IIHF U18 World Championship 2026
Slovakia Hosts the World’s Best Young Hockey Players – and Czech-Made Sports Equipment Is Part of It
Right now, from 22 April to 2 May 2026, the 27th IIHF U18 World Championship is taking place in Trenčín and Bratislava, Slovakia. Ten of the world’s best national teams are competing for the title – on ice surfaces equipped with new Czech-made boards from a manufacturer whose proud partner we are.
🏟️ Two Arenas, One Standard
The tournament is being played at two venues.
Group A, featuring Canada, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Slovakia, is playing in Trenčín at Pavol Demitra Stadium, while Group B, featuring the USA, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and Sweden, is playing in Bratislava at Vladimír Dzurilla Stadium.
📌 The quarterfinals will be played at both arenas, while the semifinals and medal games will take place on 2 May in Trenčín.
Behind the boards in both arenas is Czech craftsmanship – precise, certified, and meeting strict IIHF standards for top-level international competitions.
📊 What Do the Standings Look Like? (as of 25 April)
After the first four days of play, the group standings are becoming clear.
Group A (Trenčín)
| Position | Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Slovakia 🇸🇰 | 2 | 6 |
| 2. | Canada 🇨🇦 | 2 | 3 |
| 3. | Finland 🇫🇮 | 1 | 3 |
| 4. | Latvia 🇱🇻 | 1 | 0 |
| 5. | Norway 🇳🇴 | 2 | 0 |
Group B (Bratislava)
| Position | Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Czech Republic 🇨🇿 | 2 | 5 |
| 2. | Sweden 🇸🇪 | 2 | 3 |
| 3. | Denmark 🇩🇰 | 1 | 3 |
| 4. | USA 🇺🇸 | 1 | 1 |
| 5. | Germany 🇩🇪 | 2 | 0 |
Host nation Slovakia leads Group A after a convincing 6:2 victory over Norway.
Group B is led by the Czech Republic, which defeated Sweden 2:1 thanks to a late goal by defenseman Jakub Vanček.
📌 So far, both organizers and local fans have every reason to be delighted at both arenas.
🛡️ Why Board Quality Matters
At a tournament of this level, boards are much more than just the boundary of the playing surface.
They are:
✔️ a safety feature protecting players during physical battles along the boards
✔️ a media surface visible in every television shot broadcast around the world
✔️ a certification requirement – IIHF sets strict standards for dimensions, materials and durability
Our partner repeatedly meets these requirements at arenas hosting top-level international competitions.
🧊 ICE Professional: From Boards to Complete Ice Arenas
Cooperation with world-class suppliers is part of our philosophy.
We deliver projects from initial design through ice surface construction to complete arena equipment – most recently in tropical Phuket, Tashkent, and here at home in Ostrava.
📌 If you are planning a new ice arena, winter stadium, or ice bar, contact us – we will be happy to discuss your project
