WJC: U-20 Divisions IIIA and IIIB

[MeHateHe]

The IIHF Division IIIB tournament starts tomorrow (Dec. 11) and given that I doubt there will be a ton of interest in these two tournaments, I thought a combined thread would be appropriate.

Division IIIB runs Dec. 11-14 in Bangkok, with Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, South Africa and the host Thailand. Kyrgyzstan were relegated last year. This looks like Thailand's first entry in a U-20 tournament, and the second in a row for Luxembourg, which hadn't participated at this level since 2003 (where they scored once in four games, and gave up 48). You can't have a successful senior team without a junior program, so it's good to see development happening (to some extent) in these countries. Added to that, three of the teams (excepting Thailand) have a bunch of 2009-born players in the lineup; that could be a blessing or a curse. It could be that they don't have enough older players to fill out their roster, but on the other hand, those 15-year-olds today can play for another four years,

The Division IIIB tournament website is here:

IIHF - Home 2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Division III, Group B

IIHF - Home 2025 IIHF ICE HOCKEY U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Division III, Group B

www.iihf.com

As for players, it's a lot of what you expect for a tournament like this. Kyrgyzstan has a couple of kids playing high school hockey in the US. Luxembourg has one kid who's playing in Germany. South Africa has a player from the CSSHL U17 club in Notre Dame and Thailand looks to be icing a lineup with all domestic players.

FTR, based on nothing, I would expect Kyrgyzstan to win this. Former Soviet republic's gotta count for something.

It might be too much to hope for streams. I guess we'll find out in 11 hours when the puck drops.

Just to add: I love these lower level tournaments. The hockey is pretty scrambly, but it's great to watch the non-European markets especially come to life in these things.

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[SoundAndFury]

THF15U is a pretty serious league for this level. Given that Kyrgyzstan has a 15-year-old kid playing there, I will proclaim them as clear favorites as well.

On a more serious note, it's truly quite impressive for someone born in Kyrgyzstan, this Umar Esenov kid might have a non-zero chance of a pro career.

 

[Ein Gnot in Not]

is there a stream of the games

 

[ozo]

is there a stream of the games

Yes, there is a stream on Youtube.

 

[Ein Gnot in Not]

I think Thailand result is a big surprise.
Leading 3-1 after 2/3
Nice atmosphere in stadium.

 

[bv29]

Just to add: I love these lower level tournaments. The hockey is pretty scrambly, but it's great to watch... .

...croatian future opponents. This is exactly where we will be within five to ten years.

p.s. almost 7000 people watching Lux-Thai on YT

 

[MeHateHe]

Yes, there is a stream on Youtube.

That is one excitable Thai commentator. He needs to move his mic about two inches away from his face.

 

[MeHateHe]

Thailand sealed their tournament win and promotion to Division IIIA with a 5-2 win over Kyrgyzstan. Combined with their 6-1 defeat of Luxembourg yesterday, the win today gives them six points. South Africa beat Luxembourg 7-6 in overtime. Today's results leave Kyrgyzstan with three points, South Africa with two and Luxembourg with one. The tournament ends Saturday with Kyrgyzstan playing Luxembourg and South Africa facing Thailand.

The audience in the rink looks to be almost entirely teenagers - maybe a couple hundred capacity. And then 14,000+ (!!) views for the stream on Youtube.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Thailand sealed their tournament win and promotion to Division IIIA with a 5-2 win over Kyrgyzstan. Combined with their 6-1 defeat of Luxembourg yesterday, the win today gives them six points. South Africa beat Luxembourg 7-6 in overtime. Today's results leave Kyrgyzstan with three points, South Africa with two and Luxembourg with one. The tournament ends Saturday with Kyrgyzstan playing Luxembourg and South Africa facing Thailand.

The audience in the rink looks to be almost entirely teenagers - maybe a couple hundred capacity. And then 14,000+ (!!) views for the stream on Youtube.

That is surprising.

 

[MeHateHe]

The Division IIIB tournament finished today with Thailand winning promotion, ending the tournament a perfect 3-0 after an 8-2 shellacking of South Africa. Kyrgyzstan finished second by beating Luxembourg 7-2. Good introduction to this level from Thailand, and it’s nice to see the U20 division expanding.

Division IIIA runs Jan. 27-Feb. 2 in Istanbul, with the hosts Türkiye facing off against New Zealand, Mexico, Bulgaria, Taiwan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

[MeHateHe]

The Division IIIA tournament started yesterday in Istanbul, with Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzgovina and the host Turkiye. Through two days of action, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei are off to perfect starts, with New Zealand posting identical 5-0 shutouts of Mexico and Bulgaria, while Chinese Taipei have kept pace with a 7-3 win over Bulgaria Tuesday and a 8-2 thumping of the host Turks today. Turkiye and Bosnia and Herzgovina have 1-1 records, with the hosts having beaten Bosnia and Herzgovina 9-1 yesterday, while the Bosnians beat Mexico 6-4 today. Mexico and and Bulgaria are the two winless teams.

As per normal at this level, the teams are not swimming in high-end talent. Turkiye is carrying a 14-year-old goaltender, while Mexico has a player (Mario Hernandez) who played for Northwest Territories in the 2023 Canada Winter Games (no points and 2 PIM in five games). All the teams except for Mexico and Chinese Taipei are using foreign-born coaches or assistant coaches.

The games are streamed live, here: IIHF - Live Streaming

I really like the look of the faciility in Istanbul. A lot of these tournaments are played in rinks whose best attribute is "available," but the Zeytinburnu Ice Rink looks like it seats close to 4,000, and it's bright and the boards and glass are in good shape - again, in contrast to a lot of the rinks that often get used for the lower level tournaments. The same rink was used for the women's U18 DivIIB tournament earlier this month, and they claimed to have more than 3,500 in the stands for the final game between Turkiye and Iceland. See here;
Great atmosphere.

Back to the topic at hand, the men's U20 Division IIIA tournament resumes Saturday with Chinese Taipei facing Mexico, New Zealand against Bosnia and Herzgovina and Bulgary playing Turkiye. The tournament ends Monday.

 

[MeHateHe]

Three more games complete, and New Zealand and Chinese Taipei are destined to meet Monday for the gold medal. New Zealand beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 12-4, while Chinese Taipei beat Mexico 5-1 to remain unbeated through three games. Bulgaria beat Turkiye 9-4 in the last game.

Mexico is now the remaining winless team.

The fourth day of the tournament is tomorrow, with Bosnia and Herzegovina facing Chinese Taipei, Mexico against Bulgaria and Turkiye playing New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Turkish player Omer Altay was suspended for the remainder of the tournament (3 games) for a series of bad acts.

Video here:



Around 13:30 remaining in the third, #9 in white starts getting himself tied up with opponents, clumsily attempting some slewfoots. Chinese Taipei scores their seventh goal, and our friend Mr. Altay tries a slew foot again, and then, while down, clearly kicks an opponent in the leg. Bad act 1 (which was not caught by the officials.)

His next shift, Mr. Altay goes out for some more mayhem. With around 11 minutes remaining, he levels one of the Chinese Taipei players at the blueline (clean hit), and then goes headhunting, thumping some kid in the back of the head with his stick and hands. Referee sees that one and tosses him with a major penalty for head contact. So his week is over.

Also, this is one of the reasons I follow these tournaments. Often so much mayhem!

 

[PanniniClaus]

Three more games complete, and New Zealand and Chinese Taipei are destined to meet Monday for the gold medal. New Zealand beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 12-4, while Chinese Taipei beat Mexico 5-1 to remain unbeated through three games. Bulgaria beat Turkiye 9-4 in the last game.

Mexico is now the remaining winless team.

The fourth day of the tournament is tomorrow, with Bosnia and Herzegovina facing Chinese Taipei, Mexico against Bulgaria and Turkiye playing New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Turkish player Omer Altay was suspended for the remainder of the tournament (3 games) for a series of bad acts.

Video here:



Around 13:30 remaining in the third, #9 in white starts getting himself tied up with opponents, clumsily attempting some slewfoots. Chinese Taipei scores their seventh goal, and our friend Mr. Altay tries a slew foot again, and then, while down, clearly kicks an opponent in the leg. Bad act 1 (which was not caught by the officials.)

His next shift, Mr. Altay goes out for some more mayhem. With around 11 minutes remaining, he levels one of the Chinese Taipei players at the blueline (clean hit), and then goes headhunting, thumping some kid in the back of the head with his stick and hands. Referee sees that one and tosses him with a major penalty for head contact. So his week is over.

Also, this is one of the reasons I follow these tournaments. Often so much mayhem!

Chinese TaiPei seems as mysterious as North Korea. Do they have many rinks? Minor hockey programs? They clearly aren't using foreigners to prop themselves up so it's pretty amazing to see them competing this well.