Uzbekistan claims Gold in Division IV during its inaugural participation in an IIHF event.

historic milestone for Uzbek ice hockey as the national team claimed a decisive victory at the IIHF World Championship Division IV.

In a historic achievement, Uzbekistan has clinched the title at the 2025 IIHF World Championship Division IV held in Yerevan, Armenia, marking its inaugural participation in an IIHF event. The team secured an impressive 13 out of a possible 15 points, boasting four victories in regulation and suffering only one loss in a shootout, while dominating their opponents with a remarkable goal differential of 79-10.

This outstanding performance not only highlights Uzbekistan’s potential in international ice hockey but also sets the stage for their advancement in the sport. As a direct consequence of their success in this tournament, Uzbekistan will ascend to Division III Group B for the 2026 championship.

On the tournament’s opening day, April 13, Uzbekistan triumphed over Kuwait with a score of 13-3, driven by impressive performances from Vadim Kravchenko, Artyom Maltsev, and Vasiliy Jilov, each contributing five points. Despite this heavy defeat, it would turn out to be Kuwait’s sole loss throughout the competition. The following day, the host nation, Armenia, managed to edge out Uzbekistan in a thrilling shootout, winning 3-2, largely due to an outstanding 57-save effort from goaltender Artem Putalian.

Just two days later, on April 16, Kuwait faced Armenia and secured a narrow victory of 5-4, highlighted by Ilia Drozdetskikh’s overtime goal, which capped off a remarkable four-point game for him. In this match, Putalian once again showcased his skills, making an impressive 65 saves, although it ultimately resulted in another defeat for his team.

In the end, each of the three teams managed to defeat Indonesia, Iran, and Malaysia during regulation play. Uzbekistan led the group with 13 points, while Armenia and Kuwait finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Each game brought its own set of challenges and standout performances, contributing to a memorable competition for players and fans alike.