The Game is Global, Part 5: The state of play for France, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Norway

Bienvenue, Sardecna zaprasajem, Qos klediniz, and velkommen to the fifth edition of The Game is Global. In this edition, we’ll look at the state of play for two former Soviet bloc nations currently making geopolitical news, a Nordic nation known for its fjords, and the land of La Marseillaise.

How are France, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Norway faring in the world of ice hockey and what is in store for fans of these nations in the next four years? Keep reading to find out as we continue our countdown to Beijing!

No. 15-ranked France  

Profile

Governing Body: Federation Française de Hockey sur Glace, FFHG (aka French Ice Hockey Federation)

Joined IIHF: October 20, 1908

Population (2021): 67,848,156

Current World Rank: 15th

Points: 2,295 

Number of Players (2020): 21,582

Number of Rinks (2020): 119

Referee