History
From the first training session in 1899 until today: the history of Austrian ice hockey.
1897 until today
How it all began
The word “ice hockey” first appeared in Austria in 1897 — and on Christmas Day 1899 around 20 players took to the ice for the first training session at the Engelmann rink in Vienna: with a ball instead of a puck, on a stretch of ice cordoned off with a rope, and without knowing a single rule.
A hundred years later, Austria ranks among the world's 16 best ice hockey nations. In between lie European titles and World Championship medals, five World Championships at Vienna's Stadthalle, two Olympic tournaments in Innsbruck — and decades between the divisions. The key stages at a glance.
Milestones
The history in stages
1899
The first training session: Around 20 players try out the new game on Christmas Day at the Engelmann rink in Vienna. In January 1900 the first proper match follows — the Training Eisclub against the Wiener Athletiksport-Club, still with seven players per team.
1909
The first artificial ice rink: Reliable training conditions at last — the young game no longer depends on winter.
1912
Foundation of the federation: The constituent general assembly is followed by official approval of the statutes. Gustav Feix becomes the first president — and secures admission to the world federation, today's IIHF, in the same year.
1913
European Championship debut: In Munich, Austria take part officially in a European Championship for the first time.
1919
A fresh start with the puck: After the First World War the federation is re-established under president Oskar Schlesinger — and “Canadian ice hockey” with a puck finally takes hold.
1927
Austria become European champions: At the home European Championship in Vienna, the team — coached by Dr. Gordon Dempsey — go unbeaten to the first major title.
1930
Sensational win over Canada: Austria become the first European side ever to beat a team from overseas — world champions Canada are sent home after a 1–0 defeat.
1931
The great medal era: European champions once again, plus World Championship bronze behind Canada and the USA; two European Championship silver medals follow in 1932 and 1933.
1947
World Championship bronze after the restart: During the Second World War the federation had practically ceased to exist — in 1945 Alois Schaffer re-registers it with the authorities. Two years later the national team celebrate a World Championship medal again.
1963
Relegated to the C group: Austria bounce straight back up, but almost twenty years of second-tier hockey follow — the 1981 World Championship in Beijing remains the last C-pool tournament.
1964
Olympics and Worlds at home: Innsbruck hosts the Olympic ice hockey tournament, and again in 1976. Vienna's Stadthalle follows with the top-division World Championships of 1967, 1977 and 1987 — as a host, Austria earns an international reputation.
1992
B world champions and promotion: The B World Championship in Klagenfurt and Villach — brought to Austria on the initiative of federation president Dr. Hans Dobida — becomes the turning point: Austria return to the A pool of the world's best nations after around twenty years.
1996
A home Worlds with two faces: The top-division World Championship at Vienna's Stadthalle is organisationally a first-class festival of hockey, but on the ice it ends in relegation. After the tournament Dr. Hans Dobida hands the presidency to Dr. Dieter Kalt.
2002
Third straight Olympic appearance: After 1994 and 1998, Austria qualify for the Olympics once again — the qualification tournaments of 1997 in Innsbruck and 2001 in Klagenfurt are both won by the home team.
2005
Home Worlds in Vienna and Innsbruck: The Stadthalle hosts a World Championship for the fifth time, the Olympia World Innsbruck for the first — the Czech Republic, led by Jaromir Jagr, take the title. Eight years in the top flight come to an end; from 1999 to 2005 Austria had ranked among the world's best 16 throughout.
2014
10th place in Sochi: At the first Olympic appearance since 2002 the national team finishes 10th — Michael Grabner scores five goals and finishes as the tournament's top goalscorer.