World Championship d1A

Hungary and Slovenia promoted

The 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A took place in Bolzano, Italy. The tournament featured six teams: Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Romania, Japan, and South Korea. Hungary won the championship, finishing with 11 points, and was promoted to the top division alongside Slovenia, which secured second place with 9 points. Italy also had 9 points but finished third due to tiebreakers. Romania finished fourth, Japan fifth, and South Korea was relegated after finishing last with only 3 points.

(04 May 2024)

Matjaz Kopitar is back on Slovenia bench

Matjaz Kopitar, 53, father of Los Angeles Kings captain Anze, is back again on Slovenia national team bench in his third experience as head coach after the 2010-2015 period, when he led Slovenia at Sochi Olympics and in three World Championships, always ended with the relegation of the team. Kopitar was back in 2017-2018 before to work full-time as scout for Los Angeles Kings.
He should sign a contract for four years, beginning the new adventure with two challenge, both on home ice: next February in Jesenice hunting for the Olympic pass battling with Japan, Lithuania and qualifier from a previous round and in late April in Ljubljana at World Championship Division Ia when Slovenia will compete with France, Austria, Korea, Hungary and Romania in a complicate race for the promotion to Elite Division, after a disappointing campaign in Nur Sultan last spring

(22 Jun 2019)

Ivo Jan will coach Slovenia

Vipiteno Broncos head coach Ivo Jan will coach Slovenia national team keeping his job at the Italian team competing in Alps Hockey League.
Matjaz Kopitar, father of Los Angeles superstar Anze, was originally supposed to coach the Slovenian national team, but he cancelled the contract accepting a scout role at Los Angeles Kings.
The 43-year-old signed a 1+1 year contract, heading Slovenia at the 2019 World Championship Division I in Astana against Belarus, South Korea, Lithuania, Hungary and Kazakhstan

(09 Aug 2018)

Kazakhstan named new coach

Belarussian Andrei Skabelka, 47, was appointed as new coach of Kazakhstan national team, following his sign as new coach of Barys Astana. Last season Skabelka coached Avangard Omsk

(06 Jun 2018)

Andrei Nazarov remains coach of Kazakhstan

Despite the relegation at last World Championship, Russian Andrei Nazarov was confirmed as head coach of Kazakhstan national team. Nazarov will lead Kazakhstan at the Olympic qualification in September against Norway, Italy and France. Nazarov was confirmed also as Barys Astana coach.

Federation also announced the coaches for junior and women teams:
Sergei Starygin - U20
Viktor Buyalsky - U18
Alexander Maltsev - Women

(10 Jun 2016)

Austria defeats Italy in final World Championship test

Stefan Geier's hattrick led Austria to a 3:2-win in an exhibtion game over Italy. Austria had a strong start, gaining a 2:0 lead in the intitial frame. The Italians though got better in the second and third period, coming close to the tying goal. Goals by Luca Frigo and Alexander Egger, showcasing his skill with an amazing backhand goal, scored for the 'azzurri'. In net Starkbaum and Bernard played a solid game, but the game was highlighted by the national team debut of 35-year-old Frederic Cloutier between the Italian pipes in the second half of the game.

(20 Apr 2016)

Nik Zupancic new coach of Slovenia

Former player Nik Zupancic, 46, was named new headcoach of Slovenia as successor of Matjaz Kopitar, resigned after the last World Championship where Slovenia was relegated. Zupancic was assistant coach to Kopitar in the last four-and-a-half years, including in the Sochi 2014 campaign, when Slovenia reached quarter-finals.

(12 Jun 2015)

Ukraine relegated

In the first game of the last day of the Div. IA Championships in Cracow, Ukraine was defeated by the team of Japan with the score 3:1. This means that Ukraine is relegated to division IB.

(25 Apr 2015)

Bochenski will receive citizenship of Kazakhstan

Barys Astana captain Brandon Bochenski will soon complete the process to receive citizenship of Kazakhstan and should be compete for his new country at the World Championship Division Ia in Poland next April.
"I hope that the issue will be resolved soon, all the paperwork takes time. Why decided to play for the national team of Kazakhstan? Here I have a lot of friends, I'm playing in this country and I feel part of it. And I would be honored to represent Kazakhstan." said Bochenski, at Barys from 2011.

Bochenski rapresented native USA at 2007 World Championship

(23 Feb 2015)

World Championship Division 1a start postponed

Polish Federation announces the start of World Championship Division 1a, originally scheduled for April 18, 2015, will be postponed by one day due to a show of singer Robbie Williams, which will take place at Krakow Arena on day 17. According to the new plan the tournament will begin on 19 April 2015 and end on Saturday 25 April. Host Poland will face Hungary, Japan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Italy

(02 Nov 2014)