High-scoring Japan needed just four games to secure gold at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, Division II Group A, in Targu Secuiesc, Romania.
Following back-to-back relegations, Japan arrived in Romania determined to move upward once again. Winning all five games and with a goal difference of 31-7, Japan reigned supreme in front of large and enthusiastic crowds as Deme Laszlo Arena hosted its first-ever IIHF World Championship event.
"We have a strong offensive team, and our goal was simply to win and promote from this division. In order to develop Japanese hockey, we need to play at a higher level," said Japan´s coach Tomohito Okubo.
En route to the gold medal, Japan´s sternest test came on the opening day in a 3-1 victory over China. Trailing by a single Chinese goal after some daredevil defensive play early in the first period, Japan found its stride in the second.
Koshi Ueno tied the game with a short-handed effort early in the middle frame, before Dan Osaki put Japan ahead on the power play. Outshooting China 39–16, Darius Odermatt, skating in his third U18 World Championship, added Japan’s third goal in the final period to grab a winning start.
Japan continued with a 7-1 win over Croatia, with Kanata Mori notching four points. Kenshin Hanada then hit a rich vein of goal-scoring form. He first recorded a hat-trick as Romania was blanked 8-0, before adding four goals and an assist in a 9-2 win over newly promoted Spain to seal the gold medal for Japan.
In their final game, Japan completed a perfect record by edging Great Britain 4-3. Eleven members of Japan´s gold-medal winning roster will be eligible to skate in next year´s Division I Group B.
Japan´s Kanata Mori led the tournament in scoring with 11(4+7) points, closely followed by his teammate Kanshin Hanada on 10 (7+3) points from five games. Hanada was selected as the best forward and his compatriot Hyoga Kishibe was named best defender.
China celebrates historic silver, GB third
Goals by Yuhao Gao and Ziheng Xu sparked China to a 2-0 win over relegated Spain on the final day, securing a fourth win in five games. The silver medal marks China´s highest overall finish at the U18 level since entering the competition in 2003. Conceding just five goals in as many games, China´s Jinhao An was picked as the tournament´s top goalkeeper, posting a 97.59 save percentage for a GAA of 0.67.
Great Britain, back-to-back silver medalists at this level, had to settle for bronze in southeastern Transylvania after coming out on top of a three-way tie with Romania and Croatia.
Final standings:
1. Japan – 15 points (promoted to 2027 IIHF World Championship, Division I Group B)
2. China – 12 points
3. Great Britain – 6 points
4. Romania – 6 points
5. Croatia – 6 points
6. Spain – 0 points (relegated to 2027 IIHF World Championship, Division II Group B)
Game results:
12 April: CHN 1-3 JPN, ESP 4-7 CRO, GBR 5-4 ROU
13 April: JPN 7-1 CRO, GBR 0-1 CHN, ROU 2-1 ESP
15 April: CHN 3-0 CRO, GBR 4-1 ESP, JPN 8-0 ROU
16 April: CRO 3-2 GBR, ESP 2-9 JPN, ROU 2-4 CHN
18 April: CHN 2-0 ESP, JPN 4-3 GBR, CRO 2-3 ROU
Following back-to-back relegations, Japan arrived in Romania determined to move upward once again. Winning all five games and with a goal difference of 31-7, Japan reigned supreme in front of large and enthusiastic crowds as Deme Laszlo Arena hosted its first-ever IIHF World Championship event.
"We have a strong offensive team, and our goal was simply to win and promote from this division. In order to develop Japanese hockey, we need to play at a higher level," said Japan´s coach Tomohito Okubo.
En route to the gold medal, Japan´s sternest test came on the opening day in a 3-1 victory over China. Trailing by a single Chinese goal after some daredevil defensive play early in the first period, Japan found its stride in the second.
Koshi Ueno tied the game with a short-handed effort early in the middle frame, before Dan Osaki put Japan ahead on the power play. Outshooting China 39–16, Darius Odermatt, skating in his third U18 World Championship, added Japan’s third goal in the final period to grab a winning start.
Japan continued with a 7-1 win over Croatia, with Kanata Mori notching four points. Kenshin Hanada then hit a rich vein of goal-scoring form. He first recorded a hat-trick as Romania was blanked 8-0, before adding four goals and an assist in a 9-2 win over newly promoted Spain to seal the gold medal for Japan.
In their final game, Japan completed a perfect record by edging Great Britain 4-3. Eleven members of Japan´s gold-medal winning roster will be eligible to skate in next year´s Division I Group B.
Japan´s Kanata Mori led the tournament in scoring with 11(4+7) points, closely followed by his teammate Kanshin Hanada on 10 (7+3) points from five games. Hanada was selected as the best forward and his compatriot Hyoga Kishibe was named best defender.
China celebrates historic silver, GB third
Goals by Yuhao Gao and Ziheng Xu sparked China to a 2-0 win over relegated Spain on the final day, securing a fourth win in five games. The silver medal marks China´s highest overall finish at the U18 level since entering the competition in 2003. Conceding just five goals in as many games, China´s Jinhao An was picked as the tournament´s top goalkeeper, posting a 97.59 save percentage for a GAA of 0.67.
Great Britain, back-to-back silver medalists at this level, had to settle for bronze in southeastern Transylvania after coming out on top of a three-way tie with Romania and Croatia.
Final standings:
1. Japan – 15 points (promoted to 2027 IIHF World Championship, Division I Group B)
2. China – 12 points
3. Great Britain – 6 points
4. Romania – 6 points
5. Croatia – 6 points
6. Spain – 0 points (relegated to 2027 IIHF World Championship, Division II Group B)
Game results:
12 April: CHN 1-3 JPN, ESP 4-7 CRO, GBR 5-4 ROU
13 April: JPN 7-1 CRO, GBR 0-1 CHN, ROU 2-1 ESP
15 April: CHN 3-0 CRO, GBR 4-1 ESP, JPN 8-0 ROU
16 April: CRO 3-2 GBR, ESP 2-9 JPN, ROU 2-4 CHN
18 April: CHN 2-0 ESP, JPN 4-3 GBR, CRO 2-3 ROU