Why isn't Norway better??

Does anybody have any ideas or reasons why Norway doesn't seem to have even close to as good of a hockey team as Sweden or Finland?

i guess.

It's a lot about history...the game didn't get imported (from Canada) by enthusiasts, like it did in Sweden and Finland before WWII. And when you've always sucked, it's hard to make people interested.

But at least youve got a guy like Knutsen! :D

...and Mathias Olimb.

Skiing, soccer and speedskating.
Thats even wierder!! If they're such good skaters why not give some of those dudes a stick!? ;)

there's less than 30 indoor rinks, and only a little over 6,000 registered hockey players (including juniors and women) in Norway.

comparatively, there's about 65,000 registered hockey players and about 300 indoor rinks in Sweden. In Finland, there's about 50,000 registered hockey players and about 200 indoor rinks.

Not sure that answers the question, but as one of the resident Norwegians (in exile) I just had to throw that out there :)

Norway puts other sports first (soccer, skiing, biathalon, etc.) while in Finland, like Canada, hockey is the main sport, and in Sweden, hockey is #2 or #3.

Those are interesting facts which explain why theres isnt as many players coming from there. But the question of why didn't hockey catch on in Norway still lingers. The only person who has she dany light on that question said that the "canadian enthusiasts" didn't spread it in Norway?? If thats tru ethen why?? Sorry guys it still seems really weird to me? Is there any healthy rivalry between those thre FIN/SWE/NOR that would spur a demand for hockey?

All it takes is one superstar to make a difference, if a Norwegian player started lighting up the NHL and it made its way back to the press in Norway you'd better believe there'd be increased interest. It may not make them into a hockey superpower overnight but it'd be a start, get them interested in their international team.

All it takes is one superstar to make a difference, if a Norwegian player started lighting up the NHL and it made its way back to the press in Norway you'd better believe there'd be increased interest. It may not make them into a hockey superpower overnight but it'd be a start, get them interested in their international team.
Espen Knutsen will most likely have that effect - it's just too early to see it.

The Geographic makeup of Norway also makes it easier to take up Skiing and soccer.
Very rugged,mountaneous areas make downhill and cross-country skiing great pasttimes for young and old. Add the popularity of soccer and how good Norwegian teams and clubs have been and it makes it harder for other sports to get sponsorship,arenas and public support.

The worst moment in norwegian hockey:

During the 1960's the president wanted a strong priority on building new indoor icerinks. The rest of the activities should be runned on a minimum cost to achieve as many new indoor icerinks as possible. Unfortunately he lost this struggle and the money was spent on other priorites.

The same situation arised in Finland were they decided to build as meny indoor icerinks at whatever cost it would take.

Up until this point Norway and Finland has an equal amount of rinks and players.

As it is now, one of the countries is amongst the hockey Top 6 and the other can't even get out of Divison I.

The trouble for Norway now is that alot of places don't have an indoor icerinks were new players can be recruited. Both the southern part and the northern part of Norway is without any icerinks at all. Thus hockey get neglected in media and most of the athletictalents goes to soccer or skiing.

What a waste!

Imagine how cool it would be if Norway was able to stand up to Sweden and Finland in hockey. Those should be great matchups.

It seems like there should be ample availability of outdoor rinks if you know what I mean.