Countries That Live & Breathe Hockey
Sure, you probably know that ice hockey is beloved in the US and Canada, but did you know that this sport's popularity extends far beyond North America? If you watch the NHL, you'd know that there are many nationalities on the ice—and the ones on this list are just some of the top ones. Here are five countries besides America that live and breathe hockey.
RicLaf from Halifax, Canada on Wikimedia
1. Canada
It probably comes as no surprise that hockey is popular in Canada—this is, after all, where the sport was invented. There's a deep sense of pride every time Canadians step out on the ice, because they know that this isn't just a pastime sport. From Wayne Gretzky to Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, Canada has born many hockey legends.
s.yume from Calgary, Canada on Wikimedia
2. Russia
Besides Canada and the US, Russia also has a massive hockey fanbase, producing legends like Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Pavel Bure, Evgeni Malkin, and many more. They're one of the countries that are always competing alongside the North American nations during world championships.
3. Finland
From Niklas Bäckström to Sebastian Aho, Finnish players dominate the ice just as much as North American and Russian players do. The hockey fanbase in this country is extremely loyal and proud, which makes sense, given that ice hockey is the most popular sport in Finland.
4. Sweden
Despite football (soccer) being the most beloved sport in Sweden, ice hockey is a very close second, and players like Victor Hedman, Filip Forsberg, Mika Zibanejad, Erik Karlsson, and Henrik and Daniel Sedin have graced the NHL ice. They definitely don't disappoint in world tournaments, either, and often go head-to-head with other top countries.
lululemon athletica on Wikimedia
5. Czech Republic
From David Pastrňák to Radek Faksa, Martin Nečas to Filip Chytil, the Czech Republic has produced many great players that fans see on the professional stage today. Along with the other countries on this list, Czech players are major powerhouses on the ice, which makes competitions between these nations so fun to watch.
