Last modified on 2008-04-07 16:19:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Greece: Ice hockey is still alive
By Michal Travnicek
Kockelscheuer, Sunday, April 6th: Luxembourg – GreeceYou want to play ice hockey, but you have no ice hall. In 2003 the last ice rink closed down in Greece. You to participate in the World Championships, but you have no home league. This is the situation for Greek ice hockey. Nevertheless, the Greek national team takes part in the World Championship tournament after a long draugth of nine years.
Not to lose contact with ice hockey, the Greek players have no other choice than taking long trips abroad to tstep on the ice. A couple of players are born in the Czech Republic, so camps were in Czechia in recent years. The Greek national team takes on teams of Czech regional competitions or hobby leagues. The Greek ice hockey season takes 30 days at maximum…
Greek National Ice Hockey Team, December 2007
„Ice hockey is on the periphery of interest,“ explains Dalibor Ploutsis, goalie of the national team, the situation of Greek ice hockey. „We have no sponsors, because there is no league. We get money from the Greek Ice Sports Federation. Although there are ice skating, curling and bobsleigh federations. Ice hockey is situated at the end so we get not enough money, less than other sports.“ Maybe the situation will improve. The National team finished its preparation for World Championship on home ice in Athens!
The first official game in Greece was played in 1985. Folowed in 1989 by the first official national championship and for the first time on an IIHF sized rink. The first ever champion was Aris Salonica. To date the last championship was staged in season 2000-01. Flying Ice Skaters Athens won eight out of fiteen games against Tarandos Moschato and became champion. Giorgos Kalyvas was topscorer with 24 goals and 11 assists.
Giorgios Kalyvas
The Greek national team was formed in 1992 and played at the World Championship Pool C in South Africa. The Greek squad won three games and earned bronze medals. They defeated their great archrival Turkey 15:3 in their first ever game. Thanasis Kesidis who will play in Luxembourg scored four goals. The first game ever between Luxembourg and Greece took place in Johannesburg two days later. Greece won 9:5 in a nasty encounter with 33 players being penalised. It was the one and only game between these opponents to date.For nine long years Greece was away form the international scene. Therefor they it was necessary to play a qualification tournament. The World Championship Division 3 Qualification torunament took place in Sarajevo, this February. Greece defeated the home team, Bosnia-Hercegovina clearly 10:1 and the Armenians 8:5 one day later in a deciding game. Igor Apostolidis was his teams leader – he participated in six goals. Greece led 6:2 but Armenia scored three quick goals. Greeks confirmed their victory in the last three minutes of play. A game, which was later was forfeited in favour of Greece.
The Greek team will carry the same players in Luxembourg as they iced in Sarajevo. Goalie Dalibor Ploutsis formerly played for the juniors of Vsetin, of the Czech Republicy. Young defender Nikos Papadopoulos plays for Spartak Chocen from the Czech regional league (4th level). Thanasis Kesidis is still playing in Brno for HC Rondo (hobby league), Alexandros Valsamas-Rallis plays in Great Britain. Igor Apostolidis, who is still remembered by fans from his former Brno team (Czech First league) is now in Spittal, Austria (Third level).
Nikos Papadopoulos
Greek players have great heart and they are hardened with their effort to keep ice hockey alive in their country. They can become the biggest surprise of tournament in Luxembourg.Luxembourg – Greece5:9 (2:5,1:1,2:3) – 23.3.1992, Johannesburg, World Championship C.This season games:Greece – Bosnia & Herzegovina 10:1 (1:0,4:1,5:0)Greece – Armenia 8:5 (2:2,4:0,2:3)Last season games:No gamesFor more information see the site of the
Greek National Team
or
the IIHF page on Greece.Very interesting is the NHL.com page on Greek Ice Hockey.
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Am Samstag traf Tornado zuhause auf den Gegner aus Toulon. In Toulon hatte man mit 1-14 den Kürzeren gezogen und man wollte für diese bittere Niederlage Revanche nehmen.
