ASIAN ICE HOCKEY

Last year, fresh off their promotion to Division 2B, Israel came close to a stunning result, finishing second behind eventual champions Spain. Their 30th-place finish overall was the best in the nation’s U20 history.

This year, Israel looked to build on their previous success, but faced stiff competition from a physical Australian team – and especially from the Netherlands, who were determined to bounce back after relegation from Division 2A.

Israel’s U20 Journey: From 1997 to Today

Israel made its IIHF U20 World Championship debut back in 1997, finishing 5th out of 8 teams in what was then the lowest tier, Pool D. The program then disappeared from the tournament scene for many years, only returning in 2016. Since their comeback, the Israelis have fluctuated between Division 2B and Division 3A.

The Man Behind the Bench – and Still on the Ice

Team Israel was led by Russian-born coach Kirill Polozov, who at 35 is still an active player. A forward with extensive experience in Russia’s VHL (and even a stint in the KHL), Polozov has been playing in Israel for five seasons now, serving as a player-coach and general manager at the club level. After gaining Israeli citizenship, he’s even suited up for the national team on several occasions.

Polozov certainly isn’t short on responsibilities: this was his second year at the helm of the U20 national team. Fun fact: three players from his current U20 roster – Samson Goldstein, Nikita Zitserman, and Shon Kazinets – also played alongside him at the 2025 IIHF World Championship Division 2A.

Experienced Core and International Reach

Most players on Polozov’s current roster had previous U20 Worlds experience – for Itay Kerner, Nick Ogurtsyn, and Ori Moss Rendell, this was already their fourth time competing at the event.

Notably, 10 players – nearly half the team – are developing their skills in foreign leagues and hockey academies. Polozov placed his biggest hopes in a trio of standouts: Nikita Zitserman, Itay Kerner, and Shon Kazinets, all of whom play together in the Austria-based U20 league as part of the Slovenian club Hiti Academy Bled Hawks U20. Solid performances were also expected from Ariel David Elkin, who skates in the USPHL Premier.

Day 1: Opening Win, but Not Without Drama

In their first game, Israel had to dig deep against a gritty Icelandic squad but eventually came out on top with a 5–4 victory – thanks in large part to two goals from rising star Nikita Zitserman.

Day 2: Zitserman Silences the Hosts

Next up was host nation Serbia, backed by a vocal crowd of 637 fans and full of confidence. The home team led 2–0 after two periods, but 17-year-old Nikita Zitserman took matters into his own hands. He cut the deficit in the 55th minute, then set up Shon Kazinets for the equalizer just three minutes later. In overtime, it was – who else – Zitserman again, sealing the comeback win with a power-play goal.

Day 3: Israel Hits Nine Past the Kiwis

Israel followed up with a surprisingly lopsided 9–1 win over New Zealand. Once again, it was the Nikita Zitserman show – the 17-year-old notched a hat trick and added an assist. Samson Goldstein and Mikhail Vasiliev also had standout performances, each tallying four points in the blowout victory.

Day 4: Australia Halts Israel’s Run

Israel entered their fourth game riding a three-game win streak, but this time they hit a wall. In an intense, hard-fought battle, they had no answer for a well-organized Australian side and ultimately fell 5–1.

Day 5: Dutch Seal Gold, Israel Settles for Bronze

Heading into their final game against the Netherlands, two things were already clear: Israel was out of the promotion race, while the Dutch had already clinched gold. The free-flowing Europeans capped off their dominant tournament with a 6–2 win, pushing Israel down to third place in the final standings.

Nikita Zitserman Stands Out as Israel’s Top Prospect

From an individual standpoint, no Israeli player had a better tournament than Nikita Zitserman. Although he was held off the scoresheet in the final two games, he still finished with an impressive 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists), placing 4th overall in scoring.

The 17-year-old forward from Slovenia’s Hiti Academy Bled Hawks looks like this squad’s most promising bet for a future in professional hockey. His résumé already speaks volumes:

• At just 17, he has experience in both Canadian and American youth leagues.
• He’s played top-level age-group hockey in Germany (U17), Slovenia (U19), and Austria (U20).
• He stood out in Israel’s senior league as a 16-year-old.
• Across U18 and U20 World Championships, he has racked up 46 points in 25 games.

If anyone from this roster has a shot at making it to the next level, it’s Zitserman.

Looking Ahead: Another Year in Division 2B

Next season, Israel’s U20 team will once again compete in Division 2B. Their opponents will include Spain, relegated from Division 2A, as well as familiar foes Australia, Serbia, and New Zealand. Joining the group will be Chinese Taipei, newly promoted from Division 3A.