New Zealand men's national ice hockey team

Lore & Background

The 2016 documentary film 'Ice Blacks' covers the team's history, their rivalry with Australia, and their difficulties competing internationally due to New Zealand's geographic distance from traditional ice hockey playing countries. New Zealand has competed in Division II World Championships since 2001. From 2007 to 2011, the team was coached by Jeff Bonazzo; in his final year at the 2011 Division II World Championships, New Zealand won three games and lost two, finishing second in their group behind host nation and rival Australia, missing promotion to Division I.

New Zealand has hosted several IIHF World Championship tournaments. In 2003, they hosted Division III in Auckland, finishing first to capture their first gold medal and earn promotion to Division II. In 2006, they hosted Division II Group B in Auckland but finished last and were relegated to Division III. In 2009, they hosted Division III in Dunedin, winning all five games to capture their third gold medal and return to Division II. In 2017, they hosted Division II Group B in Auckland, finishing second behind China for their fourth silver medal. In 2025, they hosted Division II Group B in Dunedin.

Reader's Guide

The New Zealand men's national ice hockey team, known as the Ice Blacks, has a history marked by periodic success in lower-tier IIHF World Championships, particularly in Division III where they have won three gold medals (2003, 2007, 2009). Their rivalry with Australia is a central theme, as noted in the 2016 documentary 'Ice Blacks', and the team has often competed against Australia for promotion. The team's geographic isolation from traditional hockey nations is a recurring challenge. New Zealand has hosted multiple World Championship tournaments in Auckland and Dunedin, demonstrating a commitment to developing the sport domestically. The team's performance has fluctuated between Division II and Division III, with several second-place finishes in Division II Group B (2017, 2018, 2024, 2026) but no promotion to Division I. The COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellations in 2020 and 2021, and a withdrawal in 2022. The Ice Blacks' nickname ties them to the broader All Blacks branding in New Zealand sports.

Did You Know?

• The team's official nickname is the Ice Blacks, related to the All Blacks.
• New Zealand won its first gold medal at the 2003 IIHF World Championship Division III in Auckland.
• The 2016 documentary 'Ice Blacks' covers the team's history and rivalry with Australia.
• New Zealand hosted the 2025 IIHF World Championship Division II Group B in Dunedin.

The Rollercoaster of World Championship Play

Israel's journey through the IIHF World Championship structure has been defined by dramatic swings between divisions. The team's single greatest milestone came in 2005, when it claimed the Division II Group B title and earned promotion to Division I for the first and only time in its history. That elevation lasted just one season before Israel was sent back down. The decline continued, with a drop to Division III in 2010, but the squad responded with a dominant 2011 campaign in Division III Group B, winning all five matches by a combined margin of 57-9 to secure a return to Division II. The team then held its ground in Bulgaria in 2012. The crowning moment arrived in 2019 in Mexico City, where Israel captured the Division II Group B gold medal—its first gold in any hockey championship—earning a berth in Division 2A. As of mid-2025, the IIHF ranked Israel 31st globally, while the specialist site AsianIceHockey.com placed it eighth in its own standings.

Eliezer Sherbatov: A One-Man Revolution

Few players have shaped a national program as profoundly as Eliezer Sherbatov. At just 13 years old, he stunned the hockey world by stepping onto the ice at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III in Bulgaria, becoming the youngest competitor in the history of an under-18 world championship. In that tournament he tallied nine points across five games as Israel collected a bronze medal, the nation's first in a hockey championship event. His impact only grew: in 2011 he swept the individual statistical categories—points, goals, assists, and plus-minus—amassing 26 points in four games and earning the tournament's best forward honor. From 2015 through 2020 he carried the captain's armband. At the 2019 gold-medal tournament in Mexico City, he again claimed best forward, led in goals, and finished as top scorer with 15 points. Off the ice, he made history as the first Israeli to suit up in the KHL.

Four Olympic Dreams, Four Heartbreaks

Israel has attempted Olympic qualification on four separate occasions, and each effort ended in disappointment. The first try in 1996 for the 1998 Games was marred by controversy: after a 10-2 loss to Greece in Metula, the Greek side was found to have used ineligible players, forcing a rematch against Yugoslavia in Kaunas. Israel lost 5-3 but was itself disqualified over the use of ineligible Russian players, with both forfeited results recorded as 5-0. The 2012 campaign for the 2014 Olympics saw Israel enter as the lowest-ranked qualifier at 40th place, drawing Croatia, Serbia, and Mexico in a Zagreb round-robin where they lost every match. In 2015, targeting the 2018 Games, the team beat Bulgaria in Tallinn but fell to Estonia and Mexico, failing to advance past the first preliminary round. The most recent push in 2019 for the 2022 Olympics marked progress—Israel was ranked high enough to skip the first round—but in Brașov they lost to Romania and Iceland, salvaging only an overtime victory over Kyrgyzstan.

A Roster of International Caliber

Beyond the national ice, Israel's hockey talent has left marks across several professional and junior leagues. Maxim Birbraer stands as the only Israeli ever selected in an NHL draft, a distinction that underscores the program's occasional connection to the sport's highest level. The Eizenman brothers each carved out professional careers: Alon earned induction into the ACHA Hall of Fame, while Oren logged four seasons in the American Hockey League. David Levin captured the OHL's Jack Ferguson Award, recognizing him as the league's top player, and Nikita Lukin lifted the KHL's Gagarin Cup with his club in 2013. Eliezer Sherbatov, already a household name domestically, became the first Israeli to play in the KHL. Together, these athletes illustrate that Israel's hockey identity extends well beyond its modest national team, with players finding success in North American minor leagues, European top-flight competition, and elite junior circuits. The 2026 IIHF World Championship roster continues this tradition of blending local talent with internationally experienced players.