HistoryData
sports2018

Ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics — ice hockey played during the 2018 Winter Olympics

January 1, 2018

The 2018 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament marked the first time a unified Korean women's team competed at an Olympic Games.

Quick Facts

Year
2018
Category
sports

Key Facts

Men's tournament teams
12
Women's tournament teams
8
Men's tournament dates
14–25 February 2018
Women's tournament dates
10–22 February 2018
Gangneung Hockey Centre capacity
10,000 seats
Kwandong Hockey Centre capacity
6,000 seats

By the Numbers

12
Men's tournament teams
8
Women's tournament teams
14
Men's tournament dates
10
Women's tournament dates

Location

Map of Gangneung, South KoreaMap of Gangneung, South KoreaGangneung, South Korea

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 2018 Winter Olympics were awarded to Pyeongchang, South Korea, prompting the construction of two new IIHF-standard ice hockey venues in the Gangneung Coastal Cluster. A diplomatic agreement between North and South Korea ahead of the Games led to a historic decision to field a combined Korean women's hockey team with an expanded roster.

Event

Ice hockey competitions were held at the Gangneung Hockey Centre and the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, South Korea. Twelve nations contested the men's tournament from 14 to 25 February, while eight teams competed in the women's tournament from 10 to 22 February 2018, with the unified Korean women's team making its Olympic debut.

Consequence

The unified Korean women's team became a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation at the Games, drawing significant international attention. Both newly built venues, each equipped with IIHF-regulation rinks, expanded South Korea's ice hockey infrastructure and raised the sport's profile in the country following the Olympics.

Result

Various national teams

at Gangneung Hockey Centre & Kwandong Hockey Centre, Gangneung

First unified Korean women's team in Olympic ice hockey history

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201820182015201620172019202020212018 FIFA World Cup — 21st FIFA World Cup, held in Russia2018 Winter Olympics — 23rd edition of Winter Olympics, in Pyeongchang, South Korea2018 Asian Games — 18th edition of the Asian Games2018–19 UEFA Nations League — 2018–2019 edition of the UEFA Nations League2018 Formula One World Championship — 69th season of Formula One motor racingJanuary 2018 — month of 20182018–19 UEFA Europa League — 48th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA2018 Summer Youth Olympics — 2018 edition of the Summer Youth Olympicsice-hockey-at-the-2018-winter-olympics-ice-hockey-played-d-2018