Moose Jaw 2023: Get to Know Norway

The 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships will take place from 28 May - June 4 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in Canada. The top eight teams from around the world will compete for the world title, with the top six finishers staying in the A-Pool for the next season. Follow along as we break down what you need to know about each team.

Norway

Background
Norway is looking to re-establish itself after failing to make the Paralympic Winter Games last year for the first time in history since the sport was added to the Games programme in 1994. It has competed at every World Championships A-Pool in history, but has not won a medal at the event in 14 years. Earlier this season, Ken Babey was announced as the new head coach of Norway’s national team. He previously led Canada’s national team from 2015-2022, coaching them to a World Championship title in 2017 and Paralympic silver medals in 2018 and 2022.

World Ranking: 5th

World Championships History
2021: 6th place 
2019: 5th place 
2017: 4th place 
2015: 4th place
2013: 5th place
2012: 6th place
2009: Silver
2008: Silver 
2004: Gold
2000: Silver
1996: Silver

Athletes to Watch 
Audun Bakke led all defencemen with four goals to his name at the last World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic two years ago. Bakke, who has been playing the sport since he was 15 and is now 34 years old, has become Norway’s clutch player in recent years, scoring game-winning goals in overtime and batting away pucks when his team needs to most in the final minutes of games. He’ll also be joined by long-time national team member Morten Vaernes, another clutch shooter.

Matchup to Watch: Norway vs. Italy on 31 May
The last two times these two faced each other on the World Championship stage, the game went to overtime. At the 2021 edition of the event, Norway defeated Italy, 4-3, in a shootout to highlight the first day of preliminary play. In 2019, Norway also had the upper hand, taking a 1-0 victory over Italy in overtime in the fifth-place game.