Two-time defending champion Kazakhstan has once again started off strong at the Asia Championship.
The Kazakhs won the event in 2024 and 2025 and started this year’s Championship by defeating Japan 3-2 on 5 November. In the other game of the day, Korea got by China 3-1.
The tournament is taking place in Jeonju, South Korea and runs through 8 November.
Kazakhstan 3, Japan 2
Japan struck first in this one on a strong powerplay goal three minutes 32 seconds in. The Japanese moved the puck nicely around the perimeter and got it to defenceman Sota Isogai, who first faked a shot and then walked the line and snapped a shot on goal. Vladislav Nurek made the initial save but a rebound was available for Yuto Taneichi on the doorstep, who slammed the puck home to make it 1-0. Riku Ishida also got an assist on the play.
Just over one minute later, though, a Japanese defender bobbled the puck at his blueline and Kazakhstan pounced on the opportunity. Dmitriy Grents jabbed at the loose puck and it found its way to streaking teammate Maxim Mukhametov, who made no mistake in snapping the puck far side past Japan’s Issa Otsuka.
Kazakhstan took its first lead of the game at 7:11 of the second period. Alexandr Migunov one-timed a pass from Nikita Merzlikin past Otsuka to make it 2-1. Abay Mangisbayev also grabbed an assist on the play.
The goal of the tournament (so far) happened about six minutes later on a Japanese powerplay. Shunta Kimura took a pass from Ishida in his own end and started skating from behind his net. As Kimura looked to make a pass to a teammate, the ice seemed to open up and he took advantage, going end to end and flying into the Kazakhstan zone, getting a shot off as he was tripped and finding the back of the net to tie things up. It was a great solo effort that can be found on IIHF.TV.
The game-winner came midway through the third with Kazakhstan scoring a pretty tic-tac-toe powerplay goal. Dias Gusseinov sent the puck t Artur Gatiyatov, who faked a shot and then sent the puck back to defender Kirill Nikitin, who ripped a shot into the Japan net. Kazakhstan outshot Japan 41-21 and certainly deserved the 3-2 win.
Korea 3, China 1
The final score flattered the Chinese as Korea fired 48 shots at China and needed a late empty-netter to seal the deal. China could muster just 15 total shots on goal.
Following a scoreless first period, Korea took a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the second. Juhyung Lee drove the net from the half wall and fired the puck on net. It bounced around and there was a goalmouth scramble, with Hyeongcheol Song finding the loose puck and jamming it past Chinese goaltender Shifeng Chen. Hyeonsu Kwon also assisted on the goal.
The third period saw a flurry of action starting with China tying the game 3:28 in. Zesen Zhang created a turnover with an excellent blocked pass and got the puck just inside Korea’s end, made a nice move to the right to find space and snapped a shot five hole past Jong Hun Chun. Sixiong Jiang got the lone assist on the goal.
Minjoon Huh restored Korea’s lead four minutes later when he finished a nice passing play with a tip in that trickled past Chen. Minjae Kwon and Yunsuk Lee assisted on the nice play.
China pulled its goaltender late but Geonwoo Kim fed the puck to Chong Min Lee just inside the Chinese blueline and Lee slapped in the empty-netter to finalize the 3-1 win.
The Asia Championship action continues on 7 November with Korea facing Japan and Kazakhstan facing off against China. A reminder that all of the games, including replays, are available on IIHF.TV.
Standings
KOR 1-0-0-0 3 PTS
KAZ 1-0-0-0 3 PTS
JPN 0-0-0-1 0 PTS
CHN 0-0-0-1 0 PTS
7 November schedule: KOR-JPN; KAZ-CHN
The Kazakhs won the event in 2024 and 2025 and started this year’s Championship by defeating Japan 3-2 on 5 November. In the other game of the day, Korea got by China 3-1.
The tournament is taking place in Jeonju, South Korea and runs through 8 November.
Kazakhstan 3, Japan 2
Japan struck first in this one on a strong powerplay goal three minutes 32 seconds in. The Japanese moved the puck nicely around the perimeter and got it to defenceman Sota Isogai, who first faked a shot and then walked the line and snapped a shot on goal. Vladislav Nurek made the initial save but a rebound was available for Yuto Taneichi on the doorstep, who slammed the puck home to make it 1-0. Riku Ishida also got an assist on the play.
Just over one minute later, though, a Japanese defender bobbled the puck at his blueline and Kazakhstan pounced on the opportunity. Dmitriy Grents jabbed at the loose puck and it found its way to streaking teammate Maxim Mukhametov, who made no mistake in snapping the puck far side past Japan’s Issa Otsuka.
Kazakhstan took its first lead of the game at 7:11 of the second period. Alexandr Migunov one-timed a pass from Nikita Merzlikin past Otsuka to make it 2-1. Abay Mangisbayev also grabbed an assist on the play.
The goal of the tournament (so far) happened about six minutes later on a Japanese powerplay. Shunta Kimura took a pass from Ishida in his own end and started skating from behind his net. As Kimura looked to make a pass to a teammate, the ice seemed to open up and he took advantage, going end to end and flying into the Kazakhstan zone, getting a shot off as he was tripped and finding the back of the net to tie things up. It was a great solo effort that can be found on IIHF.TV.
The game-winner came midway through the third with Kazakhstan scoring a pretty tic-tac-toe powerplay goal. Dias Gusseinov sent the puck t Artur Gatiyatov, who faked a shot and then sent the puck back to defender Kirill Nikitin, who ripped a shot into the Japan net. Kazakhstan outshot Japan 41-21 and certainly deserved the 3-2 win.
Korea 3, China 1
The final score flattered the Chinese as Korea fired 48 shots at China and needed a late empty-netter to seal the deal. China could muster just 15 total shots on goal.
Following a scoreless first period, Korea took a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the second. Juhyung Lee drove the net from the half wall and fired the puck on net. It bounced around and there was a goalmouth scramble, with Hyeongcheol Song finding the loose puck and jamming it past Chinese goaltender Shifeng Chen. Hyeonsu Kwon also assisted on the goal.
The third period saw a flurry of action starting with China tying the game 3:28 in. Zesen Zhang created a turnover with an excellent blocked pass and got the puck just inside Korea’s end, made a nice move to the right to find space and snapped a shot five hole past Jong Hun Chun. Sixiong Jiang got the lone assist on the goal.
Minjoon Huh restored Korea’s lead four minutes later when he finished a nice passing play with a tip in that trickled past Chen. Minjae Kwon and Yunsuk Lee assisted on the nice play.
China pulled its goaltender late but Geonwoo Kim fed the puck to Chong Min Lee just inside the Chinese blueline and Lee slapped in the empty-netter to finalize the 3-1 win.
The Asia Championship action continues on 7 November with Korea facing Japan and Kazakhstan facing off against China. A reminder that all of the games, including replays, are available on IIHF.TV.
Standings
KOR 1-0-0-0 3 PTS
KAZ 1-0-0-0 3 PTS
JPN 0-0-0-1 0 PTS
CHN 0-0-0-1 0 PTS
7 November schedule: KOR-JPN; KAZ-CHN