but the matches were considered exhibition games and results did not count in the competition standings.[29] Iran's first official match against other national team was a 7–1 loss to Macau in Sapporo, Japan. The game was supposed to be Iran's first match at the Asian Winter Games if they were not disqualified.[31] They won 10–3 in their second exhibition game against Indonesia.[32]

Tournament record

Asian Winter Games
Year Host Result Pld W OTW OTL L
1986 through 2011Did not enter
2017 SapporoDisqualified
Total0/1–––––

Team

Current roster

The following players are current active players who have played in Iran's First Ice Hockey Tournament (Ramadhan Cup) in 2019 or have been in contact with Iran's Ice Hockey coaching staff via various national team programs.

#NamePosS/CHeightDOBClub
?Benjamin GhaffariG-1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997Former: IK Pantern U20
?Oveis HassanzadehGL (1992-07-23) 23 July 1992 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Alireza Mahdavi ShahriGL (1990-04-09) 9 April 1990 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Maziar GhorbaniD-1986 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Jalal KeyhanfarD- (1990-10-23) 23 October 1990 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Majid Aiyar GhezeljehD- (1991-03-19) 19 March 1991 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Mohammad Reza MedadiD-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Mahyar PiroozD-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Farshad MoghadasiD- (1994-07-09) 9 July 1994 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Ali SatarD- (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Arman Bahri YektaD- (1997-05-13) 13 May 1997 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Mahmood AzimiD- (1990-05-07) 7 May 1990 Iran Inline Hockey NT
81Shahryar Amini +CFR1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) (1981-11-18) 18 November 1981 GCK Lions II
?Kayan FarsadFL1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) (1996-06-25) 25 June 1996 Elmira Enforcers
?Saman ForotanFR1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) (1997-06-02) 2 June 1997Former: : Lund Giants HC
?Farzad Houshidari +AFR (1987-09-06) 6 September 1987 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Nima MehrabanF-Dec 1990 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Karan MoallimF- (1990-11-13) 13 November 1990Former: EC Wedemark Scorpions
?Jeremy RezaeepourFL1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) (1994-03-03) 3 March 1994Former: UTEP Miners
?Danial BagheriF-1970 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Mohammad Amin KoreheiF- (1998-08-24) 24 August 1998 Iran Inline Hockey NT

Legend: +A, Assistant captain, +C Captain, +R Reserve player

Extended roster

The following players had either attended the various national team camps in 2016 and 2017 [33][34] or were selected for the 2017 Asian Winter Games.[35]. Others expressed their interest or had either been invited to join the national team.

#NamePosS/CHeightDOBClub
?Dario KhazaeiG-- Uedesheim Chiefs
1Saeed Ahmad MohimanG- (1984-06-12) 12 June 1984 Dubai Falcons
80Nickon YazdaniG-2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)1998 Reston Raiders HC, Virginia
78Erfan ZanganehG-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
87Schahab AminikiaD-1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) (1988-04-07) 7 April 1988Former: Kölner EC II
?Arian AbdiDL-Former: UCSD Tritons
18Farzin AmaniD-- Unattached
10Mujtaba AghamohammadiD-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Mikey AnvariD--Former: Cobra Kai
?Sina FasihiD-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Saman GoodarziD- (1988-10-11) 11 October 1988 Qazvin Inline Hockey Team
?Farzin Kaviani--- ?
?Sepehr Mirheydari--- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Joobin MozaffarimehrDL1988Former: SCU Broncos
66Daruosh RazaviD- (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996Former: Dubai Mighty Camels
26Jonathan ZarghamiDR1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (1995-10-03) 3 October 1995Former: West Island Royals
?Navid Zolfagharpour-- (1995-10-27) 27 October 1995 Enghelab Skating Academy
28Mohammadreza Mahdavian +AD-1978 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Samson Mahbod +AFR1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1989-02-03) 3 February 1989 Krefeld Pinguine
82Mahmoudreza MahdavianF-1987 Iran Inline Hockey NT
9Hamid GharaeeFL1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) (1999-09-02) 2 September 1999Former: Gottéron U20
7Kian HabibianF-1999 Club Olympique de Courbevoie
22Hamidreza HedayatpourF- (1990-03-26) 26 March 1990Former: TNT
16Nadim MoslemiFR1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) (1989-09-10) 10 September 1989Former: Barley Kings
4Daniel RezaieFL1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) (1996-11-07) 7 November 1996Former: Solna SK
61Amin YoussefiFL1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) (1994-05-10) 10 May 1994Former: South Muskoka Shield
30Navid AlizadehF-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Arad BagherpourF--Former: Hacettepe University Ice Deers
?Soltan DaneshF-1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)1985Former: Bad Beat
36Mohammad FarzanehF-Jun 1991 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Nolan GaudreauF--Former: Rebel Scrum
?Masoud Ali HashemiyanC- (1990-05-14) 14 May 1990Former: Dubai White Bears
99Amir HeydariF-- Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Marcel KhorsandF--Former: SCU Broncos
8Masood MohimanF- (1985-05-02) 2 May 1985 Dubai Falcons
00Arsalan MonfaredF-1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) (1980-09-21) 21 September 1980 Iran Inline Hockey NT
?Adrian RejaeyanFL (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 SDE HF
?Aden SoltaniF- (1988-04-21) 21 April 1988Former: Edinburgh Phoenix
?A.J. MoshyediFR1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (2003-05-02) 2 May 2003 Washington Little Capitals U16

Current staff
  • General manager: Kaveh Sedghi (کاوه صدقی)
  • Head coach: Christian Müller
  • Assistant coaches: vacant
  • Physical trainer: vacant

Managerial history
  • Head of Iran ice hockey and inline hockey national teams: Kaveh Sedghi (کاوه صدقی) (2016–2017, 2019–present)
  • Acting head coach: Christian Müller (2016–2017, 2019–present)

All-time record against other nations

Last match update: 24 February 2017[36]

Team GP W T L GF GA
 Indonesia1100103
 Macau100117
 Malaysia110083
 Turkmenistan1001212
Total42022125

References
  1. Ice Box at Facebook
  2. Iran Mall Ice Rink (@icehox_ir) at Instagram
  3. "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. "Iran". IIHF.com. 27 September 2019.
  5. bozkuhi (18 March 2010). "Iranian Tv Commercials from the 70's" – via YouTube.
  6. "Team".
  7. "Mustafa Hamedi". Elite Prospects.
  8. "Ali Reza Rasoli". Elite Prospects.
  9. "Ümüt Taherzadeh". Elite Prospects.
  10. "Mark Ardelan". Elite Prospects.
  11. "Ryan Mior". Elite Prospects.
  12. "Farzad Khojasteh". Elite Prospects.
  13. "Arian Ali-Zade". Elite Prospects.
  14. "Calvin Crowe". Elite Prospects.
  15. "مجموعه تندرستی آرامیس - پاتیناژ". www.sportaramis.com.
  16. "دامون آیس رینک - اسکیت روی یخ در جزیره کیش - خانه". www.damoonicerink.com.
  17. http://www.تورکیش-تورمشهد.com/mashhad-tour/pist-eskeit-ru-yakh-padide-shandiz-mashhad/
  18. "opening ceremony for the first Ice skating center in Mashhad".
  19. "ورزش های جدید و ورزش زنان در ایران - آینده از آن اسکیت روی یخ ایران خواهد بود". varzeshzanan.blogfa.com.
  20. Formánek, Project: Martin. "Taylan Aytaç profile - Тайлан Айтаç Профиль - Eurohockey.com". www.eurohockey.com.
  21. "حضور دو نماینده استان قزوین در اولین کارگاه هاکی روی یخ در ایران". www.sepantaskate.rzb.ir.
  22. خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران - آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان. "کسب اولین پیروزی تیم هاکی روی یخ پدیده". www.yjc.ir.
  23. "اولین مسابقه هاکی روی یخ در پاتیناژ پدیده". آپارات.
  24. "پیست پاتیناژ پدیده میزبان تمرینات تیم هاکی استان". اخبار پدیده.
  25. "Instagram post by Iran National Hockey Team • Apr 8, 2016 at 11:19am UTC". Instagram.
  26. "Instagram post by Iran National Hockey Team • Aug 21, 2016 at 4:12am UTC". Instagram.
  27. "Instagram post by Iran National Hockey Team • Dec 24, 2016 at 12:03pm UTC". Instagram.
  28. "Instagram post by Iran National Hockey Team • Aug 23, 2016 at 3:09pm UTC". Instagram.
  29. Pavitt, Michael (19 February 2017). "Iranian ice hockey team disqualified from Sapporo 2017 over ineligible players". Inside the Games. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  30. Formánek, Project: Martin. "Interview With Iranian Ice Hockey Head Coach Kaveh Sedghi - Eurohockey.com". www.eurohockey.com.
  31. "Iran makes Asian ice hockey debut with Macau loss". Iran Daily. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  32. "Ice Thaws". Iran Daily. 21 February 2017. p. 11. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  33. "Instagram post by Iran National Hockey Team • Jun 27, 2016 at 2:01pm UTC". Instagram.
  34. "اعضای اعزامی به کمپ هاکی روی یخ ایران در کشور قزاقستان". سامان گودرزی,مدرسه اسکیت سپنتا,هیات اسکیت استان قزوین,هاکی قزوین,,اعضای اعزامی به کمپ هاکی روی یخ ایران در کشور قزاقستان.
  35. "از آمریکا تا اروپا، از ایران تا مالزی؛ با متفاوت ترین تیم ملی هاکی ایران آشنا شوید". 13 February 2017.
  36. Hockey, NT of Ice (24 February 2017). "Asian Winter Games (Friendly) February 23 - Turkmenistan 12-2 Iran".
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