Undefeated hosts Slovenia win gold at the 2024 Ice Hockey U20 World Championship, Division 1B, in Bled, Slovenia.

A final day 5-3 victory versus Ukraine propels the Slovenians to the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division 1 Group A event.

Ukraine ends up with silver. Italy finishes with bronze. Croatia drops straight back down to Division 2A.

Slovenia’s Lan Kavcic was selected top goaltender of the tournament. Tian Hebar from Slovenia was the top defender and Ukraine´s Mykyta Sydorenko was named as the best forward.

ESTONIA 8 CROATIA 3

Playing the Potsinok twins, Erik and Marek on the same line as Deniss Kontseus has been a proven formula for success for Estonia´s junior national team program in recent years.

In their final-day win against Croatia, Marek Potsinok scored a hat-trick and two assists. Erik Potsinok tallied 2+3 while Kontseus notched 2+2.

The trio had a hand in all the goals when Estonia raced into a first period 4-0 lead. David Timofejev also netted for Estonia in the second frame.

Since returning to Division IB in 2020, Estonia has annually flirted with relegation. In Bled,  two consecutive wins lifted Estonia to a fine fourth. Fjodor Aganezovs got his fourth start for Estonia against the Croats blocking 29 shots.

Croatia hit a purple patch in the middle frame. Winning the shots emphatically 21-8 they momentarily cut the deficit to three goals. Bruno Idzan, Lorian Bezuk, and Filip Kasparek converted for Croatia.

Teo Janjatovic Loncar started in Croatia´s net but was replaced at 4:47 by Omar Zdralovic who recorded 20 saves.

ITALY 3, POLAND 4

Two goals in the space of 15 seconds by Adrian Gromadzki and a penalty shot converted by Michal Kusak keep Poland in Division 1B.

A fired-up Poland stepped out on the ice knowing that a win and at least two points were required from their closing game in order to squeeze past Croatia and stay in the division.

With Poland trailing 2-3 and on the hunt for an equalising goal, Italy´s Davide Girardi spurned a golden opportunity 1-on-1 with Poland´s netminder Igor Tyczynski. Poland then charged forward with Gromadzki showing great determination when forcing the puck past Matthias Rindone for 3-3 at 47:55 

Following the ensuing face-off Kusak was tripped by Gabriel Nitz when through on Rindone´s net. Kusak cooly scored the penalty shot for Poland to go in front. Despite Italy pulling Rindone from the net with 1:35 to go Poland held out for a memorable last-gasp victory.

In a roller-coaster ride of a game, Poland had started the brightest. They pounced on their first power-play chance with Kusak tipping home Poland´s opener after 15:55. With 1:41 left Piotr Ciepielewski burst through centre ice on a Kusak pass to lash a low shot past Rindone to double Poland´s lead to 2-0.

Italy who already had sealed third place ahead of their final game proved to be no pushover. Three unanswered goals by Tommaso Madaschi, Alan Lobis and Nicolo Remolato had put Italy back in charge. Then Poland came to life in the final frame to send Croatia down to Division 1B. 

SLOVENIA 5, UKRAINE 3

Filip Sitar scored a brace and a helper to spark Slovenia to victory and seal an instant return to Division IA.

The 18-year-old goals arrived at crucial stages in a pulsating and heated showdown for top-spot.
Sitar had first settled Slovenian nerves by scoring the only goal of a tense final frame. Carrying the puck on a diagonal dash towards the Ukraine net he zipped a wrister past Hlib Artsatbanov in Ukraine´s net at 12:17.

Sitar´s struck his second early in the third frame when the see-saw battle was tied at 3-3. With Captain Olexi Dahnovsky lying on the ice behind his own net, Nace Langus forechecked Ukraine´s blueliner Volodomyr Troshkin and Sitar snapped up the puck to dispatch Slovenia´s 4-3 goal. Scored at 41:48, the goal that was given following a video review.

With Ukraine pressing ahead for a leveller, Slovenia stretched their lead with 5:27 to go.  Ukraine´s blueliner Ivan Shamardin was deked by Zan Spari Leben who scored his first of the tournament when it mattered the most at with 5:27 left of the third frame.

Ukraine pulled Artsatbanov with 1:01 left with Slovenia holding out to mark a winning start for head coach Mitja Sivic.

Heartbreak for Ukraine who finished with silver for the second consecutive season. Shamardin, Mykyta Sydorenko and Gavryil Simchuk scored for Ukraine. Sydorenko led the competition in scoring with 12 (8+4) points.

Mai Crnkic and Mark Sever also tallied for Slovenia. Lan Kavcic in Slovenia´s net recorded 25 saves.