Watching Ice Hockey Spanish Style

GRANADA – Today, 6 February, in the men’s ice hockey tournament of the 27^th Winter Universiade host Spain played against Czech Republic and lost 2-5, while Slovakia played China, winning 13-1.

The game between host Spain and Czech Republic drew a big crowd. As ice hockey in Spain is mainly played in the North of the country and Madrid, the Winter Universiade gives the people of the South an opportunity to discover ice hockey live for the first time. “Many people tell us it’s an exciting sport”, says competition manager Sergi Jimenez who’s a former hockey player from Barcelona. “They see it for the first time and Alejandro Carbonell scored the first goal for Spain against Czech Republicthey realize there’s always happening something on the ice and at a fast pace. You don’t get bored watching ice hockey”, he adds with a big smile. The Spanish also have a different approach to the fan’s game. Instead of the popular organ the NHL uses or the drums in the European leagues, here in Granada you hear a trumpet play a ‘deguello’ followed by the crowd chanting ‘Olé, Olé’, like at the bull fight.

Alejandro Carbonell heard lots of ‘Olés’ erupting when he scored the first goal for Spain. “Scoring the first goal for Spain in front of this big home crowd gives you a great feeling. True, we lost the game 2-5, but we won the third period 2-0. That’s important for our team spirit”, the physical education student of the University of Zaragoza commented.

A big crowd watching the ESP vs CZE men’s game

In the women’s competition Russia faced-off against Kazakhstan. An interesting fact, as both countries will be the host of the next Winter Universiades. Indeed, the 28^th edition will be hosted in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2017 and the 29^th edition in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in 2019. Team Russia over-classed Kazakhstan ending the game in a 12-1 victory.

KAZ vs RUS women’s game

Christian Pierre, Press Officer