Austria's Para national team looks ahead to the World Cham­pi­onship Pool C with confi­dence

"We will give everything to ensure the colour at the end is as good as possible," explains General Manager Martin Kogler. The colour refers to that of the medal, which has been set as the minimum objective. Even though the field consists of just four nations, they are well aware that it will be anything but straightforward.

"Relegated Finland are the favourites. Even though we were able to beat them narrowly at the Olmütz Cup, they are still the leading contenders for gold. Hosts Thailand have worked intensively over the past two years. The Thai national team trains together several times a week and is therefore well drilled," analyses Martin Kogler.

Australia are the great unknown: "We do not know what to expect from them." There is great anticipation that, after last year's cancelled World Championship, medals and the title will once again be contested. At the most recent World Championship two years ago, also held in Bangkok (THA), Austria recorded one win in four games – 5:0 against hosts Thailand. In 2024, they want more, Martin Kogler: "We will take it game by game, but naturally we want to win everything."

This is the fourth edition of the Para Ice Hockey World Championship Pool C, previously held in Bangkok (2022), Vierumaki, Finland (2018) and Novi Sad, Serbia (2016). At the last edition of the World Championship Pool C, Great Britain won gold, Kazakhstan silver and France bronze.

General information on Para ice hockey

Para ice hockey was developed in Sweden in the 1970s and made its debut at the 1994 Paralympic Games in Lillehammer (NOR). Para ice hockey is similar to regular ice hockey. However, players sit in a Para ice hockey sled. The sport particularly promotes team spirit, endurance, strength, skill, speed and discipline.

How is Para ice hockey played?
It is played on a standard ice rink with 5 skaters against 5 skaters, plus one goaltender for each team. The players sit in an adapted sled with two blades and a seat, using two short sticks. One end of the sticks is fitted with spikes for propulsion, while the other has a blade to play the puck. The player is securely strapped into the seat and can steer the sled by shifting their weight. The game consists of three periods of 15 minutes each. Otherwise, the rules are largely the same as in ice hockey.

As Para ice hockey is a contact sport, players wear full protective equipment consisting of a helmet with face protection, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, ice hockey trousers and leg protection. The goaltender also wears a chest protector, a catching glove and a goaltender mask.

Who can play Para ice hockey?
Para ice hockey is suitable for athletes who cannot play regular ice hockey because of an impairment to their lower limbs. This includes impairments such as leg amputations, muscle weakness, paralysis and stiffness, as well as legs of differing lengths.

Para Ice Hockey World Championship Pool C

26–30 November 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

26 November
08:00: Thailand vs. Australia
11:30: Finland vs. Austria (Live stream)

27 November 
08:00: Austria vs Australia (Live stream)
11:30: Finland vs Thailand 

29 November 
08:00: Austria vs Thailand (Live stream)
11:30: Finland vs Australia 

30 November 
08:00: Bronze medal game (Live stream)
14:00: Gold medal game (Live stream)

Roster