photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
Jasurbek Rustamkhonov scored on a power late in the third period on Thursday as Uzbekistan edged Thailand 3-2 in the IIHF Under-18 Division III Group B tournament.
With the thrilling win at Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena, Uzbekistan earned promotion to Division III Group A for the 2026 U18 IIHF men’s world championships.
With Juangroongruangkit Thanthorn in the penalty box for tripping, Rustamkhonov took a pass from Loren Petrosyan and beat Thailand goaltender Niyomvong Vijak with a blistering slap shot from the face-off circle to put his team ahead with just over six minutes left.
Thailand got a power play with two minutes remaining when Bogdan Khalevin was called for holding but, despite several glorious scoring opportunities, the hosts couldn’t find an equalizer.
After finishing the first period tied 1-1, Uzbekistan pulled ahead at 8 minutes, 42 seconds into the second period.
Abdukayam Abduvosikov won a face-off cleanly and got the puck back to Ilya Popov who rifled a wrister from the top of the circle, beating Thailand’s goaltender high on the glove side to make it 2-1.
It looked like Uzbekistan would take a 2-1 lead into the third but the hosts pressed ahead and were rewarded when Limpanyakul Tanat picked up a loose puck in the slot and backhanded it in with just 29 seconds left in the second frame.
Thailand opened the scoring midway through first period which was played at a torrid pace with many crushing bodychecks by both teams.
Tiaowvanich Kantawit got around a defender with a toe-drag and beat Uzbekistan goaltender Rustam Irgashev with a low shot through the pads to make it 1-0 Thailand.
The hosts dominated play for most of the first period but Uzbekistan got a break when he Gunn Benhar went off for kneeing with just over two minutes remaining.
The visitors tied the game 1-1 on the ensuing power play when Rustamkhonov beat Vijak on a backhander with just 29 seconds left in the opening frame.
Rustamkhonov was Uzbekistan’s leading scorer in the tournament with 22 points (14 goals, 8 assists).
Both goalies were spectacular in the final game and were named their respective teams’ players of the game.
Thailand and Uzbekistan entered Thursday’s game undefeated at 4-0.
Thailand opened the tournament with a 16-0 thrashing of Bosnia and Herzegovina followed by a 4-3 win over Turkmenistan, an 8-0 shutout of South Africa and a 10-0 victory over Luxembourg.
Uzbekistan beat South Africa 8-0, Luxembourg 12-1, Turkmenistan 8-2 and Bosnia and Herzegovina 11-3.
Uzbekistan finished the tournament with 15 points followed by Thailand with 12.
Turkmenistan was third with nine followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (5), South Africa (3) and Luxembourg (1).
Uzbekistan has been a member of the IIHF since 2019 and is one of four former Soviet Republics from Central Asia in the federation along with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Thailand, currently 43rd in the world rankings, has been an IIHF member since 1989. The first official hockey league, the Bangkok Ice Hockey League, was founded in 1989.
With the thrilling win at Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena, Uzbekistan earned promotion to Division III Group A for the 2026 U18 IIHF men’s world championships.
With Juangroongruangkit Thanthorn in the penalty box for tripping, Rustamkhonov took a pass from Loren Petrosyan and beat Thailand goaltender Niyomvong Vijak with a blistering slap shot from the face-off circle to put his team ahead with just over six minutes left.
Thailand got a power play with two minutes remaining when Bogdan Khalevin was called for holding but, despite several glorious scoring opportunities, the hosts couldn’t find an equalizer.
After finishing the first period tied 1-1, Uzbekistan pulled ahead at 8 minutes, 42 seconds into the second period.
Abdukayam Abduvosikov won a face-off cleanly and got the puck back to Ilya Popov who rifled a wrister from the top of the circle, beating Thailand’s goaltender high on the glove side to make it 2-1.
It looked like Uzbekistan would take a 2-1 lead into the third but the hosts pressed ahead and were rewarded when Limpanyakul Tanat picked up a loose puck in the slot and backhanded it in with just 29 seconds left in the second frame.
Thailand opened the scoring midway through first period which was played at a torrid pace with many crushing bodychecks by both teams.
Tiaowvanich Kantawit got around a defender with a toe-drag and beat Uzbekistan goaltender Rustam Irgashev with a low shot through the pads to make it 1-0 Thailand.
The hosts dominated play for most of the first period but Uzbekistan got a break when he Gunn Benhar went off for kneeing with just over two minutes remaining.
The visitors tied the game 1-1 on the ensuing power play when Rustamkhonov beat Vijak on a backhander with just 29 seconds left in the opening frame.
Rustamkhonov was Uzbekistan’s leading scorer in the tournament with 22 points (14 goals, 8 assists).
Both goalies were spectacular in the final game and were named their respective teams’ players of the game.
Thailand and Uzbekistan entered Thursday’s game undefeated at 4-0.
Thailand opened the tournament with a 16-0 thrashing of Bosnia and Herzegovina followed by a 4-3 win over Turkmenistan, an 8-0 shutout of South Africa and a 10-0 victory over Luxembourg.
Uzbekistan beat South Africa 8-0, Luxembourg 12-1, Turkmenistan 8-2 and Bosnia and Herzegovina 11-3.
Uzbekistan finished the tournament with 15 points followed by Thailand with 12.
Turkmenistan was third with nine followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (5), South Africa (3) and Luxembourg (1).
Uzbekistan has been a member of the IIHF since 2019 and is one of four former Soviet Republics from Central Asia in the federation along with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Thailand, currently 43rd in the world rankings, has been an IIHF member since 1989. The first official hockey league, the Bangkok Ice Hockey League, was founded in 1989.