Hector Kapitonov’s goal just under four minutes into the third period gave Netherlands a 5-3 lead over Australia on the final day of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group B.
The goal proved to be the game-winner as the team of Netherlands skated to a 6-4 win and, in the process, clinched gold with 11 points over five games, two more than Mexico which settled for silver. Both Australia and the Netherlands entered their final game on 11 April with eight points so this game decided gold in the round-robin tournament.
The championship means the Netherlands earns a promotion to the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group A.
The Netherlands opened tournament play on 5 April by losing 5-2 to Chinese Taipei, which turned out to be the only loss for the golden team. They followed with a 6-2 win over Belgium, then defeated Serbia 4-2, edged Mexico 4-3 in overtime and finished with the aforementioned 6-4 win over the Aussies.
It was fitting that Kapitonov scored the game-winning and tournament-clinching goal against Australia as he led all scorers with eight goals and 12 points. Alexander Verhoof also came to play, posting 11 points – including nine assists – in the tournament.
Other medal winners
Mexico and Serbia tied with nine points each but the Mexicans grabbed silver thanks to a 4-2 win over the Serbians earlier in the tournament. Mexico won two games in regulation, won one in overtime and suffered one OT loss and one regulation loss. Serbia, which takes home bronze, won three games outright and dropped two in regulation.
Nicolas Potts and Pavel Goryachev finished tied for third in tournament scoring with 10 points each for Mexico.
Players of the tournament
Two Mexicans were named among the best three players, with Justin Sosa being awarded top goaltender (0.9322 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average) and Matteo Arriaga (one goal, three assists and plus-4 rating) taking top defender honours. Eryk Kowalski of the Netherlands was named top forward after posting four goals and four assists and a plus-8 rating.
Final standings:
Game results:
5 April: TPE 5-2 NED; MEX 3-2 BEL 2 (SO); AUS 4-8 SRB
6 April: NED 6-2 BEL; AUS 5-1 TPE; SRB 2-4 MEX
8 April: AUS 3-2 MEX; TPE 4-5 BEL; NED 4-2 SRB
9 April: BEL 2-3 AUS (SO); MEX 3-4 NED (OT); SRB 3-0 TPE
11 April: TPE 2-4 MEX; NED 6-4 AUS; BEL 2-7 SRB
The goal proved to be the game-winner as the team of Netherlands skated to a 6-4 win and, in the process, clinched gold with 11 points over five games, two more than Mexico which settled for silver. Both Australia and the Netherlands entered their final game on 11 April with eight points so this game decided gold in the round-robin tournament.
The championship means the Netherlands earns a promotion to the 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group A.
The Netherlands opened tournament play on 5 April by losing 5-2 to Chinese Taipei, which turned out to be the only loss for the golden team. They followed with a 6-2 win over Belgium, then defeated Serbia 4-2, edged Mexico 4-3 in overtime and finished with the aforementioned 6-4 win over the Aussies.
It was fitting that Kapitonov scored the game-winning and tournament-clinching goal against Australia as he led all scorers with eight goals and 12 points. Alexander Verhoof also came to play, posting 11 points – including nine assists – in the tournament.
Other medal winners
Mexico and Serbia tied with nine points each but the Mexicans grabbed silver thanks to a 4-2 win over the Serbians earlier in the tournament. Mexico won two games in regulation, won one in overtime and suffered one OT loss and one regulation loss. Serbia, which takes home bronze, won three games outright and dropped two in regulation.
Nicolas Potts and Pavel Goryachev finished tied for third in tournament scoring with 10 points each for Mexico.
Players of the tournament
Two Mexicans were named among the best three players, with Justin Sosa being awarded top goaltender (0.9322 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average) and Matteo Arriaga (one goal, three assists and plus-4 rating) taking top defender honours. Eryk Kowalski of the Netherlands was named top forward after posting four goals and four assists and a plus-8 rating.
Final standings:
- Netherlands – 11 points (promoted to 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group A)
- Mexico – 9 points
- Serbia – 9 points
- Australia – 8 points
- Belgium – 5 points
- Chinese Taipei – 3 points (relegated to 2027 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division III Group A)
Game results:
5 April: TPE 5-2 NED; MEX 3-2 BEL 2 (SO); AUS 4-8 SRB
6 April: NED 6-2 BEL; AUS 5-1 TPE; SRB 2-4 MEX
8 April: AUS 3-2 MEX; TPE 4-5 BEL; NED 4-2 SRB
9 April: BEL 2-3 AUS (SO); MEX 3-4 NED (OT); SRB 3-0 TPE
11 April: TPE 2-4 MEX; NED 6-4 AUS; BEL 2-7 SRB