France, Kazakhstan and Poland Register Opening Wins at 2026 IIHF World Championship Division I Group A

The opening day of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A delivered drama, comebacks and high-intensity action as France, Kazakhstan and Poland secured crucial victories to kick off their campaigns. Two of the recently relegated sides showed resilience with third-period turnarounds, while hosts Poland held firm in a tightly contested clash against neighbouring Ukraine in front of an energized home crowd.

France edged past Japan in a thrilling 4-3 encounter, despite dominating large stretches of the game. The French side outshot their opponents heavily but found themselves trailing late in the contest before captain Jordann Perret stepped up with a decisive performance. Scoring both the equaliser and the winner in the final two minutes, Perret turned the match around in dramatic fashion and ensured France opened their tournament with a hard-fought win. Japan, however, impressed with their defensive discipline and quick counterattacks, briefly taking the lead in the third period through rapid goals that stunned the French side.

Kazakhstan also staged a strong comeback to defeat Lithuania 4-1 after trailing early. Lithuania struck first through Aivaras Bendzius on the power play, but Kazakhstan gradually took control of the game, dominating possession and outshooting their opponents. The breakthrough came in the third period when Kirill Sivitskiy levelled the score, sparking a surge of attacking pressure. Goals from Artur Gatiyatov and Semyon Simonov followed, sealing a convincing win as Kazakhstan capitalised on their sustained offensive momentum and superior finishing ability. Lithuanian goaltender Faustas Nauseda had kept his team competitive for two periods but was eventually overwhelmed by the relentless Kazakh attack.

In the final game of the day, hosts Poland secured a 3-2 victory over Ukraine in a fiercely contested encounter filled with momentum swings. Poland national ice hockey team took the lead three times during the match, while Ukraine national ice hockey team responded twice but ultimately fell short. Goals from Aron Chmielewski, Patryk Wronka and Patryk Krezolek ensured Poland maintained their edge, while Ukraine’s Daniil Trakht and Andri Denyskin kept the pressure on throughout. The decisive moment came late in the third period when Krezolek capitalised on a rebound to restore Poland’s lead, which they defended resolutely in the closing minutes.

The opening day results set the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive tournament, with teams already demonstrating determination and tactical intensity. With matches coming thick and fast, the early victories for France, Kazakhstan and Poland provide a valuable boost in the race for promotion, while Japan, Lithuania and Ukraine will look to bounce back quickly in the upcoming fixtures.

Day 1 Results

• France 4–3 Japan
• Kazakhstan 4–1 Lithuania
• Poland 3–2 Ukraine

Upcoming Fixtures

• Kazakhstan vs Japan
• Ukraine vs Lithuania
• France vs Poland

Courtesy: iihf