Israel Men's National Junior Ice Hockey Teams

Israel fields separate under-20 and under-18 teams in the IIHF's age-group World Championship divisions. Under renewed management of the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel, the under-20 side reached the final of its divisional tournament in Turkey in January 2023, losing to Australia and taking the silver medal.[1]

The under-20 team followed that result by winning gold and promotion in Bulgaria in January 2024, then taking silver at the 2025 tournament in Belgrade.[2][3]

One of the earliest sourced accounts of Israel's under-20 team appears in a profile of Israeli player Max Birbraer. Soon after arriving in Israel, Birbraer played in a junior tournament in Bulgaria where a bench-clearing brawl erupted after Israeli players responded to antisemitic taunts from Yugoslav players. The profile does not give the tournament's date.[4]

In January 2023, the under-20 side competed in a divisional tournament in Turkey, reaching the final before losing to Australia and claiming the silver medal. The Jerusalem Post characterized the federation's wider results that year as a "breakthrough season" under renewed management.[1]

At the 2025 under-20 World Championship in Belgrade, Israel again finished second. The team defeated Australia 5–2 and Belgium 5–3, lost to host Serbia 2–5 and Spain 3–7, and secured silver with a 3–2 victory over Iceland. Mike Levin scored seven goals, the highest individual total for Israel at the tournament.[3]

Israel's junior program uses separate under-20 and under-18 squads, with teams moving between IIHF divisions through promotion and relegation.[1][2] In March 2024, the under-18 side played in a World Championship Division II tournament in Spain. Its opening game against Bulgaria, a 7–6 loss, saw Israel overcome an early two-goal deficit and lead 5–3 in the second period before Bulgaria rallied. Nikita Zitzerman scored three of Israel's goals and was named player of the game.[5]

The tournament ended in relegation. Needing a win to remain in Division II, Israel trailed Chinese Taipei 2–0 after the first period and moved ahead 3–2 in the second, but conceded three goals in the final period and lost 5–3.[6]

The 2024 IIHF Under-20 World Championship Division III Group A tournament was originally slated to take place in Israel at the OneIce Arena near Netanya. After the October 7, 2023 attacks and the outbreak of war, the IIHF moved the tournament to Sofia, Bulgaria.[2]

On January 10, 2024, the IIHF announced that it was restricting the Israeli national team from its championships until the safety and well-being of all participants could be assured. Israel appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the decision drew criticism that included a statement of concern from the NHL. On January 17, eight hours before a scheduled CAS hearing, the IIHF rescinded the restriction and invited Israel to compete, citing updated security guarantees and communication with Bulgarian authorities.[7]

Israel won all five games in Sofia.[2] In the opener against New Zealand, Israel trailed 2–1 after the first period before building a 6–3 lead through a scoring run that included two goals from Mike Levin. New Zealand narrowed the margin, but Israel held on for an 8–6 victory. Sixteen-year-old Nikita Zitzerman, making his national-team debut, was named player of the game.[8]

Against host Bulgaria, Israel led 1–0 after the first period before Bulgaria equalized in the second. Levin then scored twice within two minutes, and Zitzerman extended the lead before Bulgaria narrowed the score to 4–3. Uri Segal and Jan Raskin scored in the third period, and Levin completed his hat trick in a 7–3 victory.[9] Israel subsequently routed Kyrgyzstan 16–1, defeated Turkey 4–1 and closed the tournament against Mexico.[2]

In the final game, Guy Aharonovich scored twice in the third period, with 26 seconds between the goals, as Israel defeated Mexico 6–3.[10] The team finished 5–0, scoring 41 goals and conceding 14 across the tournament.[2] The gold medal was awarded on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day.[10]

Levin led the tournament with 17 points from nine goals and eight assists. After the victory, Ice Hockey Federation of Israel CEO Mikhael Horowitz said, “Our winning first place made me doubly happy in view of the fact that they didn’t want us here.” He credited those who helped secure the team's participation, noting that the Phoenix Group arranged its insurance within a few hours and thanking Israel's ambassador to Bulgaria, Yossi Levy Sfari, for accompanying the team.[2] The championship earned Israel promotion to Division II Group B.[2]

The IIHF's January 2024 restriction generated significant institutional dispute. Reports differed on its scope: the Jerusalem Post quoted IIHF wording restricting Israel from IIHF championships generally, while JNS described the initial action as a ban on participation in the Under-20 Division III Group A tournament.[7][10]

ONE reported that all the other teams in the 2024 under-20 competition had voted against Israel's participation.[11] In a separate report, ONE said Nancy Orr, head of the IIHF's legal tribunal, declared the federation's decision to exclude Israeli teams from its 2024 tournament program null and void and held that Israel was entitled to compete like other national teams.[12]

The IIHF publicly cited participant safety and a risk assessment as the basis for its restriction, while its reversal referred to updated assurances from Bulgarian authorities.[7] The Jerusalem Post, citing unnamed inside sources, reported allegations that the initial restriction followed external political pressure, including from Russian voices. That account remains an attributed allegation rather than an independently established explanation of the decision.[13]

An earlier controversy appears in the profile of Max Birbraer, which recounts a bench-clearing brawl at a Bulgarian tournament after Israeli players responded to antisemitic taunts from Yugoslav opponents. The profile does not provide a date for the incident.[4]