Women’s Worlds: homeward with satisfaction

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.

Women’s Worlds: More success for Team Israel

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.

It’s ladies’ time!

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.

Video: Joshua Girshenbaum

U18 Worlds: A star in the making

Photos: IIHF / Joan Reyes

Team Israel may not have received many plaudits for its campaign at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Spain, but what definitely caught everyone’s eye was the brilliant performance of one of its – and the tournament’s – younger players, Nikita Zitserman. The 15-year-old forward from Kfar Saba topped the goalscoring chart with eight goals, sharing the first spot with China’s Xu Ziheng.

Both prolific scorers have much in common – like age, for example. Zitserman was born on September 12th, 2008, while Xu is just five days younger. And both scored one goal each in a head-to-head clash.

But speaking about Nikita, not only should his quick hands and precise shot be mentioned, but also his tactical excellence. Six of his eight goals were scored on the power play, making him by far the most successful player of the tournament in numerical advantage situations.

One may argue that power play goals are easier to score. While this is not a foregone conclusion by any means, even if so, obviously, one must have some special abilities to capitalize on these occasions: tactical maturity, the ability to “read” the game and anticipate the play, as well as an extremely high level of understanding among the whole power play unit.

This reminds us that every goal is a result of a team effort, especially on the power play. And we must proudly add that over the course of the week, Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s men excelled in this department as a team. They scored 10 times from 28 attempts, and their 35.71% conversion rate was second, just a fraction behind Spain (11 for 29, 37.93%). These were just two teams with power play efficiency above 30%.

So, despite five losses, the Blue-and-Whites still have some reasons to be proud of themselves and some ground for hope that the future will bring them more wins and success.

U18 Worlds: Back to IIIA with hope and valuable experience

Photos: IIHF / Joan Reyes

Despite a brave effort and a formidable second-period performance, Team Israel couldn’t secure its spot in Division IIB of the IIHF U18 World Championship, falling to a 3-5 defeat against Chinese Taipei. This means that next year our boys will be relegated to Division IIIA and will look for an immediate return to a higher level.

The Blue-and-Whites started their final game in Puigcedra with the right attitude, trying to take a grip on the proceedings, showing determination, and applying strong pressure on the opposition, but none of their 12 shots in as many minutes reached the net. Slowly, Chinese Taipei regained control, and in the closing minutes of the stanza, jumped to a 2-0 lead. This could have been a significant psychological blow for our youngsters, but they didn’t let frustration take charge. And right after the intermission, the comeback started.

It was helped by a power play duly converted by none other than Nikita Zitserman, who is showing signs of being a true master of play in numerical advantage situations. In the 24th minute, he scored his seventh goal of the tournament, six of which were power play goals. Just six seconds were needed to capitalize on Laio Kuei Jh’s penalty, and the impact was so strong that in another 69 seconds, Vasili Lysov leveled the score.

Right after the halfway mark, Zitserman proved that he could score in equal-strength situations as well. Taking a wide turn around the O-zone, he found his way to the goal and with a timely shot put our team in front, forcing Chinese Taipei’s coaching staff to change the goalie. At the second intermission, Israel went back to the locker room in pole position. With just 20 minutes of play remaining, everyone felt the mission was not impossible. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Chinese Taipei also showed some character and retaliated well enough to score four times in the final stanza, sending the Blue-and-Whites to the lower division. This was definitely not the outcome we all hoped for, but the team returns to IIIA with valuable experience and the hope of winning promotion back immediately. Being the youngest team of this year’s tournament, it will keep the core of the roster for next season and, beyond any doubt, will be among the top contenders for gold.

U18 Worlds: All set for the final-day decider

Photo: IIHF / Joan Reyes

Team Israel experienced its most significant setback at the 2024 U18 World Championship against Spain. The hosts, having competed in a higher division last season, were determined to secure a swift return to dominance on their home ice. It was evident from the outset that they would come out strong, which they did. Despite our team’s brave efforts, maintaining a respectable 2-0 scoreline at the first intermission, they eventually succumbed to the pressure, suffering an 11-1 defeat. At least, in the 48th minute, Vasili Lysov ensured they wouldn’t depart the ice without a goal to their credit.

With just one game day remaining, the Blue-and-Whites have their final opportunity to avoid relegation and secure their place in Division IIB for the next season. On Saturday, they will face opponents from Chinese Taipei, who currently sit fifth in the table with two points from today’s 5-4 overtime victory against Australia. This means that a regulation-time win would fulfill Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s team’s ultimate goal. It’s a winner-takes-all scenario, plain and simple.

Our final game at the Polisportiu in Puigcerda begins at 1300 local time (1400 in Israel).

U18 Worlds: Israel thwarted by China’s second-period surge

Photo: IIHF / Joan Reyes

Team Israel faced a challenging test in their third game of the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship against China, a strong contender for gold with two previous wins. And our team performed admirably in the first half, keeping the score level until the 34th minute. Despite China taking the lead three times, a goal from Nick Ougortsin and a double from Samson Goldshtein ensured parity.

However, towards the end of the second period, China, with their greater experience and age, took control of the game, scoring four goals in quick succession and securing a significant lead by the second intermission. The outcome was particularly frustrating as our team felt they weren’t significantly outplayed. In fact, Israel even slightly outshot their opponents (18-16) during those 20 minutes but failed to capitalize on their chances.

In the third period, Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s team rallied, dominating with a clear advantage as the shot count stood at 14-5 in their favor. However, despite their efforts, they only managed to score one goal. Nikita Zitserman added his 6th of the tournament, showcasing his prowess as the tournament’s top goalscorer, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the game. China took the verdict 7-4 to move to the top of the table.

Tomorrow presents another tough challenge against the host team, Spain. The puck drops at 2000 local time (2100 in Israel).

U18 Worlds: Nikita keeps on scoring, but Australia proves too strong

Photos: IIHF / Joan Reyes

In the IIHF U18 World Championship IIB, 15-year-old Nikita Zitserman, one of the younger players, notched two more goals to his tally. However, despite his efforts, Team Israel succumbed to Australia with a disappointing 12-4 loss.

The game, however, was more competitive than the final score suggests. Our team made a valiant effort against the Australians, who held an advantage in pace and tempo. Both sides created scoring opportunities regularly, evident in the shot count of 38-29 in favor of Australia. It’s clear that the opponent’s goalie had a busy day in the net. The difference lay in capitalizing on those chances, a department in which the Aussies excelled.

This raises questions about experience, as U18 tournaments are crucial for learning. Some lessons are tough, yet invaluable in shaping future performances.

For players born in 2006, this U18 World Championship marks their final opportunity to shine at this level. Next year, they will no longer be eligible, leading to changes in team compositions. However, looking at the Israeli roster, only six players are scheduled for transition to another age group, indicating continuity within the team. In contrast, Australia boasts 12 players from the 2006 class, with none born in 2009, while Israel has two.

Already making an impact are forward Samson Goldshtein (born in April 2009), who tallied two points (1+1) yesterday against Bulgaria, and defenseman Artur Charniak, two months older, who registered two assists in today’s game. These players are thriving on the opportunity, gaining valuable experience for the future.

Israel started brightly, taking an early 2-0 lead. Zitserman scored his first of the day within two minutes, followed by Ariel Elkin just 69 seconds later. However, Australia quickly retaliated, leading 5-2 by the first intermission. In the second period, they added three more goals before Nick Ougortsin converted a powerplay goal six seconds before the buzzer. The final 20 minutes saw Zitserman netting his second marker, providing the only moment of joy for Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s team.

As emphasized, this journey is about more than just joy; it’s primarily about gaining experience. With a day of rest ahead, we will reflect on the lessons learned from the first two days of competition. The action resumes on Wednesday, March 20th, against China, with the game starting at 1630 local time (1730 in Israel).

U18 Worlds: Zitserman scores three in a roller-coaster game

Photo: IIHF / Joan Reyes

Team Israel U18 kicked off its IIHF U18 World Championship campaign with an exhilarating game against Bulgaria, ending on the wrong side of a 7-6 scoreline. Despite the loss, there were many positives for Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s team, notably the stellar performance of 15-year-old Nikita Zitserman, who netted a hat-trick on the Polisportiu ice in Puigcerda, Spain.

Last year in Iceland, Israel earned promotion to Division IIB, and as is customary for newcomers, their priority is to secure their spot at a higher level and demonstrate their belonging. Thus, avoiding finishing at the bottom of the six-team table is the primary goal. However, this task is easier said than done, as they face opponents who are well-versed in playing at this level.

Nevertheless, Kozhevnikov’s squad is undaunted by the challenge, drawing on the wealth of experience possessed by several players. Notably, eight skaters on the current roster, including defensemen Ori Moss Rendell, Itay Parasol, Nick Ougortsin, and Ariel Elkin, as well as forwards Vasili Lisov, Shon Kazinets, Yonatan Melnikov, and Itay Kerner, participated in last year’s tournament in Iceland. Three of them—Moss Rendell, Ougortsin, and Kerner—also contributed to a successful U20 World Championship campaign earlier this year, securing promotion to a higher level in January.

Zitserman, who has valuable experience playing for the U20 side, opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a powerplay goal. However, the lead was short-lived, and by the end of the first period, Israel found themselves trailing 3-1.

Melnikov initiated the comeback after the intermission, which was sealed in the 27th minute by another powerplay goal from Zitserman, assisted by Samson Goldshtein, the youngest player in the tournament, who will turn 15 on April 30th.

A minute later, Goldshtein himself scored in a 5-on-3 situation, putting Israel back in front. Elkin then added a shorthanded goal to make it 5-3. However, the Bulgarians retaliated once again, scoring three quick goals to carry a 6-5 advantage into the final stanza.

With 15 minutes remaining, Israel received another powerplay opportunity, and Zitserman capitalized once again, completing his hat-trick and reigniting hope for a positive outcome. However, it was not to be, as Boyan Iliev scored the decider in the 51st minute, securing the win for Bulgaria.

Despite the disappointing result, there is no time for frustration, as four more games are scheduled for this week. The next opponent is Australia, which lost 6-3 to China earlier today. The puck drops tomorrow at 1 pm local time (2 pm in Israel).

Justice done – CAS ruling goes our way

Sport is all about winning, and at IHFI, we are always pursuing the ultimate goal of meeting every challenge and achieving the best possible result. Having said that, we have to admit that in recent times, challenges have arisen not only on the ice rink but also off the playing surface. Nonetheless, we are equally pleased to state that we can succeed in any field.

Just a few weeks after an emphatic victory at the IIHF U20 World Championship in Bulgaria, which earned our junior team promotion to Division IIB, we won another battle, this time not on the slippery playing surface but in the solemn tranquility of CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) headquarters.

Canadian judge Nancy Orr issued her verdict on our appeal against the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) decision to suspend the Israeli national teams at all levels from competing in IIHF-sanctioned events due to so-called “security concerns.” This decision, announced on January 10th, 2024, prompted IHFI to launch a vigorous campaign for its reversal. With unanimous support from national sports authorities, we fought to overturn a decision that threatened to set Israeli hockey back and nullify our recent accomplishments.

After a week of intense and uncompromising battle for our rights, the IIHF finally heeded our voice, lifting the ban—but only for the first of the series of tournaments, the aforementioned U20 World Championship. Thus, the fate of our other three teams (National men’s and women’s, as well as men’s U18) remained unclear.

But now, at last, no uncertainty remains, as Nancy Orr’s ruling clearly states: “The IIHF Council failed to treat the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel on an equal basis to other Member National Associations participating in those tournaments or on an equal basis to other Member National Associations facing a similar situation… The IIHF Council’s decision contradicted and/or ignored the basic principles of equality and equal opportunity.”

Judge Orr ruled unequivocally that this decision was null and void and that Israel was entitled to compete in every tournament like the other national teams. This means that our country will be proudly represented by its athletes at:

2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division IIB in Spain (March 17-23);
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division IIIB in Estonia (March 24-29);
2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division IIA in Serbia (April 21-27).