photo: © Stjepan Cizmadija
Free-scoring Ukraine raced to win gold at the 2024 IIHF Women´s World Championship, Division III, Group A in Zagreb, Croatia.
Despite living dangerously at times, the Ukrainians dropped just one point to finish top of the standings. The victory sees Ukraine return to Division IIB where they most recently played in 2020.
For the inaugural World Championship tournament staged in Zagreb´s Ice Dome, head coach Yevgeniy Alipov made five changes to a Ukraine roster that last year finished second. One of those additions was a debutant integral in turning silver into gold. Valeria Manchak finished as top scorer with 18 points (8+10) in five games and was also selected as the tournament´s best forward.
Despite living dangerously at times, the Ukrainians dropped just one point to finish top of the standings. The victory sees Ukraine return to Division IIB where they most recently played in 2020.
For the inaugural World Championship tournament staged in Zagreb´s Ice Dome, head coach Yevgeniy Alipov made five changes to a Ukraine roster that last year finished second. One of those additions was a debutant integral in turning silver into gold. Valeria Manchak finished as top scorer with 18 points (8+10) in five games and was also selected as the tournament´s best forward.
The Kharkiv-born forward formed a lethal top line with Daria Tsymyrenko and Polina Telehina. Tsymyrenko and Telehina notched 13 points each as Ukraine scored 28 times while conceding just eight goals in five games.
Ukraine´s key win came on day four versus Romania. Both teams stepped out on the ice undefeated as Ukraine drew first blood when converting on a five-on-three at 13:24. Manchak did the hard work picking out Tsymyrenko on the doorstep for 1-0.
Ukraine doubled their lead against their neighbours with 1:48 left of the first frame with Manchak once again the instigator. She hit a crisp pass from the right boards to Tsymyrenko at the far post who once again slotted the puck past Romania´s netminder Andrea Kurko.
Ukraine´s key win came on day four versus Romania. Both teams stepped out on the ice undefeated as Ukraine drew first blood when converting on a five-on-three at 13:24. Manchak did the hard work picking out Tsymyrenko on the doorstep for 1-0.
Ukraine doubled their lead against their neighbours with 1:48 left of the first frame with Manchak once again the instigator. She hit a crisp pass from the right boards to Tsymyrenko at the far post who once again slotted the puck past Romania´s netminder Andrea Kurko.
photo: © Stjepan Cizmadija
Manchak who started to skate at the age of seven in northeastern Ukraine, has since enjoyed an eclectic athletics career in boxing, karate, and hockey. She is also running her own power skating and skills development program. In Zagreb, she offered first-hand lessons to her opponents while constantly leaving them in their wake.
Fine work from Manchak behind Romania´s net supplied Telehina to net the only goal of the middle frame as Ukraine stretched their lead to 3-0. Telehina was at it again just 29 seconds into the final stanza as her effort from the left face-off circle sneaked past Nadina Niciu who had replaced Kurko in the Romanian net.
Fine work from Manchak behind Romania´s net supplied Telehina to net the only goal of the middle frame as Ukraine stretched their lead to 3-0. Telehina was at it again just 29 seconds into the final stanza as her effort from the left face-off circle sneaked past Nadina Niciu who had replaced Kurko in the Romanian net.
Romania´s captain Timea Csiszer cut the deficit to two with a close-range rebound at 45:32. But with Ukraine emphatically winning the shots 14-5 in the final frame, Tsymorenko celebrated her hat-trick after Manchak´s fifth assist of the game 2:12 from the end.
Earlier in the tournament, Ukraine had got their campaign off to a 9-1 opening day win versus Bulgaria followed by downing Lithuania 3-1.
They then got into trouble versus Serbia with Manchak coming to the rescue with four goals and a helper in a nail-biting encounter. Ukraine had rallied back to tie the game after being 1-4 down with less than four minutes remaining. 2:01 into the overtime Manchak raced clear on a breakaway to deke Serbia´s goalie Ana Ilic as Ukraine grabbed a couple of valuable points.
Heading into the closing game of the tournament and needing one point to finish top. Manchak celebrated her 27th birthday by scoring once as Croatia was defeated 6-1 to clinch a top-place finish.
Earlier in the tournament, Ukraine had got their campaign off to a 9-1 opening day win versus Bulgaria followed by downing Lithuania 3-1.
They then got into trouble versus Serbia with Manchak coming to the rescue with four goals and a helper in a nail-biting encounter. Ukraine had rallied back to tie the game after being 1-4 down with less than four minutes remaining. 2:01 into the overtime Manchak raced clear on a breakaway to deke Serbia´s goalie Ana Ilic as Ukraine grabbed a couple of valuable points.
Heading into the closing game of the tournament and needing one point to finish top. Manchak celebrated her 27th birthday by scoring once as Croatia was defeated 6-1 to clinch a top-place finish.
photo: © Stjepan Cizmadija
What a difference a year makes for Romania. Fourth last year on home ice they now got into the stride right from the outset to win four out of five to finish with the silver medals.
Head coach Sandor Barabas had made ten changes to the roster from last season with one notable omission being Romania´s then-top scorer Ana Voicu. Stepping into her skates was 17-year-old Edit Szekeres, one of eight debutants who led Romania in scoring with 10 (8+2) points in five games.
Szekeres scored the memorable winner 5:33 from time when Romania roared back from 1-3 to complete a remarkable turnaround versus Lithuania. The speedy Julia Bende also stood out in that game notching a hat-trick in a memorable 4-3 win.
With half of the Romanian roster under the age of 18 and the oldest blueliner being 17-year-old Agnes Adam, the next step for Romania will now be to relaunch their U18 women´s national team most recently competing in World Championship play in 2017.
Head coach Sandor Barabas had made ten changes to the roster from last season with one notable omission being Romania´s then-top scorer Ana Voicu. Stepping into her skates was 17-year-old Edit Szekeres, one of eight debutants who led Romania in scoring with 10 (8+2) points in five games.
Szekeres scored the memorable winner 5:33 from time when Romania roared back from 1-3 to complete a remarkable turnaround versus Lithuania. The speedy Julia Bende also stood out in that game notching a hat-trick in a memorable 4-3 win.
With half of the Romanian roster under the age of 18 and the oldest blueliner being 17-year-old Agnes Adam, the next step for Romania will now be to relaunch their U18 women´s national team most recently competing in World Championship play in 2017.
photo: © Stjepan Cizmadija
Lithuania who came within touching distance of winning gold last year, now finished with a second consecutive bronze medal. Mauras Baltrukonis stepped up from assistant to head coach as the Baltic nation beat Serbia 5-2 on the final day with Klara Miuller netting a hat-trick. 18-year-old Vilte Belicenkaite enjoyed a fine tournament being named as the tournament´s top goalkeeper.
photo: © Stjepan Cizmadija
Newly promoted Serbia crossed the border to neighbouring Croatia skating with the youngest roster of the tournament. Milica Velcek grabbed a brace and an assist in a memorable 3-1 win versus rivals Croatia to finish fourth.
Diana Stolar was selected as the tournament´s top defender for hosts Croatia who had come down from the level above to finish fifth. At the bottom of the table, winless Bulgaria will drop down to Division IIIB for next season.
Diana Stolar was selected as the tournament´s top defender for hosts Croatia who had come down from the level above to finish fifth. At the bottom of the table, winless Bulgaria will drop down to Division IIIB for next season.