The Division IA World Championship tournament in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania saw the top two spots for promotion to the 2026 World Championship in Switzerland locked up on the final day of competition, with Italy and Great Britain both clinching their returns to the Top Division for the first time since 2022 and 2024, respectively.
Heading into the final day of competition, there were still four teams in contention for promotion, with the first tilt of the day seeing Ukraine, looking for three points to secure their first promotion since 2007, facing off against the already-eliminated Japan. It was a pair of second period strikes only 53 seconds apart from Irikura Taiga and Suzuki Fuji, and a solid third period from goalkeeper Otsuka Issa, that held Ukraine to a stunning 3-2 upset loss, putting their promotion at major risk. Next up was Italy versus Romania, who were already mathematically relegated, and the Azzurri easily took care of business, with a 7-1 thrashing of the hosts, locking up the first 2026 promotion spot. The final tilt came down to Poland and Great Britain; a GB win would clinch them top place, while a Poland win would see Ukraine snag the second spot. But the Lions, on the backs of a 40 save shutout from Ben Bowns, shut out Poland 3-0 to secure the victory.
Ukraine, Poland and Japan will remain in Division IA in 2026, while Romania is relegated to Division IB; they will join the two bottom teams from this year’s World Championships, set to begin in Stockholm and Herning next week, as well as Lithuania, who gained promotion in this year’s Division IB tournament, looking for their first Top Division play since becoming an independent nation in 1992, and first overall since 1938.
Our congratulations to both the Azzurri and the Lions for their triumphant return to the Top Division in 2026!
International Hockey Lineal Championship 