Kyrgyzstan relied on a dominant offensive display to win the IIHF Men’s U20 Division III Group B Championship with a perfect 5-0 record. The gold medal for the hosts means they have qualified for the Group A championship in 2027.
Prior to Saturday’s win over Mexico, Kyrgyzstan opened the tournament with a 4-1 defeat of Hong Kong, a 7-2 win over South Africa, a 15-1 thrashing of Iran and a 5-2 win over Luxembourg.
The hosts scored 38 goals while giving up just 10.
In Saturday’s final game, Alikhan Ali-Askarov scored three goals and added two assists to lead his team to a 7-4 win over Mexico at Bishkek Arena.
Ali-Askarov scored his first goal with just under a minute left in the first period to make it 2-1 for Kyrgyzstan and the hosts would never relinquish the lead.
Egor Leshchenko made it 3-1 for Kyrgyzstan early in the second period on a power-play goal that was set up by Umar Egemberdiev and Ali-Askarov.
Mexico pulled to within one on a goal by Matteo Arriaga 6 minutes, 52 seconds into the second frame but Emir Melisov quickly responded for Kyrgyzstan just over a minute later to restore the two-goal lead.
Ali-Askarov scored his second goal of the game late in the second period when Kyrgyzstan took advantage of a power play to make it 5-2.
Mexico’s Andres Natenzon took a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct early in the third period and Ali-Askarov completed his hat trick on the ensuing power play to give Kyrgyzstan a commanding 6-2 lead.
Umar Egemberdiev completed the scoring for Kyrgyzstan just over five minutes into the third when he took a pass from Umar Esenov and beat Mexico goalie Santiago Cucuraqui.
Marcelo Abdala and Nikolas Lorenzana scored third period goals for Mexico but the visitors couldn’t erase the deficit.
Hong Kong wins silver, Mexico takes bronze
Hong Kong (4-1) won the silver medal after beating Iran 12-1, Mexico 5-3, South Africa 8-1, and Luxembourg 5-2. Mexico (3-2) took the bronze medal after beating Iran 7-1, Luxembourg 2-1 and South Africa 2-1.
Ali-Askarov finished the tournament as the top scorer with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Egemberdiev was second with 17 points while teammate Leshchenko was third with 11 points.
Final standings:
1. Kyrgyzstan - 15 points (promoted to 2027 IIHF World U20 Division III Group A Championship)
2. Hong Kong - 12 points
3. Mexico - 9 points
4. Luxembourg - 6 points
5. South Africa - 3 points
6. Iran - 0 points
Game results:
18 January: RSA 1 - MEX 2, IRI 2 - LUX 9, KGZ 4 - HKG 1
19 January: MEX 2 - LUX 1, HKG 12 - IRI 1, KGZ 7 - RSA 2
21 January RSA 1 - LUX 7, MEX 3 - HKG 5, KGZ 15 - IRI 1
22 January HKG 8 - RSA 1, IRI 1 - MEX 7, KGZ 5 - LUX 2
24 January LUX 2 - HKG 5, RSA 4 - IRI 1, KGZ 7 - MEX 4
Prior to Saturday’s win over Mexico, Kyrgyzstan opened the tournament with a 4-1 defeat of Hong Kong, a 7-2 win over South Africa, a 15-1 thrashing of Iran and a 5-2 win over Luxembourg.
The hosts scored 38 goals while giving up just 10.
In Saturday’s final game, Alikhan Ali-Askarov scored three goals and added two assists to lead his team to a 7-4 win over Mexico at Bishkek Arena.
Ali-Askarov scored his first goal with just under a minute left in the first period to make it 2-1 for Kyrgyzstan and the hosts would never relinquish the lead.
Egor Leshchenko made it 3-1 for Kyrgyzstan early in the second period on a power-play goal that was set up by Umar Egemberdiev and Ali-Askarov.
Mexico pulled to within one on a goal by Matteo Arriaga 6 minutes, 52 seconds into the second frame but Emir Melisov quickly responded for Kyrgyzstan just over a minute later to restore the two-goal lead.
Ali-Askarov scored his second goal of the game late in the second period when Kyrgyzstan took advantage of a power play to make it 5-2.
Mexico’s Andres Natenzon took a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct early in the third period and Ali-Askarov completed his hat trick on the ensuing power play to give Kyrgyzstan a commanding 6-2 lead.
Umar Egemberdiev completed the scoring for Kyrgyzstan just over five minutes into the third when he took a pass from Umar Esenov and beat Mexico goalie Santiago Cucuraqui.
Marcelo Abdala and Nikolas Lorenzana scored third period goals for Mexico but the visitors couldn’t erase the deficit.
Hong Kong wins silver, Mexico takes bronze
Hong Kong (4-1) won the silver medal after beating Iran 12-1, Mexico 5-3, South Africa 8-1, and Luxembourg 5-2. Mexico (3-2) took the bronze medal after beating Iran 7-1, Luxembourg 2-1 and South Africa 2-1.
Ali-Askarov finished the tournament as the top scorer with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Egemberdiev was second with 17 points while teammate Leshchenko was third with 11 points.
Final standings:
1. Kyrgyzstan - 15 points (promoted to 2027 IIHF World U20 Division III Group A Championship)
2. Hong Kong - 12 points
3. Mexico - 9 points
4. Luxembourg - 6 points
5. South Africa - 3 points
6. Iran - 0 points
Game results:
18 January: RSA 1 - MEX 2, IRI 2 - LUX 9, KGZ 4 - HKG 1
19 January: MEX 2 - LUX 1, HKG 12 - IRI 1, KGZ 7 - RSA 2
21 January RSA 1 - LUX 7, MEX 3 - HKG 5, KGZ 15 - IRI 1
22 January HKG 8 - RSA 1, IRI 1 - MEX 7, KGZ 5 - LUX 2
24 January LUX 2 - HKG 5, RSA 4 - IRI 1, KGZ 7 - MEX 4