ASIAN ICE HOCKEY

Japan stood as the only Asian representative in the group after South Korea’s relegation last year, and once again, expectations for them were modest.

Division 1A tournaments are often unpredictable, and while teams like Great Britain, Italy, and Poland were seen as favourites, surprises were not out of the question. The tournament enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere, bolstered by passionate home fans and dedicated supporter groups from across the field.

Great Britain Return to the Top Division

Great Britain went undefeated, winning all five of their games. Interestingly, their first three wins were decided beyond regulation – all against the lowest-ranked teams in the group. But when it mattered most, the Brits shifted into a higher gear, showcasing the experience gained from recent years in the top division.

They deservedly booked their ticket back among the world’s elite. Key leaders led the way once more: Liam Kirk, Robert Dowd, Brett Perlini, and Ben O’Connor. In goal, Ben Bowns and Jackson Whistle provided the necessary stability.

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Italy Benefit from Ukraine’s Stumble

Italy, coached by decorated Finnish bench boss Jukka Jalonen, had an underwhelming campaign in terms of both performance and results. However, Ukraine’s slip-up opened the door, and the Italians capitalised to claim the second promotion spot.

With next year’s home Olympics in Milan looming large, Italy iced a heavily naturalised roster, featuring 13 imports, reminiscent of the Chinese team at the Beijing Olympics. One of the standout names was Daniel Tedesco, a 31-year-old Canadian-born debutant who registered 4 goals and 4 assists. In net, Jalonen made a bold decision by starting Davide Fadani ahead of NHL prospect Damian Clara.

Ukraine Shine but Fall Short

Ukraine were the tournament’s biggest surprise. They took points from every top contender and suddenly emerged as a strong promotion candidate. The team, led by captain Igor Merezhko of the Czech Extraliga, only needed a point in their final game against the Japanese national team – but despite a valiant effort, they fell just short. Still, a bronze medal is a major success for a team that only just came up from Division 1B.

With an average age just above 25, this youthful side showed great promise. Their standouts included Andrei Deniskin (top scorer), Viktor Zakharov (leading goal-scorer), and Bogdan Dyachenko (top goaltender).

Japan Finish Strong with Hirano and Sato on Board

Under coach Jarrod Skalde, Japan had a tough start, facing the top three seeds right out of the gate. Their play improved game by game, and they even managed to steal a point off Great Britain. A comfortable 5–3 win over Romania kept them in the division, and in their final game, they stunned Ukraine 3–2 in a dramatic finish.

Despite the absence of their top ALIH scorers Makuru Furuhashi and Kento Suzuki, Japan’s roster featured several key additions, including Yushiroh Hirano (DEL2), Yu Sato (VHL), Kuhei Sato (ECHL), and Teruto Nakajima (AlpsHL) – the latter led the team with 4 points in 5 games.

In goal, 20-year-old Issa Otsuka took over from 38-year-old veteran Yuto Narisawa, and the youngster delivered strong performances when it mattered most. With Otsuka leading all goaltenders in ALIH statistics this season, and earning the coach Skalde’s trust in the most important games, we may well have witnessed a generational shift in Japan’s crease.

Poland Disappoint on Return to Division 1A

Poland, who had played in the Elite Division of the IIHF World Championship last year, were underwhelming. Several veterans retired after 2024, forcing coach Robert Kalaber to revamp his lineup. They started well but fell flat in key games, losing 4–1 to both Italy and Ukraine. By the time they faced Great Britain, their hopes were already gone, and it showed in their lacklustre effort.

Romania Sent Down on Home Ice

Since their surprise rise to Division 1A in 2019, Romania had steadily improved – but let’s be honest, the suspension of Russia and Belarus from the IIHF program also helped them stay in the division longer than they might have otherwise. But in their fourth straight year at this level, it finally caught up with them – and it stung even more to go down in front of their incredible fans in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Next year’s Division 1A will feature Ukraine, Japan, Poland, and promoted Lithuania, who won World Championship Division 1 Group B. The final two participants will be the bottom two teams from the ongoing Elite Division tournament.