History of Ice Hockey in Puigcerdà

Puigcerdá and ice hockey

Puigcerdà is a small village, capital of the Catalan region of La Cerdanya. This land is characterized by a very mild climate with heavy snow during the winter, which leaves the entire landscape sunk in perpetual whiteness. Among the most attractive places it has to offer, is the town’s artificial pond.

Birth of hockey as a social interest

Puigcerdà’s lake is one of the best known and visited of the Baja Cerdanya. It is surrounded by beautiful trees and in summer is very popular for its rowing boats and relaxing walks. During the winter, it freezes and was widely used for recreational skating or hockey activities in the past.​​The story that associates this pond with the ice disc sport dates back to 1956. On February 26, the students of the Pía School challenged the Nuria Alpine Club to a friendly hockey duel and the favorable scenario for this confrontation was the frozen lake. The friendly match ended with a defeat for the home team, but that first experience was the one that laid the foundations of an exciting tradition for this sport, so much so that shortly after the Club Gel Puigcerdà was born and has established itself as the official town team.

The impact generated by this sport was so great that the following year an ice rink was set up for practice of hockey, figure skating and recreational skating.

Hockey rooted ice passion

The interest created around this sport is so remarkable, that there is already a sports center in the town, which has a very well equipped ice rink. For its part, the Club Gel Puigcerdà is one of the great representatives of the national championship in this discipline. They have won 5 Super League titles and 12 times champions of the Copa del Rey. The team is so important for its people, that to honor it taking advantage of its 50th anniversary celebration, a statue of a player of this sport was set at the town’s entrance.

Definitely the story of this winter game, in this small town is part of its past, present and without any doubt, also of its future.

Consult our portfolio of house, villa, land or apartment in Puigcerdà and enjoy the lake, hockey and the sports center!