The 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Division IIIB provided an exhilarating journey for Israel’s ice hockey team. Despite concluding their campaign with a 3-0 defeat against Estonia, the host team, the experience was filled with pride and optimism.

The loss to Estonia, though disappointing on the surface, was actually a testament to the remarkable progress Israel’s team has made since its debut on the international stage in 2022. Just two years ago, Estonia dominated with a staggering 10-0 victory. However, this time around, the game was much more competitive, showcasing the significant strides Israel has taken.

The statistics speak volumes: from zero victories in 2022, to one in 2023, and now two in 2024. These results not only reflect tangible success but also signify the underlying growth and development within the team. The emergence of new talents from Israel’s youth system further reinforces this progress.

Three promising 15-year-olds from Kfar Saba – defender Lior Leshem and forwards Adar Angress and Mariel Sigalov – made their debut appearances in the national colors. While Leshem immediately left her mark on the tournament by leading the goalscoring chart with an impressive five goals, Angress and Sigalov showcased immense potential that hints at future success.

Under the guidance of coach Danill Eliseev, Israel’s team returns home with a sense of accomplishment. Despite the defeat, they carry with them the satisfaction of a job well done. More importantly, they hold onto the unwavering belief that the future of Israeli women’s ice hockey is undeniably bright.

Photo: IIHF
Video: Joshua Girshenbaum

Having secured just one win in their first two years on the world stage, our women’s team has already achieved two victories this week. Today’s game against Singapore at the 2024 Women’s World Championship in Division IIIB in Estonia resulted in a 3-1 success, moving the Blue-and-Whites to the second spot in the table behind Thailand.

The first period was scoreless, which undoubtedly favored Singapore as Israel dominated through the opening stanza. Despite all their efforts, our women failed to find a way past the opposing goalie. The deadlock was finally broken in the 27th minute, and fittingly enough, it was none other than Lior Leshem, fresh from her hat-trick against Bosnia & Herzegovina, who put Danill Eliseev’s team in front. Having seen a couple of her trademark shots from the blue line saved, she decided to change tactics and took a breathtaking solo run from the D-zone, carving through the defense and leaving the goalie helpless with a delicate finish.

Ironically, it was Leshem who was sent to the penalty box ten minutes later, presenting Singapore with a chance to level the score, which they duly took. Thus, at the second intermission, there was still nothing to separate the teams.

The crucial moment came in the 47th minute when Israel launched a massive attack. The puck could hardly be seen in the crowded goal crease, but Pnina Basov somehow managed to send it over the line, becoming the team’s first player to score at two World Championships. The Blue-and-Whites successfully defended their slim lead until the last minute, prompting Singapore to pull out their goalie. This was just what Lior needed for her second marker of the day. Collecting the puck near her own net, she sent it powerfully and precisely through the entire rink to set the final score.

So, there is just one game left for our women in Kohtla-Jarve. Tomorrow, they play the host team, Estonia. Promotion is out of the question since Thailand already secured the first spot. But it does not make the game meaningless at all. The two teams met at this stage two years ago, and our team suffered a bitter 10-0 defeat. On Friday, they will be looking to erase those painful memories.

March is traditionally packed with international hockey action, and right after the end of the IIHF U18 Division IIB World Championship in Spain, our interest shifted to Kohtla-Jarve, Estonia. On Sunday, the Israel women’s team kicked off its campaign in the IIHF Women’s Division IIIB World Championship.

Our ladies are relatively new to the sport; the current tournament is only their third, but they have already secured an international victory. The feat was achieved last year on the home soil of OneIce Arena in Tnuvot when they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-1. And now, Danill Eliseev’s team is looking for more glory in the company of well-known European rivals, Estonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, and two South-East Asian newcomers to this stage, Thailand and Singapore.

Thailand was the opponent on the opening day. The team may be new to the World Championship program, but its ice hockey can boast some history. After all, Thailand has been an IIHF member since 1989, two years before Israel, and its women’s team has taken part in regional competitions for almost ten years. So, it would have been premature to jump to any conclusions while trying to predict who would be the master and the understudy in this game. And, in fact, Thailand’s greater experience played its role as our ladies suffered a 4-0 defeat.

In the second game, on Tuesday against Bosnia & Herzegovina, it was a different story even though the encounter did not start as planned. At the halfway mark, the Bosnians were 3-0 up, and it looked like another defeat was imminent for Israel. And then came a magical turnaround inspired by Lior Leshem, one of the new faces in our team.

She just turned 15 last December, and this tournament presented her with the first opportunity to taste international hockey, but Lior definitely didn’t need too much time to adapt to the new level. Being a defender by trade, she decided to test her luck at the other end. And what a successful test it proved to be!

In the 33rd minute, Leshem smashed home a powerful shot from distance, starting an epic comeback. Three minutes later, in a power play, she found herself unmarked in front of the net and needed no further invitation to cut the deficit to the minimum. 3-2 after 40 minutes, and everything to play for in the final stanza.

Another power play helped to level the score in the 49th minute – this time Pnina Basov took the plaudits, adding a goal to an assist she had in Leshem’s second goal. And with seven and a half minutes remaining, Wonder Girl Lior completed her hat-trick with another powerful and precise blast.

Thus, in the short history of the Israeli women’s team, there is one hat-trick and two victories, both at the expense of Bosnia & Herzegovina. With two more games to play this week, our ladies will be looking for some winning diversity.