The tournament was held at the small but cozy Berceni Arena in Bucharest, which seats up to 800 spectators. The home team’s games were nearly sold out on multiple occasions, and even matchups between other nations drew solid crowds. One of the biggest attractions was tournament favorite South Korea, whose strong play and spirited style quickly won over the local fans.
South Korea Chases Redemption After Narrow Relegation
One year ago in Tallinn, Estonia, South Korea nearly managed to stay in Division 1B as a newly promoted team. However, they ultimately dropped back to Division 2A. This time around, head coach Se Ahn Oh’s squad arrived in Romania with one clear goal – to bounce straight back up.
The roster looked quite different from last year’s. Only three forwards returned from the 2025 lineup – Jung Jun Kim, Sung Kyu Lim, and Min Uk Jung. The squad was made up almost entirely of players from South Korea’s domestic school system, which once again proved its strong foundation. The only foreign-based player was team captain Gwang Hyeon Lee, who currently plays in the NCDC.
The South Koreans Open With Statement Win Over Croatia
South Korea kicked off the tournament with a dominant 12–2 victory over Croatia, sealing the outcome as early as the second period. Jung Jun Kim led the charge with a six-point performance (1 goal, 5 assists), setting the tone for what would become an impressive scoring spree throughout the tournament.
Shutting Out Great Britain, Beating China, Dominating Spain
In their next key matchup, South Korea took care of business against a dangerous British side, earning a convincing 4–0 shutout. Do Hyun Kim was the star of the game, finding the net twice.
An all-Asian clash followed, as South Korea faced off against China in a more competitive contest. While the Chinese squad posed a slightly greater challenge, they never truly threatened an upset. Thanks to a solid team effort, South Korea secured a comfortable 4–1 win.
Spain was up next, but the result was never in doubt. South Korea rolled to another lopsided victory, dispatching the Iberian squad 8–1.
Final Game a Celebration as South Korea Seals Perfect Run
The final game against host nation Romania turned into a celebration of hockey. With the gold medal already secured by South Korea, the stakes were lower – Romania still had a shot at bronze, but nothing more.
The first half of the game saw the lead swing back and forth, but by the midway point, the tournament favorite began to pull away, opening up a two-goal cushion. Fittingly, it was Jung Jun Kim – the tournament’s leading scorer – who capped off the event with an empty-net goal, putting an exclamation point on South Korea’s dominant run.
Jung Jun Kim Named Best Forward, Goalie Park Dominates the Stats
Nineteen-year-old forward Jung Jun Kim rightfully earned the tournament’s Best Forward honors after a stellar performance. While goaltender Sang Woo Park didn’t take home the official award in his category, he topped the charts in both goals-against average and save percentage. Other standout contributors for South Korea included Beom Su Kim and Jun Seo Lee, who played key roles throughout the campaign.
With promotion secured, South Korea is set to return to Division 1B next year – and this time, the team will be determined to stay among the world’s top 22 junior squads.
China Enters Tournament With Renewed Ambitions
China stayed in Division 2A after finishing 5th last year – a result that secured their place without much drama. This year, however, the team arrived with higher aspirations.
The national program made a notable move by appointing senior national team head coach Perry Pearn to lead the U20 squad as well. Over half of the roster consisted of players honing their skills in overseas junior leagues, giving China a more experienced and internationally seasoned lineup than in previous campaigns.
Last Year’s Core Returns, Led by Captain Mason Geng
Nine players from last year’s squad returned to China’s U20 roster. Among them was team captain Yubo “Mason” Geng, who plays in the USPHL Premier and was making his third appearance at the U20 World Championship.
Leadership was also expected from Yixiang “Jason” Huang and Sixiong Jiang, both of whom had already earned caps with the senior national team, including appearances at the most recent IIHF Asia Championship.
North American Talent Anchors the Lineup, With a Touch of Europe
The team had a strong North American presence, with as many as 11 players competing in Canada and the United States across leagues like the AJHL, OJHL, and the aforementioned USPHL.
There were also two European-based players on the roster: goaltender Youyi “Rock” Zhang, who plays in Austria’s U20 league, and forward Haoyu Guo, skating in Finland’s U18 Mestis.
Youth and Size: Team China Turns Heads With Unique Roster Profile
China’s lineup stood out for more than just its skill – it was the youngest team in the tournament, meaning most of the roster will be eligible to return next year. At the same time, it was also the tallest, with an average height of over 183 cm.
One of the most physically imposing players was 16-year-old Xinrui Liu from Kunlun Red Star Shenzhen (190 cm/90 kg), who recently made waves in the Chinese professional CIHL with a highlight-reel goal scored off a brilliant solo effort in December.
The Chinese Edged Out by Hosts in Nail-Biting Opener
China opened the tournament with a tightly contested battle against host nation Romania. After two goals from Boyu “Milo” Tian – a forward set to continue his career at Quinnipiac University in the NCAA – China entered the third period with a narrow lead.
Romania, however, managed to tie the game in regulation and ultimately snatched the win in a dramatic shootout, leaving China just short of an opening victory.
China Secures First Win, Then Falls to Tournament Favorites
As expected, China picked up its first victory with a 5–2 win over Spain. The team was led by familiar names from the senior national squad, with Jason Huang and Sixiong Jiang playing key roles in the win.
Next came the already-mentioned clash with tournament favorites South Korea. China put up a decent fight and managed to cut the deficit to 3–1 thanks to a goal from Jiahao Wen, but couldn’t close the gap any further and fell 4–1.
Croatia Spoils China’s Hopes With Late Surge
China entered their matchup against Croatia with confidence, but the European side turned the tide in the final 10 minutes to steal the win. Croatia came out on top 4–3, thanks in large part to a hat-trick from 16-year-old Matko Idžan.
The young forward, a teammate of Korean standout Sangyeob Kim at KHL Sisak, is also the younger brother of Bruno Idžan – a prospect in the Ottawa Senators system.
Chinese Squad Pushes Silver Medalists to the Brink in Final Thriller
China saved arguably its best performance for last, going toe-to-toe with eventual silver medalists Great Britain. Despite the gap in pre-tournament expectations, the Chinese squad played a smart, composed game – keeping the favorites at bay while generating quality scoring chances of their own.
In the 43rd minute, Rongji Zhao tied the game at 3–3, blowing the contest wide open. The 110-kilogram forward also took over the team scoring lead with that goal. The game headed to overtime, where British forward Brynley Capps finally broke the deadlock and sealed the win for Great Britain.
China Finishes 5th Again, but Earns Greater Respect
China matched last year’s 5th-place finish, though they collected slightly fewer points this time around. But rankings and numbers don’t always tell the whole story.
This year’s squad commanded noticeably more respect on the ice – in addition to the expected win over Spain, China battled through three razor-thin losses (including two in overtime) and held their own against the tournament’s top seed. Importantly, the majority of this roster remains eligible to return next year.
With a new wave of talent emerging – many of whom left for North America after China secured Olympic hosting rights in 2015 – the country’s future at the U20 level is beginning to look increasingly promising.
| 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division 2A, Bucharest, Romania – Standings |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | P |
| 1 | South Korea | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33-6 | 15 |
| 2 | Great Britain | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15-13 | 11 |
| 3 | Croatia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18-27 | 8 |
| 4 | Romania | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16-19 | 6 |
| 5 | China | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15-18 | 5 |
| 6 | Spain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11-25 | 0 |
| 2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division 2A, Bucharest, Romania – Results |
||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Result | Date |
| South Korea vs Croatia | 12-2 | 01/04 |
| South Korea vs Great Britain | 4-0 | 01/05 |
| South Korea vs China | 4-1 | 01/07 |
| South Korea vs Spain | 8-1 | 01/08 |
| South Korea vs Romania | 5-2 | 01/10 |
| China vs Romania | 3-4 SO | 01/04 |
| China vs Spain | 5-2 | 01/05 |
| China vs Croatia | 3-4 | 01/08 |
| China vs Great Britain | 3-4 OT | 01/10 |
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