Lebanon men's national ice hockey team
The Lebanon national ice hockey team (Arabic: منتخب لبنان لهوكي الجليد; French: Équipe du Liban de hockey sur glace) is the national men's ice hockey team of Lebanon. The team is controlled by the Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation, and on 26 September 2019, became an associate member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).[2] Lebanon is currently not ranked in the IIHF World Ranking and has not entered in any IIHF World Championship events.
 The Lebanese cedar tree is the badge used on the players jerseys. | |
| Association | Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation |
|---|---|
| General manager | Charles El-Mir |
| Head coach | Gregg Kennedy |
| Most games | David El-Khoury (9) |
| Top scorer | Dory Sarkis (6) |
| Most points | David El-Khoury (11) |
| Team colors | |
| IIHF code | LIB |
| Ranking | |
| Current IIHF | NR (28 May 2023)[1] |
| First international | |
 Lebanon 7–4 Haiti  (Saint-Laurent, Canada; 23 April 2017) | |
| Biggest win | |
Lebanon 15–5 Oman  (Kuwait City, Kuwait; 10 May 2023) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
 Colombia 5–2 Lebanon (Coral Springs, United States; 16 October 2021) | |
| Amerigol LATAM Cup | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2021) |
| Best result |  3rd (2021) |
| Arab Cup | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) |
| Best result |  1st (2023) |
| International record (W–L–T) | |
| 9–2–0 | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amerigol LATAM Cup | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2021 Coral Springs | Division 1 |
| Arab Cup | ||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon} | 2023 Kuwait City | |
History
The Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation, abbreviated as LIHF, and known in French as Fédération Libanaise de Hockey sur Glace, is the governing body that oversees the Lebanese local and international ice hockey teams and development program. Currently based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with youth operations based in Beirut, the LIHF also manages the Lebanese national team at international tournaments and friendly matches.
Working closely with Lebanese and Canadian governmental organizations such as the Lebanese Olympic Committee (LOC), the Lebanese Embassy in Canada, the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon, and the Lebanese Business Council of Abu Dhabi. The LIHF is in the current process of filling its requirement to be a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in the hopes to participate in the official IIHF World Championships, but Lebanon was not a member of the IIHF.[3]
Canadian players of Lebanese-origin
There are notable players of Lebanese-origin have played in Canada, Nazem Kadri who currently plays for the Calgary Flames in the NHL, most notably winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, Fabian Joseph who represented Canada, and Ed Hatoum who also played in the NHL for Detroit, and then Vancouver. Kadri also represented Canada internationally. Hatoum was born in Beirut. Joseph awarded two silver medals at the Winter Olympics in 1992 and 1994.
National team
Lebanon played a friendly match against Haiti (consists of mostly Canadian-based players) on 23 April 2017 in Saint-Laurent, a borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with both teams making their international debut.[4] Lebanon get its first international win over Haiti by a score of 7–4.[5]
Tournament record
Amerigol LATAM Cup
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  Coral Springs | 3rd place (Division 1) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 1/1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Arab Cup
| Year | Host | Result | Pld | W | OTW | OTL | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Kuwait City | 1st place | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1/1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
All-time record against other national teams
Last match update: 13 May 2023[6]
| Positive balance (more Wins) | |
| Neutral balance (Wins = Losses) | |
| Negative balance (more Losses) |
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
 Bahrain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Colombia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 9 |
 Egypt | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Haiti | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
 Jamaica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Kuwait | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 |
 Morocco | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Oman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
 Venezuela | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Total | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 36 |
All-time record against clubs and B teams
Last match update: 16 July 2023[6]
| Team | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abu Dhabi Storm | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Argenteuil HC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 9 |
 Belarus PT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
 Carthage Eagles | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Egypt Pharaohs* | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| EHL All-Stars | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
 German Hockey Legends | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
 Greece HT | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 16 |
| HC Alger Corsaires | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
 Jeddah Eagles | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
 Maghreb United[7] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| Marieville Red Knights | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 |
 Mexico Selects | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Philippines Flyers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 149 | 70 |
Note: Lebanon was awarded a 9–0 win over the Egyptian club team, but capped at 5–0 due to a blowout rule.[8]
References
- "IIHF Men's World Ranking". IIHF. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- "Five new countries join IIHF". International Ice Hockey Federation. 26 September 2019.
- About the Lebanese Ice Hockey Federation
- Liban vs. Haiti (Match de hockey sur glace) Tickets, Sun, 23 Apr 2017 at 7:00 PM
"Lebanon vs Haiti in a Friendly". nationalteamsoficehockey.com. 6 January 2017. - "Lebanon Beats Haiti for Historic First International Victory". Eurohockey.com. 24 April 2017.
- "Lebanon Men All Time Results" (PDF). National Teams of Ice Hockey. 16 October 2021.
- "Lebanon Wins Debut Ice Hockey Game". Eurohockey.com. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- "Lebanon vs Egypt 9-0 but capped at 5-0 due to blowout". Facebook. 2 September 2017.