ASIAN ICE HOCKEY

The tournament also served as a test event for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, with the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena set to be one of two venues for the highly anticipated Olympic hockey tournament.

In addition to host nation Italy and the tournament’s sole Asian representative, Japan, the field also included Hungary – relegated from Division 1A the previous year – as well as Estonia, Poland, and newly promoted Lithuania.

Fewer Spots, Higher Stakes – The Harsh Math of Junior World Championships

Once again, the fierce level of competition in Division 1 at both the U20 and U18 levels was clearly on display. Unlike the senior World Championship, which features 16 teams in the top division, the junior categories include only 10 – creating a major bottleneck in the lower tiers. As a result, while a spot in Division 1B at the senior level places a team within the world’s top 28, for U20 and U18 teams it means being among the top 22.

Jarrod Skalde at the Helm of Both Senior and U20 Japan Teams to Ensure Continuity

Japan’s U20 team was led by head coach Jarrod Skalde, a familiar figure who has also been at the helm of the senior national team for the past three years. Now in his second year coaching the U20 squad as well, Skalde is a key part of Japan’s effort to ensure system-wide continuity and a smoother integration of young talent into the senior roster.

Japan Field a Younger Squad With Just Two Returnees

Japan entered the tournament as last year’s silver medalists, having narrowly missed promotion after a loss to Ukraine in Tallinn, Estonia. But only two defensemen returned from that successful roster – team captain Daigo Hotta, who plays in the NAHL, and Akira Watanabe from Germany’s top junior league, the DNL. This year’s team was significantly younger, with most players still eligible to compete at the U20 level next season.

Young Guns Odermatt and Ihashi Draw Pre-Tournament Buzz

Two young forwards from Japan’s roster attracted attention ahead of the tournament – 16-year-old Darius Odermatt and 17-year-old Seishin Ihashi.

Darius Odermatt, currently playing in Canada’s CSSHL U18 league, comes from a well-known Swiss-Japanese hockey family. His older brothers Markus and Thomas Odermatt both play for Stars Kobe in the Asia League. Remarkably, five other siblings – three brothers and two sisters – have also played hockey at various levels.

Seishin Ihashi, on the other hand, plays U18 AAA hockey in the United States for Atlantic Coast Academy.

Japan Stun Estonia With Comeback Win in Shootout Thriller

Skalde’s youthful squad didn’t shy away from the moment, opening the tournament with a dramatic 4–3 shootout victory over a talented Estonian side that would go on to claim silver. Japan trailed 0–3 but clawed their way back to level the game, eventually winning it in the shootout.

The hero of the night was Saishiro Nakaya, who tied the game at 3–3 and later scored the deciding goal in the shootout.

Mixed Results: Tough Loss to Poland, Bounce-Back Win Over Hosts

Against Poland, luck wasn’t on Japan’s side – despite outshooting their opponents, they came up short in a 1–2 loss.

In their third and most crucial game, Japan took full control against struggling host nation Italy, earning a dominant 5–1 win. Once again, Saishiro Nakaya stepped up as the hero, scoring twice – including the game-winning second goal.

Japan Outmatched by Organized Lithuania in 1–4 Defeat

Japan couldn’t find an answer against a well-structured Lithuanian team, whose roster – like Estonia’s – featured several promising names from strong European (and even Canadian) junior leagues. The result was a clear 1–4 loss for the Japanese side.

Japan Safe, But Hungary Seal Promotion With Dominant Final Win

Japan entered their final game already assured of survival, while their opponents Hungary needed a win to secure promotion. The Hungarians, led by 17-year-old phenom Doman Szongoth – who already made his debut at the senior World Championship – left nothing to chance. With a convincing 6–1 victory, they clinched their return to Division 1A.

Mission Accomplished for Japan’s Young Core – And the Future Looks Bright

Jarrod Skalde’s young squad achieved its primary goal of staying in Division 1B. Overall, they left a positive impression, and with more than half the roster eligible to return next year, there’s a solid foundation to build on.

Offensively, Ryota Seki led the team with 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 5 games.

Saishiro Nakaya was the top goal scorer with 3 goals, while 16-year-old prospect Darius Odermatt also made his mark, recording 1 goal and 1 assist.