The hockey players of Hungary and Slovenia return to the elite division of the WC with the first pass

Hungarian ice hockey team | Photo: IIHF

Yesterday in the Italian city of Bolzano, the 1A division tournament of the world hockey championship ended, in which the national teams of Slovenia and Hungary won the right to play in the elite next year.

Slovenia started the tournament with a surprise loss to South Korea, but won their next three games and had already secured their place in the top group before the final round of matches, while Hungary, Italy and Romania claimed second place.

Romania started the last round of the tournament with a victory over Japan (4:2), but in order to shock the hockey world and enter the elite, they had to hope for the victory of South Korea over the host Italians and the success of the Slovenians over the Hungarians. The first condition was not fulfilled, because Italy “destroyed” the Koreans (8:1).

Therefore, in the last game of the competition between Slovenia and Hungary, the fate of the last ticket was decided – if the Slovenians won in regular time, Italy would play in the elite next year, but the Hungarians, winning or getting a point, would move up a level. Hungary “didn’t flinch” in the decisive game and beat Slovenia 2-1, at the same time crushing the hopes of the Italians.

Hungary eventually won first place with 11 points, while Slovenia finished second with nine points, earning the right to play in the WC Elite Division in 2025 with the first run. It should be reminded that the Hungarians and Slovenians fell out of the top group last year at the WC in Riga and Tampere.

Italy finished the tournament in third place, Romania was fourth, Japan was fifth, and the last sixth position was taken by South Korea, thus falling to division 1B. The Koreans will be replaced next year in the 1A division by the Ukrainian national team, which won the lowest level tournament.

Ukraine triumphs in Vilnius and moves up to the 1A division