Top Ten Best Hockey Countries

The Top Ten

1 Canada Canada Canada is a country in North America that is next to the United States, and it's the 2nd largest country in the world (size is 9.985 million km²). This country has 10 provinces, and 3 territories. Canada became a dominion on July 1, 1867. Its 10 provinces are: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, ...read more.

Hockey is our game! We live, breathe, and crap hockey. - SeanyFens

Canada has enough good players to put a different team up against every country that competed in 2010 Olympics and still win a majority its games. (Over 60% of NHL players come from Canada) Moreover, in a best of seven series featuring best players on best, Canada would win every time. There can be no doubt whatsoever that Canada is, by far, the best hockey nation in the world.

When you are born in Canada you are born into hockey. It doesn't matter if you play it or even watch it, you are born into it because it is our sport. We invented and we play it the best. When you ask random people from other countries about Canada, there minds instantly go to Hockey because it's our sport and we play it the best.

GO Canada!

V 287 Comments
2 Sweden Sweden Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. ...read more.

So, who cares who got the most players / population? It's the medals that counts, now doesn't it? In all, I'd say Russia, Canada, Sweden, Czech or Finland.

It's sad to see all you kids rating Finland over Sweden, since the difference between medals in all are like 30 medals.

Sweden's national team is one of the few teams that actually play as a team. Team spirit and a lot of sacrifice on the ice are features that characterize the Swedish ice hockey teams for sure, but especially Sweden's male national team.

Hockey is the most popular sport in Sweden. We're a small country but still the best hockey team in the world together with Canada and Russia I'd say.

Just because the swedes try and play better

V 69 Comments
3 United States United States The United States of America, or the U.S.A. for short, is a federal republic composed of 50 states, 48 of them are contiguous states. There are two other states, Alaska and Hawaii, which are north and south of the contiguous states, respectively. The United States declared its independence from the ...read more.

How can a team that won the SILVER medal be ranked 6th

They deserve to be at number 5, a SILVER medal in 2010 does not get you to the top of the list like Canada and Sweden

The USA may not have the most percentage of fans, but all of the true fans are just as good as any other country

We beat the commies

V 93 Comments
4 Russia Russia Russia, known as the "Russian Federation", was formed on Dec 25, 1991. It is located mainly in Asia, while a portion of it remains in Europe. The capital and largest city is Moscow, followed by Saint Petersburg in terms of population. The country primarily speaks Russian, a Slavic language. ...read more.

I am Bulgarian and I think Russia is really a powerful team. Canada and Russia are the strongest in the world. I'll always be rooting for Russia

They are really good at it and it's such a shame that happened in the plane crush with the Russian team. Rest in peace comrades!

Russia won the world cup this year for the 26th time a record. - ratingman

The world cup means absolutely nothing. All of the good players are still playing in the NHL playoffs.

Despite international pressure and all that political russophobic bull Russia still won hockey gold in 2018. Datsyuk is my favorite player

V 57 Comments
5 Finland

Only one country besides Canada has more than one per cent of its general population listed as registered hockey players and that is Finland. Also, ever since the NHL has been involved in the Winter Olympics (beginning in 1998) the country winning the most medals in men's hockey has been Finland. Indeed, since 1988 (the last seven Winter Olympics), Finland has won more Olympic medals than any other in men's hockey. It also gets the most attention of any sport in the Finnish media and fan support is very strong. So, in my opinion, there are only two great hockey nations on earth: Canada and Finland. The USA and Russia don't even come close.

For the last 25 years Finland has won 2 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze medals in Ice Hockey World Championships and also 2 silver and 4 bronze medals in Olympic games, and by far better like USA has done in these past 25 years.

Also at the Women's Championships Finland has won 10 bronze medals and 2 bronze medals in Olympic games and they are third best country after Canada and USA.

Every year Finland doesn't have nowhere the best roster of the games, but still they beat harder opponents in paper and do it in a great way.

In NHL they have good solid players and top goaltenders playing year after another.

Now Canadians says that: "Ice Hockey is their hobby and game." I believe that is true, but I am considered that it is (at least someways) Finland game as well.

I am not sure if Finland BEST ice hockey country in a world, but I definitely think it is at least in top 5. Finland has great ice hockey players and they have possibilities to defeat USA, Sweden, Russia and Canada which are strong ice hockey countries as well.

Consider this: Finland is about size of Minnesota and it keeps product great players and making process in World Championship and Olympics.

I am from Finland myself and I am always proud of our Finland team. I follow our SM and when its possible: World Championship even when its not about Finland match. Because I like Ice Hockey and good matches.

Finland has some of the best players in the NHL and of all time

V 57 Comments
6 Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, per capita, in regard to medals, blows away all 5 countries ranked above them. Only 10 million people in this country and they still rank in top 3 in medals in world competition. If the two countries of former Czechoslovakia were still together they would have the Gold or Silver in the Olympics and World Championships for the last 20 years. And that's still with under 18 million people! Russia is great at hockey only because during the communist occupation of Czechoslovakia they made Czechoslovakian coaches train them to be good. Canadians have hockey, hockey and hockey. So, yes, if you have a huge country with a huge population where it's freezing 9 months out of the year. I hope you are at least good at one thing... If the Czech Republic was as big and had that population the world would stop player competitive hockey because they would be tired of the Czechs winning gold every year... USA, Sweden and Finland are good too, but again, look at the results for the ...more

Country only of 10 millions people and yet the most medals won in the history of hockey... Along with Russia.. (which has 30x more people)... Therefore The Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia is the true best hockey country in the world. Also a large portion of NHL players are Czech and Slovaks.

How can a team that is historically third best nation in hockey, be ranked 6th? Czech Republic has the most medals won in the history of hockey. In the ranking of gold medals is ranked 3rd behind Canada and Russian. In the past 20 years the because won on World Cups the gold medals 6 times. No other country won more times in last 20 years. Czechs even won the gold medal from Olympic Games in Nagano 1998 and was bronze in Turin in 2006. Czech Republic shoudl be ranked on 3rd position, not worse.

Best in the world

V 37 Comments
7 Slovakia

Slovakia got 2nd place last year

Slovak ice hockey style is unique and full of passion.

Slovakia plays very nice hockey, can defeat every country.

Best country

V 14 Comments
8 Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a federal republic in Europe . It consists of 26 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities . ...read more.

Switzerland is good goal keeper, name Patrick Aebischer, Martin Gerber and and and. Team Switzerland have red and white dress and in center of dress is have beautiful cross.

Most up and coming nation... will be part of the "Big 7" soon displacing Slovakia. 13 NHL players in 2015-2016 season and counting.

Switzerland is good at hockey and I appreciate that.

Best land

V 5 Comments
9 Germany Germany Germany was formally united in 1871 under the initiative of Bismarck with King Wilhelm of Prussia as emperor. The previous 'Holy Roman Empire', basically a continuation of the empire of Charlemagne/Karl der Grosse was dissolved in 1806. ...read more.

ONLY lost to Canada 17-0 - Zachywaky

They seem more like soccer (football) people.

Germany has the potential to reach more athletes because of there high population.

The german Fans are always cheering and cring. Also when their Team is back. Nashville is nothing against that.

V 8 Comments
10 Latvia Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states.

A country with the best hockey fans in the world!

What the butt is India and Morocco and Australia doing on this list Philippines too they don't even play hockey - ketchup

I'm Latvian, and proud of it. Ice hockey is like our religion. We live, breath and dream ice hockey!

Despite the low quantification of Latvian NHL players, (due to a pop. of two million), Latvia is one of the most dedicated countries to Hockey.

V 22 Comments

The Contenders

11 China China China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a sovereign state in East Asia. It is the world's most populous state, with a population of over 1. 388 billion . It was established in 1949. Its capital is Beijing. The other major cities are Hong Kong and Shanghai. Chinese (Mandarin) is the only ...read more.

China sucks. they don't play very good hockey. They lost 28-6 to Russia - ifgy

That's sad. They scored 6 times on Russia - Zachywaky

Their not very good but they play fair

China’s really bad at hockey though. - AliciaMae

V 9 Comments
12 Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Europe. The southernmost of the Nordic countries, it is south-west of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany.

Although not a very good team, they are way better than United Kingdom, China, Netherlands and Japan for sure. They should be placed higher

Why the heck is Denmark down here!? They aren't good but they're better than half these teams that basically don't even play hockey! (okay Denmark doesn't really either) and where's Norway? Norways should be higher than Denmark!...one Canadians point of view

They have some good players like Lars eller and a few different player and they should be ranked 9 not 18th

Better than China - AliciaMae

V 11 Comments
13 North Korea North Korea The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, is a country in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Pyongyang. It is currently ruled by the dictator Kim Jong-Un, after inheriting the title from his father, Kim Jong-Il, who inherited it from his father, Kim Il-Sung. ...read more.

Wow they won against canada 60-0 their best player is kim jong un

The United Kingdom is way! better than the North Korea team

The United Kingdom is WAY better than the North Korea!

Best bois ever rekt all americans

V 18 Comments
14 India India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world.

If talking about land hockey, it is difficult to beat the team

We have alway's been one of the best hockey playing nations of the world and I believe on terms of skill we are still the best surpassing australia and the european countries.

India have won 8 olympic gold and numerous tournaments. They are the Asian powerhouse compared to Malaysia.

One of the best teams in field hockey

V 70 Comments
15 Belarus Belarus

They only lost to Canada 10-0 and Russia 8-1 in the world juniors but granted, they did beat Sweden and Finland. - Zachywaky

This needs to be in top ten and they are much better than India

Small population and good team should be higher

I can't believe everybody forgot the bells

16 United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom (UK) is a sovereign state which consists of the political and economic union of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was a member of the European Union (EU) from 1973 to 2016. ...read more.

The United Kingdom invented the game of Hockey and Ice Hockey as we know it today... Interesting fact they won a World Championship in Ice Hockey 1956.
Unfortunately due to lack of funding they now only play the field version. Would like to see them competing again with the bigger Ice Hockey nations. The people of the United Kingdom gave us so many amazing sports, shame they're not as competitive as before...

United Kingdom invented the game of Hockey and Ice Hockey as we know it today. Here's an interesting fact they won a World Championship in Ice Hockey 1956! The sad thing is now they only play the field version, would like to see them competing again with the bigger Ice Hockey nations... They gave the world so many amazing sports!

I am a huge fan of the United Kingdom because I'm british and they created the game of hockey and they are one of the best playing teams in the world

and they are better than many other countries that play hockey. The reasons that they are the best team is because...

1) There awesome

2) There awesome

3) There awesome

4) And there awesome

5) Last there awesome

6) And they actually created hockey

There the best.

They LITERALLY MADE hockey - AliciaMae

V 21 Comments
17 Mongolia Mongolia

Ha ha, I'm Mongolian and agree with this ranking.

No, just no

Why is Mongolia here... In 17place they should be ahead of Russia ha ha (I am canadian) 😆😋

18 Japan Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies off the eastern coast of the Asia Mainland (east of China, Korea, Russia) and stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and near Taiwan in the southwest. ...read more.

Hey, they got an NHL 14 team

Show a bit of respect!

No NHL 15 team - Zachywaky

19 South Korea South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

Are you kidding me?

South Korea IS amazing they do a lot of sports but they also have the most cutest guys and singers such as kpop like exo BTs seventeen etc.

They made to the world hockey championship 2018!

You guys are idiots.

V 9 Comments
20 Indonesia Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia. Ruled by the Dutch for over 300 years and Japan for 3 years and 6 months, the country gained independence in 1945, or exactly in 17th August 1945. Jakarta is the capital city, located in the island of Java. Major languages ...read more.

Are you kidding me.. Indonesia is weak at hockey. In southeast Asia, Malaysia is the best hockey team.

Do they even play hockey? - Zachywaky

I'm from Canada and I can tell you Canada is the best way better than this team.

They have a hockey team? - AliciaMae

V 2 Comments
21 Slovenia

A lot of good players in the NHL, should be higher. at least 15

Small country with a lot of good players.

Go, Slovenia, my homeland.

best

V 5 Comments
22 Poland Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine and Belarus to the east; and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad Oblast (a Russian exclave) and Lithuania to the north .

They've got an NHL 14 team and Slovenia doesn't but I don't understand it because Slovenia is way better than uk and Italy in the present of Sochi 2014. Slovenia made it but Italy and uk didn't but still Poland has an Nhl 14 team

23 Norway Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a sovereign and unitary monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula plus the island Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard.

Norway isn't the best, they are maybe the 10th best hockey nation in the world, by some ranking, but they have improved a lot the last 10 years.

This team is no lower than 13th in ice hockey.

Norway has been 2 times in the quarterfinal over the last 5 years in the world cup, men.

Norway should be way higher!

V 8 Comments
24 Italy Italy Italy, in italian Repubblica Italiana, is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. ...read more.

They are around 67 you humans being, earth.

Italy is around 18th you monkeys

Hey the got Andrew cogliano

They are not 25

25 Kazakhstan

Should be around 9 or 10

Kazakhstan is top 16

Have 1 nhl Player Nikolai Antripov

How are half of these countries above Kazakhstan? Should at least be 11th, since they've been to the Olympics, and can actually qualify for world championships. Nabokov, Antropov, Ponikarovsky, Khudobin, and a few more are NHL players from Kazakhstan. They'll definitely have a few more coming in.

V 2 Comments
26 Romania Romania Romania is a sovereign state located in Southeastern Europe It borders the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, and Moldova. It has an area of 238,391 square kilometres and a temperate-continental climate. With over 19 million inhabitants, the country is the seventh-most-populous member state ...read more.
27 Hungary

BEST fans in hockey history they beat Belarus and also came close to beating the German power house

The best country in the world. RIA RIA!

They should be around place 10

Hungary should be higher

V 2 Comments
28 Estonia

Estonia is a ice hockey powerhouse - Zachywaky

29 New Zealand New Zealand

Scientists say that within 45000 years, New Zealand will be hockey champions

New Zealand are beast

New Zealand is the best duhhh

Nz is the best at hockey

V 1 Comment
30 Iceland Iceland Iceland, also called the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.

Has ice in it's name

31 Mexico Mexico

How the hell did they get here?

They are OP. Seriously there hockey program is growing and might be in the oylimpics in the next decade

Haha it's a joke... isn't it? how the hell?

32 Ireland Ireland Formed in 1916 after the Easter uprising, Ireland is a small country with a population of roughly 5 million.
33 Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh, on the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal, is surrounded by India, with a small common border with Myanmar in the southeast. The country is low-lying riverine land traversed by the many branches and tributaries of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.

Bangladesh is intellect hockey state, in world championship today nothing play, of course Bangladesh in one hockey championship take medals. Bangladesh have hockey is at lasts one medial.

They are the best of course

We could have prove our ability.

They r best

V 3 Comments
34 Czechoslovakia
35 England England

We should be top

England is intellect hockey state, in world championship today nothing play, of course England in one hockey shampionship take medails. England have hockey is at lasts one medail.

England, today, s worst hockey state, his me legend. England is only state masters B, his me gold medails. England fact of statistice old masters ones, own thanks, old one masters gold medails.

36 Brazil Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and the Latin American region.

What is going on this is ice hockey

You are the best guys you won!

Brazilians plays hockey? But I know they do play soccer

Hockey and Brazil never populare. Of course Brazil me beautifull State Flag. And I, have fotball ball of Brazil flag symbol. Where action Brazil state start hockey by where interrested.

V 1 Comment
37 Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain. V 2 Comments
38 Bolivia Bolivia Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is located in western-central South America.

Bolivia: The beautiful South American State next to Peru,s shamans and hockey is certailny better.

39 Iran Iran Iran, also known as Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sovereign state in Western Asia. The capital city is Teheran and the major city is also Tehran. The language is Persian. ...read more.

Iran is not big on ice hokey, however the game idea of stick (Chogan) and puck (Gooy) over horse originated in Iran centuries ago. Later on western countries adapted the game & called it polo. Then came hockey on land, ice, grass, etc.. So Iran (Persia) deserves a big credit.

40 Portugal Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe.
41 Lithuania

Top 30 definitely

#Best#BetterthanLatvia

Dainius Zubrus is from Lithuania...no way they are outside the top 30

42 Guyana Guyana

You guys are the best maybe I will watch you

THEY WON THE LATIN AMERICA FLOOR HOCKEY CUP.

43 Jamaica
44 Kenya Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Africa and a founding member of the East African Community.

Kenya has a stellar ice hockey rink. They just built it and are improving quick. Coming for Canada's title as number 1.

Goal Scorers are gonna start flooding into the NHL they are so fast

They might be fast but can they shoot a puck?

45 Croatia Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia (independence since 1991), is a sovereign state at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean. Its capital city is Zagreb. It is a member of the European Union. During the Cold War it was part of Yugoslavia. It is a cultural ...read more.

Technically Joe Sakic was Croatian even though he was born in Canada. Croatia was his parents' homeland. Look what player he became!

Good players like Letang

YEAH! Sertich, Kanaet and Letang are beasts!

46 Spain Spain Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign state largely located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, with archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, and several small territories on and near the north African coast.

Spain can dominate in field hockey because it's basically soccer or football with a smaller ball and sticks

47 Serbia

Hockey Club Partizan

48 Nepal Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a sovereign state located in South Asia.
49 Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE IS A GOOD HOCKEY COUNTRY
IN 10 YEARS TIME WILL BE FIRST OR SECOND

50 Soviet Union

Wait 61st they won more gold then Canada but there not a country so they shouldn't be on this list.

Just the greatest,
Both the most efficient and the most esthetical playing style.
Supreme passing, supreme skating, perfect team work.

They have dominated the Hockey world between the 1960s and 1990 and are still very good until today.

The hockey dream team of all times has 4 out of 6 Russian players.

Absolutely the number 1.

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