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Türkiye's under 18 Women's Ice Hockey National Team starts its World Championship campaign today in Istanbul.
The tournament takes place at Zeytinburnu and runs until January 25. The event marks another crucial step for a team that achieved promotion last season after winning gold and moving up to a higher division.
The Turkish Ice Hockey Federation confirmed that the team competes in the 2nd Division Group A category. Opponents include the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Latvia. Matches take place each evening at 20.00 local time.
Federation president Halit Albayrak described last year's success as a milestone for the sport in Türkiye. He said the previous championship victory showed that investment in youth development delivered results.
He added that the federation expects the players to compete with the same belief and determination and invited sports fans to attend matches at Zeytinburnu Buz Adasi (Zeytinburnu Ice Island).
The opening match takes place tonight as Türkiye faces the Netherlands at 20.00 (GMT+3).
Match schedule
The team completed its final training session yesterday. Head coach Alper Solak said preparations went well and confirmed that the squad finished its camp program.
He said the team aims to win a medal. He also noted that the group includes strong opponents. Solak stated that the first goal involves remaining in the group. The second goal involves earning a medal on home ice. He invited supporters to attend matches and support the team.
Defender Tan Nisan Goksal shared confidence ahead of the tournament. She said she believes the team will become come first and secure a medal. She added that wearing the national jersey brings a feeling that words cannot describe and called on fans to support the team at the rink.
Forward Dolunay Beren Erbakan said the squad trained well and feels ready for matches. She stated that the team shares strong unity and aims to win a medal at the championship. She added that wearing the national jersey brings pride.
Another forward Melis Arslan said the team will fight for the championship and wants to win gold. She said seeing the Turkish flag at the top brings pride and promised that the players will give their best effort.
Türkiye women's youth ice hockey continues to record historic results in recent years.
The Turkish Ice Hockey Federation highlighted that the under-18 women's team won gold at last season's World Championship and earned promotion to a higher classification. The federation described that victory as a major step for Turkish ice hockey history.
An earlier milestone also stands in the national program record. In 2020, the Young Women's National Ice Hockey Team won a silver medal at a tournament in Mexico. That result delivered the first medal in that category in Turkish ice hockey history.
Federation president Halit Albayrak said at the time that the team remained new in the category and that the medal marked a first in the program's history. He stated that the federation aimed to prepare the future senior national team and thanked coaches, players, clubs, and families for their efforts.
The current under-18 squad now competes on home ice with medal ambitions once again. Matches continue every evening through January 25 at Zeytinburnu Buz Adasi in Istanbul.
National athletes will compete in the U20 World Ice Hockey Championship 3rd Division Group A matches starting tomorrow in Bulgaria.
According to the Turkish Ice Hockey Federation, the tournament takes place at the Winter Sports Palace in the capital Sofia and runs until Sunday, January 25.
Türkiye will face Thailand, Belgium, Bulgaria, Taiwan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the competition.
Match schedule
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