Turkmen hockey players have advanced to the semifinals of the 27th IIHF World U18 Championship Division III Group B, currently taking place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was determined following the final group-stage matches.
As previously reported, the first semifinalists were confirmed early — the winners of Groups A and B, the national teams of Iceland and Thailand. The remaining two semifinal spots were contested by four teams: in Group A — Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa; in Group B — Turkmenistan and Luxembourg.
The junior teams of South Africa and Luxembourg were the first to take the ice at the Skenderija sports arena. The opening period went in Luxembourg’s favor, 2–1. However, South Africa turned the game around in the following periods and ultimately secured a comeback victory, 7–3 (1–2, 2–0, 4–1).
This result, regardless of the outcome of the Turkmenistan vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match, left Luxembourg at the bottom of Group B and guaranteed Turkmenistan a place in the semifinals after finishing second in the group.
For the Bosnian team, however, the match against Turkmenistan was crucial. Only a win would send the tournament hosts into the semifinals from second place in Group A. They achieved that goal with a 3–0 victory (0–0, 1–0, 2–0). The goals were scored by Mak Dizdarević (23rd minute), Ali Milabegović (47th), who was named best player of the game for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Deni Drnda (53rd). Turkmenistan’s goaltender Oraz Jepbarov was recognized as his team’s best player of the match.
In another final-round game, Thailand defeated Iceland 4–2 (1–1, 1–0, 2–1).
As a result, the first semifinal will feature Thailand against Turkmenistan, while the second will see Iceland face Bosnia and Herzegovina. The winners of these matchups will compete in the final for promotion to Division III Group A, while the losing semifinalists will play for the bronze medal.
Held under the auspices of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the IIHF World U18 Championship Division III Group B is the seventh-tier tournament, featuring six of the lowest-ranked national teams.
