Ice hockey at the 2011 Winter Universiade was held from January 27 through February 6 at the Erzurum GSIM Ice Arena complex in Erzurum, generally called "3000 Ice Rink" and "500 Ice Rink" during Universiade in reference to the seating capacities of its two sheets of ice. In most cases, men's matches were played at 3000 Ice Rink and women's matches were played at 500 Ice Rink, although exceptions were made for the women's semifinals and medal games played in the larger rink, while some lower men's placement games were played in the smaller one. The selection of participating teams – 12 in the men's tournament and six in the women's tournament, including the hosting Turkey sides in both cases – was announced on August 27, 2010, while the draw to place the teams into their assigned pools took place on October 2, 2010.

Ice hockey at the 2013 Winter Universiade was held from December 10 through December 21 at the Municipal Ice Arena in Cavalese and Gianmario Scola Ice Hockey Arena in Val di Fassa and Ice Stadium in Pergine Valsugana. The selection of participating teams - 12 in the men's tournament and six in the women's tournament - was announced on July 31, 2013 while the draw to place the teams into their assigned pools took place on September 28, 2013.