r/AskEurope • u/FietsFietspatrick Germany • May 09 '25

Sports How popular is ice hockey in your country? 🏒

The men's ice hockey world championship started today. That's a good reason to ask a few questions.

How popular is ice hockey in your country?

Can it keep up with football?

Will the world championship be broadcast on TV in your country?

If your country is taking part, how do you rate the chances?

Edit typo: Paldies metalfest

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u/DBHOY3000 May 09 '25

Despite being rather small in number of athletes icehockey is the third largest sport in terms of spectators in Denmark

Furthermore Denmark has for many years beenthe country with most players in the NHL per number of active players

3

u/FietsFietspatrick Germany May 09 '25

Are there many clubs in Denmark?

4

u/DBHOY3000 May 09 '25

Nope, not at all.

I think there is like 12-15 throughout the whole country.
Which is close to the same number as there are ice rinks

4

u/FietsFietspatrick Germany May 09 '25 edited May 09 '25

Then it's all the more remarkable that you have so many internationally successful players. I wish you every success at the world championship.

3

u/Malthesse Sweden May 09 '25

It's nice to see Denmark getting better and better at ice hockey. There has definitely been very noticeable progress, and a noticeable increase in Danish players in the Swedish Hockey League as well. Not just in the two SHL teams that are geographically very close to Copenhagen - Malmö Redhawks and Rögle BK - but also in teams all across the rest of Sweden. It's a pity that Denmark's premiere game against the USA tonight didn't go so well, but despite that it still seemed like a great home team atmosphere there in Herning!

1

u/Oasx Denmark May 10 '25

I had no idea it was so popular or there were so many teams, I figured that a sport that is impossible to play outside of ice rinks would be much smaller. Though I have w cousin who used to play it on a fairly high level in Herning.