Attempt number six. What you need to know about the World Championship in Division 1B, where the Ukrainian team will play

From April 23 to 29, Tallinn will host the Ice Hockey World Championship in the third strongest division – 1B. At the World Cup, for the sixth time in its history, the Ukrainian team will also play in Division 1B. Twice the blue-yellows managed to improve in the class, three attempts were unsuccessful. We tell you what you need to know about the World Cup, the opponents of the blue-yellows and the chances of our team.

Sixth try

Ukraine will play in Division 1B for the sixth time. There could have been more performances, but two world championships – in 2020 and 2021 – were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Twice – in 2013 and 2016 – the blue-yellows managed to move up in the class. The last three attempts – in 2018, 2019 and 2022 – were unsuccessful. In the first case, Ukraine took fourth place, in the second – fifth, in the last tournament at the moment – third. In 2022, the Blue-and-Yellows scored seven points in four matches at the tournament in Poland, giving way to the teams of Poland (11 points) and Japan (nine) and ahead of the national teams of Estonia (3 points) and Serbia (0).

Rivals

This time, the Ukrainians will have to challenge the ticket to Division 1A in the company of the national teams of China, Japan, Serbia, Estonia and the Netherlands. In the ranking of the International Ice Hockey Federation, our country ranks 27th, behind two rivals in the division – Japan (25th position) and China (26th). Estonia is located on the 28th position, the Netherlands – on the 29th, Serbia is on the 30th place. According to experts, Japan is the favorite of the tournament. The national teams of China and Ukraine are assigned the role of its main competitors, the teams of Serbia and the Netherlands are considered the main contenders for relegation.

As mentioned above, Japan took second place in Division 1B a year ago, and the new championship begins with the task of moving up in the class. The composition of the team of the Land of the Rising Sun is one of the oldest and most experienced in the tournament.

China also has a strong squad, most of whose players play in the KHL for Kunlun and have experience playing at the Olympic Games. Plus, naturalized hockey players, among which it is worth noting the captain Brandon Yip, who has 174 games in the NHL, as well as goaltender Paris O’Brien.

If we’re talking about veterans, then we can’t get past the 44-year-old captain of the Estonian national team defender Lauri Lahesalu, who will play at his 21st (!) World Championship. The Serbian national team, which lost all four matches last year with a total score of 4:29, sets itself the task of winning at least one match. The best Serbian sniper at the last World Cup – Mirko Dzhumich (who scored all four goals) – is in the ranks and is ready to repeat his performance. As for the Netherlands, which have recently been balancing between the second and third divisions, their task is not to be relegated. To do this, you need to at least beat Serbia.

Ukraine

Last year, Ukraine lost to Japan 2:8, and this cannot but be alarming. On the other hand, we should not forget that a year ago the national championship was not completed, the players were not in the best psychological state, but still our team performed well, fighting to the last for a ticket to the higher division.

Now the situation is different. The championship of Ukraine was played, the collections got practice, the coaches got the opportunity to follow the players, evaluating the candidates. The coaching staff has a good team at their disposal, with experienced players in all lines. Eduard Zakharchenko is in the goalkeeper’s position, Pangelov-Yuldashev is in the defensive position, Lyalka and Peresunko are in the attack. The control gathering before the championship, which the Federation organized for the team, should also help. The national team held six sparring matches, having won victories in all matches, including two meetings with a strong Hungarian national team.

According to the ex-goalkeeper of the national team of Ukraine Yevhen Brul, the calendar of the tournament plays into the hands of our team, according to which, perhaps, the blue-yellows will play the decisive match in the final round against Japan.

• 23 April. China – Ukraine. 16:00
• April 24th. Ukraine – Serbia. 16:00
• 26 April. Ukraine – Estonia. 19:30
• April 27th. Ukraine – Netherlands
• 29 April. Japan – Ukraine

Broadcasts

All matches of the IIHF World Championship in Division 1B can be seen in Ukraine as well. The official broadcaster of the tournament is the Xsport TV channel. Live broadcasts of the matches will be available on both TV and YouTube platforms of the channel.