Poland and Japan met in Gdansk and will meet again in April when Poland will host the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B in Katowice.
photo: Hendrik Soots
Most of the teams that will compete in the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B took part in the November international break to test their players and systems.
Despite opening with a defeat, Hungary sneaked past Italy on the final day to finish top in Poland’s Gdansk.
Csanad Erdely had put Hungary 3-1 up in the final frame against Italy, before the top-seeds got into gear as the Magyars lost in overtime to a Marko Insam goal.
But Jarmo Tolvanen´s Hungary bounced straight back in their next game to beat Japan 3-2 before silencing the home crowd in Gdansk as Poland was blanked 2-0 in their final game. Hungary could celebrate top spot after Japan outpaced a lacklustre Italy 4-1 for the morale-boosting victory for Hungary´s youthful roster.
Poland, which will host the Division IB in Katowice in less than half a year, finished in third place by beating Division IB rival Japan 3-2.
In Estonia’s capital Tallinn, Latvia B beat Ukraine 3-2 in the final to win the Baltic Challenge Cup. Estonia, Kazakhstan U20, Latvia B, Lithuania, Romania and Ukraine took part.
Latvia B, with a roster solely made up of players from their domestic championship, had first beaten Kazakhstan 5-2 and Romania 5-3 to win a place in the final against Ukraine. In the match for top spot, Maris Dilevka scored a brace for Latvia B and also had an assist for Karlis Ozolins´ goal.
Despite opening with a defeat, Hungary sneaked past Italy on the final day to finish top in Poland’s Gdansk.
Csanad Erdely had put Hungary 3-1 up in the final frame against Italy, before the top-seeds got into gear as the Magyars lost in overtime to a Marko Insam goal.
But Jarmo Tolvanen´s Hungary bounced straight back in their next game to beat Japan 3-2 before silencing the home crowd in Gdansk as Poland was blanked 2-0 in their final game. Hungary could celebrate top spot after Japan outpaced a lacklustre Italy 4-1 for the morale-boosting victory for Hungary´s youthful roster.
Poland, which will host the Division IB in Katowice in less than half a year, finished in third place by beating Division IB rival Japan 3-2.
In Estonia’s capital Tallinn, Latvia B beat Ukraine 3-2 in the final to win the Baltic Challenge Cup. Estonia, Kazakhstan U20, Latvia B, Lithuania, Romania and Ukraine took part.
Latvia B, with a roster solely made up of players from their domestic championship, had first beaten Kazakhstan 5-2 and Romania 5-3 to win a place in the final against Ukraine. In the match for top spot, Maris Dilevka scored a brace for Latvia B and also had an assist for Karlis Ozolins´ goal.
November International Break - Men's Category
| Euro Ice Hockey Challenge in Poland | |||
| 8 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Hungary - Italy | 3-4 OT |
| 8 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Poland - Japan | 3-2 |
| 9 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Poland - Italy | 0-2 |
| 9 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Hungary - Japan | 3-2 |
| 10 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Poland - Hungary | 0-2 |
| 10 Nov. | Gdansk (POL) | Italy - Japan | 1-4 |
| Standings: 1. Hungary 7, 2. Italy 5, 3. Poland 3, Japan 3 | |||
| Baltic Challenge Cup in Estonia | |||
| 7 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Lithuania - Ukraine | 2-1 OT |
| 7 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Latvia B - Kazakhstan U20 | 5-2 |
| 8 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Romania - Latvia B | 3-5 |
| 8 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Estonia - Ukraine | 2-3 |
| 9 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Kazakhstan U20 - Romania | 1-2 OT |
| 9 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Estonia - Lithuania | 3-2 |
| 10 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Ukraine - Latvia B | 2-3 |
| 10 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Lithuania - Kazakhstan U20 | 4-3 |
| 10 Nov. | Tallinn (EST) | Estonia - Romania | 3-1 |
| Standings: 1. Latvia B, 2. Ukraine, 3. Estonia, 4. Romania, 5. Lithuania, 6 Kazakhstan U20 | |||