Against the odds and without a single loss, China surged to gold at the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, Division I Group B, in Katowice, Poland.
A highly efficient Chinese team wasted no time making an impact, upsetting pre-tournament favourites Poland and Austria in the opening rounds. From that point on, there was no stopping them. China won their remaining three games against Great Britain, Australia, and Spain by a combined scoreline of 22-1.
After finishing fourth at the same venue last year, China returned to the Janow Arena and got off to a flying start with a shock 4-3 shootout win over Poland. China held a 3-1 lead after the first period, thanks to a brace from 15-year-old Luoyi Zhang. Poland rallied in the third period, with Matylda Stepien tying the game, but failed to convert on key chances in overtime, including a powerplay. In the ensuing shootout, China´s netminder Sihan Ju was in inspiring form, and Xinyi Li converted the only goal with a backhand finish high past Justyna Koszyk.
Buoyed by their opening day win, China’s momentum gathered pace on day two, with the tournament’s most efficient scoring team converting four goals from just 13 shots against Austria. Following another spirited Chinese start, Austria had fought back to level the game at 2-2. But early in the third period, China sealed the win with two powerplay goals. Mi Dai put China back in front when converting a Yutong Chen´s precise feed at 41:40. Just over two minutes later, Yifan Wang closed the scoring with a shot flying past Austria´s netminder Kiara Matt from a tight angle.
Poland Takes Silver Again, Austria Finishes Third
Poland secured silver after Emilia Stankiewicz scored a 3-2 overtime winner in the tournament´s closing game against Austria. This marks Poland´s third second-place finish at this level in the last three tournaments played in Katowice (2026, 2025, 2023).
Skating with the youngest team of the tournament, Poland was brilliantly led in offense by 15-year-old Malgorzata Zakrzewska, who earned the top forward accolade and finished as the tournament´s top scorer with 14 (11+3) points in five games.
Relegated last year, Austria finished third under Arto Sieppi´s debut on the Austrian bench. Emma Lintner, skating in her fourth and final U18 World Championship, led the Austrians in scoring and finished second overall with 12 points. Artemis Tekin excelled on the blueline and was named as the tournament´s top defender.
Spirits were high in the Great Britain camp as they finished fourth overall. The newly promoted Young Lionesses edged Spain 1-0, with Olivia Bath scoring in the first period as the tournament´s best netminder Evelyn Brown stopped all 41 shots. After giving hosts Poland a scare in a narrow 4-3 loss, Great Britain closed their campaign on a high with a 4-1 victory over Australia, with Rebecca Voslinsky scoring a third-period brace.
Goal-shy Spain finished in fifth place. Three of their five goals were scored by 15-year-old Else Rodriguez in a 4-1 victory over Australia.
Final Standings: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww18ib/standings/roundrobin
Results: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww18ib/schedule
Final standings:
1. China – 14 points
2. Poland – 12 points
3. Austria – 10 points
4. Great Britain – 6 points
5. Spain – 3 points
6. Australia – 0 points
Game results:
5 January: GBR 0-4 AUT, CHN 4-3 POL (SO), AUS 1-4 ESP
6 January: AUT 2-4 CHN, POL 12-1 AUS, ESP 0-1 GBR
8 January: AUT 11-0 AUS, POL 5-1 ESP, GBR 1-4 CHN
10 January: CHN 10-0 AUS, POL 4-3 GBR, ESP 0-8 AUT
11 January: AUS 1-4 GBR, ESP 0-8 CHN, AUT 2-3 POL (OT)
A highly efficient Chinese team wasted no time making an impact, upsetting pre-tournament favourites Poland and Austria in the opening rounds. From that point on, there was no stopping them. China won their remaining three games against Great Britain, Australia, and Spain by a combined scoreline of 22-1.
After finishing fourth at the same venue last year, China returned to the Janow Arena and got off to a flying start with a shock 4-3 shootout win over Poland. China held a 3-1 lead after the first period, thanks to a brace from 15-year-old Luoyi Zhang. Poland rallied in the third period, with Matylda Stepien tying the game, but failed to convert on key chances in overtime, including a powerplay. In the ensuing shootout, China´s netminder Sihan Ju was in inspiring form, and Xinyi Li converted the only goal with a backhand finish high past Justyna Koszyk.
Buoyed by their opening day win, China’s momentum gathered pace on day two, with the tournament’s most efficient scoring team converting four goals from just 13 shots against Austria. Following another spirited Chinese start, Austria had fought back to level the game at 2-2. But early in the third period, China sealed the win with two powerplay goals. Mi Dai put China back in front when converting a Yutong Chen´s precise feed at 41:40. Just over two minutes later, Yifan Wang closed the scoring with a shot flying past Austria´s netminder Kiara Matt from a tight angle.
Poland Takes Silver Again, Austria Finishes Third
Poland secured silver after Emilia Stankiewicz scored a 3-2 overtime winner in the tournament´s closing game against Austria. This marks Poland´s third second-place finish at this level in the last three tournaments played in Katowice (2026, 2025, 2023).
Skating with the youngest team of the tournament, Poland was brilliantly led in offense by 15-year-old Malgorzata Zakrzewska, who earned the top forward accolade and finished as the tournament´s top scorer with 14 (11+3) points in five games.
Relegated last year, Austria finished third under Arto Sieppi´s debut on the Austrian bench. Emma Lintner, skating in her fourth and final U18 World Championship, led the Austrians in scoring and finished second overall with 12 points. Artemis Tekin excelled on the blueline and was named as the tournament´s top defender.
Spirits were high in the Great Britain camp as they finished fourth overall. The newly promoted Young Lionesses edged Spain 1-0, with Olivia Bath scoring in the first period as the tournament´s best netminder Evelyn Brown stopped all 41 shots. After giving hosts Poland a scare in a narrow 4-3 loss, Great Britain closed their campaign on a high with a 4-1 victory over Australia, with Rebecca Voslinsky scoring a third-period brace.
Goal-shy Spain finished in fifth place. Three of their five goals were scored by 15-year-old Else Rodriguez in a 4-1 victory over Australia.
Final Standings: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww18ib/standings/roundrobin
Results: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/ww18ib/schedule
Final standings:
1. China – 14 points
2. Poland – 12 points
3. Austria – 10 points
4. Great Britain – 6 points
5. Spain – 3 points
6. Australia – 0 points
Game results:
5 January: GBR 0-4 AUT, CHN 4-3 POL (SO), AUS 1-4 ESP
6 January: AUT 2-4 CHN, POL 12-1 AUS, ESP 0-1 GBR
8 January: AUT 11-0 AUS, POL 5-1 ESP, GBR 1-4 CHN
10 January: CHN 10-0 AUS, POL 4-3 GBR, ESP 0-8 AUT
11 January: AUS 1-4 GBR, ESP 0-8 CHN, AUT 2-3 POL (OT)