SOFIA, Bulgaria — The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II Group B concluded this past weekend at the Winter Sports Palace, delivering a dramatic finish that saw Israel emerge as champions. In a tournament defined as much by administrative resilience as on-ice skill, the Israeli squad finished with a perfect 5-0 record to secure the gold medal.
Israel celebrates its 2026 Division II Group B triumph with pure joy on the ice.
The Decisive Showdown
The final day of play set the stage for a “winner-take-all” battle between Israel and Iceland. Both teams entered the matchup with eyes on the top of the podium, but Israel’s clinical execution proved too much for the Icelandic defense.
Israel jumped to an early lead with two goals in just 12 seconds during the first period, courtesy of Shon Kazinets and Gleb Khvoles. While Iceland managed to narrow the gap to 3–2 in the third period, an empty-net goal by Michael Levin sealed a 5–2 victory and the tournament title.
Standings & Performance
While Israel dominated the win column, the tournament was tightly contested among the middle seeds. New Zealand secured the silver medal, finishing with 10 points after a strong showing led by tournament standouts like Jacob Carey.
| Rank | Team | Record (W-OTW-OTL-L) | Points |
| 1 | Israel | 3-2-0-0 | 13 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3-0-1-1 | 10 |
| 3 | Iceland | 3-0-0-2 | 9 |
| 4 | Bulgaria (H) | 2-0-0-3 | 6 |
| 5 | Kyrgyzstan | 1-0-1-3 | 4 |
| 6 | Chinese Taipei | 1-0-0-4 | 3 |
Individual Standouts
Scoring Leader: Henadz Malashchanka (Israel) led the tournament with 12 points, showcasing elite playmaking alongside his brother, K. Malashchanka.
Top Forward: Jacob Carey (New Zealand) was recognized for his offensive output, tallying 7 goals and 11 points.
Top Goaltender: Maksim Kaliaev (Israel) was the backbone of the gold-medal run, finishing with a .919 save percentage and coming up huge in the final against Iceland.
Top Defender: Stefan Amston (New Zealand) anchored the Kiwi blueline, contributing 10 points and a +7 rating.
Tournament Context
This victory is particularly significant for the Israeli program. Due to domestic administrative challenges and the ongoing regional conflict, the team reportedly traveled as a group of independent athletes rather than a fully funded national delegation.
Under the guidance of legendary Israeli goaltender-turned-coach Jevgeni Gusin, the squad navigated a grueling schedule—including a 7–6 overtime thriller against New Zealand on opening day—to return to the winner’s circle.
Note on Promotion: While Israel won the group, the usual promotion to Division II Group A was impacted by the cancellation of the Group A tournament (originally scheduled for Al Ain, UAE) due to regional instability.
Chinese Taipei finishes at the bottom of the table and is scheduled for relegation to Division III Group A for the 2027 cycle.
