photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
A near-perfect 4-1-0-0 record lifted Uzbekistan to the gold medal at the 2026 IIHF World U18 Men’s Division III Group A Championship on 8 March.
The Uzbeks won four games in regulation and one in overtime for a total of 14 points, two more than Honk Kong, China, which settled for silver.
Those two teams met on the opening day of the event, with Uzbekistan claiming a 6-2 victory, thanks in large part to Timur Tillyakhodjaev’s three goals and one assist. Salokhiddin Azimov also had a strong game with two goals and two assists and Vladislav Yermolov chipped in one goal and three helpers.
Salokhiddin Azimov had four goals and six points to lead Uzbekistan to a 13-2 rout of New Zealand in the team’s second game. Tillyakhodjaev and Ilya Popov each added two goals.
Uzbekistan’s wildest game of the tournament was a back-and-forth affair against Türkiye that ended 7-6 in overtime for the Uzbeks. Salokhiddin Azimov had a hat trick and an assist to lead the way for the winners, with Aleksandr An making 39 saves in net.
Five different goal scorers paced Uzbekistan to a 5-3 win over Bulgaria and then the team sealed its gold medal with a 6-3 victory over Israel. Salokhiddin Azimov, with two goals and two assists, and Tillyakhodjaev, with three points, led the offensive attack.
With the win, Uzbekistan qualifies for the 2027 IIHF World U18 Men’s Division II Group B Championship.
The Uzbeks won four games in regulation and one in overtime for a total of 14 points, two more than Honk Kong, China, which settled for silver.
Those two teams met on the opening day of the event, with Uzbekistan claiming a 6-2 victory, thanks in large part to Timur Tillyakhodjaev’s three goals and one assist. Salokhiddin Azimov also had a strong game with two goals and two assists and Vladislav Yermolov chipped in one goal and three helpers.
Salokhiddin Azimov had four goals and six points to lead Uzbekistan to a 13-2 rout of New Zealand in the team’s second game. Tillyakhodjaev and Ilya Popov each added two goals.
Uzbekistan’s wildest game of the tournament was a back-and-forth affair against Türkiye that ended 7-6 in overtime for the Uzbeks. Salokhiddin Azimov had a hat trick and an assist to lead the way for the winners, with Aleksandr An making 39 saves in net.
Five different goal scorers paced Uzbekistan to a 5-3 win over Bulgaria and then the team sealed its gold medal with a 6-3 victory over Israel. Salokhiddin Azimov, with two goals and two assists, and Tillyakhodjaev, with three points, led the offensive attack.
With the win, Uzbekistan qualifies for the 2027 IIHF World U18 Men’s Division II Group B Championship.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
Second place
Hong Kong, China scored 33 goals in five games, winning four of them, but had to take silver due to one blemish in its tournament, that being the loss to Uzbekistan. Still, with wins over every other team in the tournament, Hong Kong can be proud of the second-place standing.
Israel had three wins and two losses and took home the bronze medal.
Players of the tournament
Kiu Long Rexton Chui (Hong Kong, China) was named top goalkeeper of the tournament with three wins, a 0.929 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average. Chui also had one shutout. Artur Charniak (Israel) had five goals and five assists – and was plus-five – and was named top defender. The top forward award went to Uzbekistan’s Salokhiddin Azimov, who sizzled all tournament and finished with 11 goals, eight assists and a plus-1 rating.
Final standings:
Game results:
2 March: ISR 9-5 BUL; TUR 10-2 NZL; UZB 6-2 HKG
3 March: TUR 5-6 ISR; NZL 2-13 UZB; BUL 0-11 HKG
5 March: BUL 5-3 NZL; TUR 6-7 UZB (OT); ISR 4-6 HKG
6 March: UZB 5-3 BUL; NZL 1-8 ISR; HKG 8-4 TUR
8 March: ISR 3-6 UZB; BUL 2-4 TUR; HKG 6-0 NZL
Hong Kong, China scored 33 goals in five games, winning four of them, but had to take silver due to one blemish in its tournament, that being the loss to Uzbekistan. Still, with wins over every other team in the tournament, Hong Kong can be proud of the second-place standing.
Israel had three wins and two losses and took home the bronze medal.
Players of the tournament
Kiu Long Rexton Chui (Hong Kong, China) was named top goalkeeper of the tournament with three wins, a 0.929 save percentage and 2.86 goals against average. Chui also had one shutout. Artur Charniak (Israel) had five goals and five assists – and was plus-five – and was named top defender. The top forward award went to Uzbekistan’s Salokhiddin Azimov, who sizzled all tournament and finished with 11 goals, eight assists and a plus-1 rating.
Final standings:
- Uzbekistan – 14 points (promoted to 2027 World Men’s U18 Division II Group B Championship)
- Hong Kong, China – 12 points
- Israel – 9 points
- Türkiye – 7 points
- Bulgaria – 3 points
- New Zealand – 0 points (relegated to 2027 World Men’s U18 Division III Group B Championship)
Game results:
2 March: ISR 9-5 BUL; TUR 10-2 NZL; UZB 6-2 HKG
3 March: TUR 5-6 ISR; NZL 2-13 UZB; BUL 0-11 HKG
5 March: BUL 5-3 NZL; TUR 6-7 UZB (OT); ISR 4-6 HKG
6 March: UZB 5-3 BUL; NZL 1-8 ISR; HKG 8-4 TUR
8 March: ISR 3-6 UZB; BUL 2-4 TUR; HKG 6-0 NZL