Contenders

A number of nations have been on the cusp of championship glory, yet have never been able to clinch victory – some on multiple occasions. Here are all of the teams that have played for, yet have failed to win, the International Hockey Lineal Championship, since its inception in 1905. Contenders are ranked by highest number of IHLC games, followed by most recent attempt.

MEN’S IHLC CONTENDERS – 1905-present
RANK TEAM IHLC
GAMES
 LATEST /
FIRST ATT.
01 🇸🇮 Slovenia (1992-) 9 16 May 2025
28 Apr 2003
02 🇳🇱 Netherlands (1935-) 9 06 Jan 1982
03 Feb 1939
03 🇺🇦 Ukraine (1992-) 3 09 May 2005
01 May 2001
04 🇷🇴 Romania (1931-) 3 24 Apr 1977
05 Feb 1934
05 🇰🇷 South Korea (1979-) 1 25 Apr 2018
06 🇷🇸 Yugoslavia (1939-92) 1 11 Feb 1984
WOMEN’S IHLC CONTENDERS – 1987-present
RANK TEAM IHLC
GAMES
 LATEST /
FIRST ATT.
01 🇨🇭 Switzerland (1987-) 25 15 Apr 2025
21 Apr 1987
02 🇨🇳 China (1992-) 19 04 Apr 2009
20 Apr 1992
03 🇩🇪 Germany (1991-)
West Germany (1988-90)		 13 17 Apr 2025
21 Mar 1990
04 🇯🇵 Japan (1987-) 13 11 Apr 2024
22 Apr 1987
05 🇨🇿 Czechia (1993-) 4 19 Apr 2025
03 Sep 2022
06 🇩🇰 Denmark (1987-) 2 20 Aug 2022
21 Apr 1992
07 🇸🇰 Slovakia (1995-) 2 17 Apr 2011
13 Feb 2010
08 🇭🇺 Hungary (1999-) 1 01 Sep 2022
09 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (1995-) 1 03 Apr 2005
10 🇳🇴 Norway (1988-) 1 12 Apr 1994
11 🇳🇱 Netherlands (1987-) 1 23 Apr 1987
JUNIOR IHLC CONTENDERS – 1973-present
RANK TEAM IHLC
GAMES
 LATEST /
FIRST ATT.
01 🇩🇪 Germany (1991-)
West Germany (1976-90)		 29 26 Dec 2024
28 Dec 1976
02 🇱🇻 Latvia (1992-) 8 31 Dec 2024
26 Dec 2009
03 🇳🇴 Norway (1978-) 8 26 Dec 2023
26 Dec 1982
04 🇩🇰 Denmark (1979-) 5 26 Dec 2017
20 Dec 2011
05 🇵🇱 Poland (1976-) 5 26 Dec 1989
25 Dec 1976
06 🇺🇦 Ukraine (1992-) 4 30 Dec 2003
26 Dec 1994
08 🇦🇹 Austria (1979-) 3 27 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2003
07 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (1992-) 3 31 Dec 2018
01 Jan 2000
09 🇯🇵 Japan (1982-) 2 02 Jan 1993
27 Dec 1992