U18 Worlds: Nikita keeps on scoring, but Australia proves too strong

Photos: IIHF / Joan Reyes

In the IIHF U18 World Championship IIB, 15-year-old Nikita Zitserman, one of the younger players, notched two more goals to his tally. However, despite his efforts, Team Israel succumbed to Australia with a disappointing 12-4 loss.

The game, however, was more competitive than the final score suggests. Our team made a valiant effort against the Australians, who held an advantage in pace and tempo. Both sides created scoring opportunities regularly, evident in the shot count of 38-29 in favor of Australia. It’s clear that the opponent’s goalie had a busy day in the net. The difference lay in capitalizing on those chances, a department in which the Aussies excelled.

This raises questions about experience, as U18 tournaments are crucial for learning. Some lessons are tough, yet invaluable in shaping future performances.

For players born in 2006, this U18 World Championship marks their final opportunity to shine at this level. Next year, they will no longer be eligible, leading to changes in team compositions. However, looking at the Israeli roster, only six players are scheduled for transition to another age group, indicating continuity within the team. In contrast, Australia boasts 12 players from the 2006 class, with none born in 2009, while Israel has two.

Already making an impact are forward Samson Goldshtein (born in April 2009), who tallied two points (1+1) yesterday against Bulgaria, and defenseman Artur Charniak, two months older, who registered two assists in today’s game. These players are thriving on the opportunity, gaining valuable experience for the future.

Israel started brightly, taking an early 2-0 lead. Zitserman scored his first of the day within two minutes, followed by Ariel Elkin just 69 seconds later. However, Australia quickly retaliated, leading 5-2 by the first intermission. In the second period, they added three more goals before Nick Ougortsin converted a powerplay goal six seconds before the buzzer. The final 20 minutes saw Zitserman netting his second marker, providing the only moment of joy for Evgeni Kozhevnikov’s team.

As emphasized, this journey is about more than just joy; it’s primarily about gaining experience. With a day of rest ahead, we will reflect on the lessons learned from the first two days of competition. The action resumes on Wednesday, March 20th, against China, with the game starting at 1630 local time (1730 in Israel).