The Belgian National U20 team departed last Saturday from Düsseldorf to Belgrade, Serbia, for the U20 IIHF World Championship Division 2B. This year, the team is composed of players from four different Belgian clubs: Herentals, Leuven, Mechelen, and Liège. Additionally, three players are making their debut at a world championship this year.
The coaching duo, consisting of Gil Paelinck (Technical Director of RBIHF) and Sami Lipsonen, will guide the team through this challenging tournament. The teams in this pool are very evenly matched this year; no team stands out significantly, and none are below par, ensuring that every game will be a battle.
In their first game of the tournament, the Belgians secured an impressive 2-4 victory against the host country, Serbia. However, the following day, they lost to a stronger Israeli team, which made the difference with several North American players.
Unfortunately, the team has also been affected by a stomach virus, making today's rest day very welcome. Tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday, the Belgians will play two more games, where they certainly have a chance for another victory.
The matches can be followed live via the IIHF website, where the standings and the match schedule can also be found.