The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I, Group B kicked off at the Shenzhen Universiade Center in Longgang District with the first three games.
Estonia, Romania, and Korea started the tournament with wins.
China v Korea, 4-7
In their first game, the hosts faced Korea, once again looking to get promoted to Group A.
Korea was outshot by fifteen shots but couldn’t solve China’s goaltender Shifeng Chen, who turned away 21 pucks.
In the first half of the second period, Korea took the lead twice, and twice the Chinese came back to tie it, but 12:02 into the period, Korea broke the tie again.
Miscommunication between Chen and a defender opened a chance for Korea. Sangwook Kim grabbed the puck, and Geonwoo Kim had an easy task firing it into a half-empty Chinese net to make it 3–2.
Just 46 seconds later, Sihwan Kim gave Korea a two-goal buffer when he got on a breakaway thanks to two beautiful passes by Heedoo Nam and Sanghoon Shin. Sihwan Kim was backchecked by a Chinese defender, but his backhander beat Chen in China’s goal through the five-hole.
With 2:33 remaining in the period, Korea made it 5–2 on the power play. Sangyeob Kim fired a one-timer from the left circle; Chen got only a piece of it, but a defender swatted the puck out of the crease. After a video review, it was determined that the puck had crossed the goal line.
Jing Wang gave China some hope early in the third period with a one-timer on the power play to make it 5–3.
A minute and 29 seconds later, Geonwoo Kim grabbed a rebound on the power play and slammed it in with a backhander, and Korea had regained their three-goal lead.
China pulled within one at 15:21 in the third period thanks to Haoxi Wang’s wrister from the point through traffic, but Korea protected their lead and took an important first win in the tournament. Sangwook Kim sealed the final score into an empty Chinese net.
Spain v Estonia, 2-12
Estonia came to the opening game of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I, Group B in Shenzhen, China firing on all cylinders. In their first game against Spain, Estonia beat Spain’s goaltender Raul Barbo six times in the first period and scored another six in the two remaining periods.
Estonia got off to a flying start. Rasmus Kiik and Nikita Antonov played the puck to Andre Linde, who fell on the ice but could redirect the puck into the net at 4:59.
David Timofejev scored a hat trick in the first period. The 19-year-old, who plays in the Finnish Liiga, made his IIHF World Championship debut last year when Estonia hosted the Group B tournament, and captained Estonia’s under-20 national team at the Division I, Group B tournament earlier this year. He added an assist in the third period.
Kristjan Kombe picked up four assists, and Rasmus Kiik scored two goals and added two assists for Estonia.
Gaston Gonzalez scored both of Spain’s goals.
Netherlands vs Romania, 0-7
Romania’s offense was too much for the Netherlands, who are back in Division I, Group B after a year’s absence. Backed by disciplined defensive play, Romania cruised to a 7–0 win.
Romania’s first five-player unit scored five of the team’s seven goals, with Tamas Reszegh potting two. Hunor Csaszar, on the second line, scored one and added three assists.
Balazs Peter, Zsombor Molnar, and Yevgeni Skachkov also collected three points each. Attila Adorjan made ten saves en route to a shutout.
The tournament continues tomorrow when Estonia takes on the Netherlands, Korea meets Spain, and Romania faces China.
Estonia, Romania, and Korea started the tournament with wins.
China v Korea, 4-7
In their first game, the hosts faced Korea, once again looking to get promoted to Group A.
Korea was outshot by fifteen shots but couldn’t solve China’s goaltender Shifeng Chen, who turned away 21 pucks.
In the first half of the second period, Korea took the lead twice, and twice the Chinese came back to tie it, but 12:02 into the period, Korea broke the tie again.
Miscommunication between Chen and a defender opened a chance for Korea. Sangwook Kim grabbed the puck, and Geonwoo Kim had an easy task firing it into a half-empty Chinese net to make it 3–2.
Just 46 seconds later, Sihwan Kim gave Korea a two-goal buffer when he got on a breakaway thanks to two beautiful passes by Heedoo Nam and Sanghoon Shin. Sihwan Kim was backchecked by a Chinese defender, but his backhander beat Chen in China’s goal through the five-hole.
With 2:33 remaining in the period, Korea made it 5–2 on the power play. Sangyeob Kim fired a one-timer from the left circle; Chen got only a piece of it, but a defender swatted the puck out of the crease. After a video review, it was determined that the puck had crossed the goal line.
Jing Wang gave China some hope early in the third period with a one-timer on the power play to make it 5–3.
A minute and 29 seconds later, Geonwoo Kim grabbed a rebound on the power play and slammed it in with a backhander, and Korea had regained their three-goal lead.
China pulled within one at 15:21 in the third period thanks to Haoxi Wang’s wrister from the point through traffic, but Korea protected their lead and took an important first win in the tournament. Sangwook Kim sealed the final score into an empty Chinese net.
Spain v Estonia, 2-12
Estonia came to the opening game of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I, Group B in Shenzhen, China firing on all cylinders. In their first game against Spain, Estonia beat Spain’s goaltender Raul Barbo six times in the first period and scored another six in the two remaining periods.
Estonia got off to a flying start. Rasmus Kiik and Nikita Antonov played the puck to Andre Linde, who fell on the ice but could redirect the puck into the net at 4:59.
David Timofejev scored a hat trick in the first period. The 19-year-old, who plays in the Finnish Liiga, made his IIHF World Championship debut last year when Estonia hosted the Group B tournament, and captained Estonia’s under-20 national team at the Division I, Group B tournament earlier this year. He added an assist in the third period.
Kristjan Kombe picked up four assists, and Rasmus Kiik scored two goals and added two assists for Estonia.
Gaston Gonzalez scored both of Spain’s goals.
Netherlands vs Romania, 0-7
Romania’s offense was too much for the Netherlands, who are back in Division I, Group B after a year’s absence. Backed by disciplined defensive play, Romania cruised to a 7–0 win.
Romania’s first five-player unit scored five of the team’s seven goals, with Tamas Reszegh potting two. Hunor Csaszar, on the second line, scored one and added three assists.
Balazs Peter, Zsombor Molnar, and Yevgeni Skachkov also collected three points each. Attila Adorjan made ten saves en route to a shutout.
The tournament continues tomorrow when Estonia takes on the Netherlands, Korea meets Spain, and Romania faces China.