photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Stjepan Čizmadija
Anna Vitos scored a second-period hat trick as Romania stormed past Lithuania 8-3 to take gold at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship Division III in Zagreb, Croatia.
Despite having the tournament’s youngest team, the Romanians finished undefeated at Zagreb´s Ice Dome to earn promotion. As a result, Romania advances to Division II Group B next season.
The IIHF broke new ground this season by introducing the U18 Women´s Worlds Division III tournament. Croatia, Lithuania, and Thailand all made their first plunge into women’s U18 competition. Completing the four-team lineup in Zagreb was Romania, previously winless at U18 World Championship Qualification in 2016-17.
Heading into the final day of competition, Romania led with five points, followed by Croatia and Lithuania with three. The Romanians knew a victory in their mid-afternoon matchup versus Lithuania would be enough to clinch gold.
Lithuania´s Rugile Stirnaite coolly tallied the opening goal versus Romania on a 2-on-1 rush at 15:29. But the joy proved short-lived. Heading into the final three minutes of the period, Romania exploded for two goals in 51 seconds. Blueliner Olivia Popescu’s effort from the right circle flew past Mileja Girkontaite and tied it up, Eva Zand then late’s slap shot got the Romanians in front 2-1.
Romania then delivered a dominant second frame, outshooting Lithuania 14-8. Bianca Mihai sailed through the Lithuanian defence after taking a Popescu pass to convert high on the blocker side of Girkontaite at 0:53.
Boosted by a successful penalty kill, Vitos then took matters into her own hands to score thrice in just over nine minutes. The 4-1 goal came from a bullet of a slap shot and the 5-1 goal was a solo effort. Vitos completed her natural hat trick on the power play with a wrister from the slot at 14:38.
Romania´s Iana Platica piled on the misery for the Lithuanians by scoring on both sides of the second intermission to run away with an 8-1 lead. With the game effectively over, Stirnaite added her second of the afternoon for the Lithuanians before Ausrine Rakauskaite rounded out the scoring at 8-3.
Earlier in the tournament, Romania wasted little time to take control in their opener versus Croatia. Two first-period goals in just 36 seconds set Romania on course for a fine 6-3 victory. Vitos scored a brace, while Zlate notched a goal and two assists for the Romanians.
As a point of interest, Vitos is captaining SC Csikszereda from Miercurea Ciuc, while the14-year-old Zlate is one of nine Romanians representing ACS Fox Hockey from Gheorgheni. Both players skate on eastern Transylvanian teams competing on two fronts: in the Romanian women’s league and across the western border in the Hungarian U25 championship.
Versus Thailand during Day Two, it was two 14-year-old Romanians skating further afield sparking their revival. Rallying from a 2-0 deficit versus the Southeast Asian debutants, Daniela Sabalin of Germany’s EC Bad Nauheim got Romania on the board with 6:12 left in regulation. The U.S.-based blueliner Popescu, from Buffalo Jr. Sabres, tied the game on a 5-on-3. With momentum now firmly with the Romanians, Vitos stepped up to score 50 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback and earn two valuable points.
Vitos dominated the tournament in scoring with six goals in three games for Romania. At the other end, netminder Nicoleta Sabalin was selected as the tournament’s best goalie. The 16-year-old enjoyed two wins, a save percentage of 92.86 and a GAA of 1.79.
Heading into the final day, Thailand found itself at the bottom of the standings with one point. A fired-up Thai team got in front versus Croatia when the tournament’s second-highest scorer, Thitaree Satityathiwat, tallied after just 28 seconds.
Thailand outshot the Croats 13-1 in the first period, and Pavitra Champasiri doubled the Thai advantage with a power play strike. Ajcharaporn Niyomvong stretched the lead to three goals in the final frame before Croatia´s Beata Vugic scored a late consolation goal. Despite earlier heartbreak for Thailand with two narrow losses, coach Rory Rawlyk’s youngsters finished on a high in second place.
Last season, Laura Vukelic was one of seven players on the Croatian U18 roster representing their women's national team in World Championship play at this venue. Now debuting for the U18s, the 16-year-old was in inspiring form, notching two goals and a helper as bronze-winning Croatia blanked Lithuania 3-0 on Day Two. Vukelic was selected as the tournament´s top forward.
Fourth-place Lithuania overcame pre-game nerves to celebrate an historic 4-3 victory versus Thailand in their debut. Vaiva Rastenyte finished third in overall scoring with five points in three games. Standing out for the Baltic nation was the tournament’s top defender, Marcele Kieraite. The 14-year-old is the daughter of Mindaugas Kieras, a legendary Lithuanian blueliner. He played 100 national team games before hanging up his skates in 2018.
Despite having the tournament’s youngest team, the Romanians finished undefeated at Zagreb´s Ice Dome to earn promotion. As a result, Romania advances to Division II Group B next season.
The IIHF broke new ground this season by introducing the U18 Women´s Worlds Division III tournament. Croatia, Lithuania, and Thailand all made their first plunge into women’s U18 competition. Completing the four-team lineup in Zagreb was Romania, previously winless at U18 World Championship Qualification in 2016-17.
Heading into the final day of competition, Romania led with five points, followed by Croatia and Lithuania with three. The Romanians knew a victory in their mid-afternoon matchup versus Lithuania would be enough to clinch gold.
Lithuania´s Rugile Stirnaite coolly tallied the opening goal versus Romania on a 2-on-1 rush at 15:29. But the joy proved short-lived. Heading into the final three minutes of the period, Romania exploded for two goals in 51 seconds. Blueliner Olivia Popescu’s effort from the right circle flew past Mileja Girkontaite and tied it up, Eva Zand then late’s slap shot got the Romanians in front 2-1.
Romania then delivered a dominant second frame, outshooting Lithuania 14-8. Bianca Mihai sailed through the Lithuanian defence after taking a Popescu pass to convert high on the blocker side of Girkontaite at 0:53.
Boosted by a successful penalty kill, Vitos then took matters into her own hands to score thrice in just over nine minutes. The 4-1 goal came from a bullet of a slap shot and the 5-1 goal was a solo effort. Vitos completed her natural hat trick on the power play with a wrister from the slot at 14:38.
Romania´s Iana Platica piled on the misery for the Lithuanians by scoring on both sides of the second intermission to run away with an 8-1 lead. With the game effectively over, Stirnaite added her second of the afternoon for the Lithuanians before Ausrine Rakauskaite rounded out the scoring at 8-3.
Earlier in the tournament, Romania wasted little time to take control in their opener versus Croatia. Two first-period goals in just 36 seconds set Romania on course for a fine 6-3 victory. Vitos scored a brace, while Zlate notched a goal and two assists for the Romanians.
As a point of interest, Vitos is captaining SC Csikszereda from Miercurea Ciuc, while the14-year-old Zlate is one of nine Romanians representing ACS Fox Hockey from Gheorgheni. Both players skate on eastern Transylvanian teams competing on two fronts: in the Romanian women’s league and across the western border in the Hungarian U25 championship.
Versus Thailand during Day Two, it was two 14-year-old Romanians skating further afield sparking their revival. Rallying from a 2-0 deficit versus the Southeast Asian debutants, Daniela Sabalin of Germany’s EC Bad Nauheim got Romania on the board with 6:12 left in regulation. The U.S.-based blueliner Popescu, from Buffalo Jr. Sabres, tied the game on a 5-on-3. With momentum now firmly with the Romanians, Vitos stepped up to score 50 seconds into overtime to complete the comeback and earn two valuable points.
Vitos dominated the tournament in scoring with six goals in three games for Romania. At the other end, netminder Nicoleta Sabalin was selected as the tournament’s best goalie. The 16-year-old enjoyed two wins, a save percentage of 92.86 and a GAA of 1.79.
Heading into the final day, Thailand found itself at the bottom of the standings with one point. A fired-up Thai team got in front versus Croatia when the tournament’s second-highest scorer, Thitaree Satityathiwat, tallied after just 28 seconds.
Thailand outshot the Croats 13-1 in the first period, and Pavitra Champasiri doubled the Thai advantage with a power play strike. Ajcharaporn Niyomvong stretched the lead to three goals in the final frame before Croatia´s Beata Vugic scored a late consolation goal. Despite earlier heartbreak for Thailand with two narrow losses, coach Rory Rawlyk’s youngsters finished on a high in second place.
Last season, Laura Vukelic was one of seven players on the Croatian U18 roster representing their women's national team in World Championship play at this venue. Now debuting for the U18s, the 16-year-old was in inspiring form, notching two goals and a helper as bronze-winning Croatia blanked Lithuania 3-0 on Day Two. Vukelic was selected as the tournament´s top forward.
Fourth-place Lithuania overcame pre-game nerves to celebrate an historic 4-3 victory versus Thailand in their debut. Vaiva Rastenyte finished third in overall scoring with five points in three games. Standing out for the Baltic nation was the tournament’s top defender, Marcele Kieraite. The 14-year-old is the daughter of Mindaugas Kieras, a legendary Lithuanian blueliner. He played 100 national team games before hanging up his skates in 2018.