All three are Nordic countries with populations above 5 million and strong winter sport pedigrees — Norway most of all. Yet in ice hockey, a quintessential winter sport and one at which Finland and Sweden excel, the Norwegians lag. AdvertisementIn Norway, hockey also had to contend with other popular winter sports, including skiing, for people’s interests. Norwegian hockey participation grew in the 1970s when “shorter work hours and an increase in welfare made the number of members and facilities boom,” according to Jensen’s research. Now, Norwegian hockey is much more comparable to that of Denmark, its southern neighbor across the North Sea.

Source: International New York Times February 17, 2026 15:46 UTC