Finnish Ice Hockey Association
Homepage: http://www.finhockey.fi/

History:

Hockey made its debut in Finland in 1899 in a game played in Helsinki on Pohjoisranta. In 1927, the Finnish Skating Association formally introduced ice hockey as part of its program, and as significant interest in the sport mounted, hockey enthusiasts put up the Finnish Ice Hockey Association in 1929, consisting of 17 clubs. By 1933, Finland was playing internationally, and made it to the World Championships in Basel for the first time in 1939. Finland got its first medal in the European Championships in 1962, as well as its first medal at the World Junior Championships in1974. In the succeeding decade, Finland continued to make a mark in international hockey, as it won the World Junior Championships for the first time in 1987, the silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, and the silver medal at the World Championships in 1992. Finland went on to win gold medals at the World Championships in 1995, World Junior Championships in 1998, and the Euro Hockey Tour in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004.