"Captain Jade" Chayapol Jaratsakorn scored the decisive overtime goal for a 4-3 victory, leading Thailand’s U18 ice hockey team to the Division III Group B world championship and promotion to Division III Group A next year. Meanwhile, Theethatthan Luangon was named best forward, and Kingston Jue Jun Pan earned the best goaltender award.
The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division III Group B was held in Bosnia. Six teams competed: Thailand, Bosnia, Turkmenistan, Iceland, Luxembourg, and South Africa. The preliminary round was divided into two groups of three teams each. Thailand was placed in Group B with Turkmenistan and Luxembourg, while Group A included Bosnia, Iceland, and South Africa.
The tournament format differed from the usual, as teams in the same group did not face each other in the preliminary round. Instead, they played against teams from the other group, with rankings determined within their own groups. The top two teams from each group advanced to the second round to compete for a spot in the final, while the third-placed teams played two matches to decide fifth place.
Thailand performed strongly in Group B’s preliminary round, winning all three matches against Group A teams: a 12-3 rout of host Bosnia, a 4-2 victory over South Africa, and a 4-2 win against Iceland, finishing first in Group B. In the second round, Thailand convincingly defeated Turkmenistan, Group B’s second-place team, 14-0, advancing to the final against Iceland, who had beaten Bosnia 8-2.
Confidence was high for the Thai team entering the final, having won all previous games and already beaten Iceland in the preliminaries. The final was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging possession and attacks. Iceland took an early 1-0 lead in the 3rd minute, but Thailand equalized at 1-1 in the 18th minute through Chayapol Jaratsakorn. Iceland regained the lead 2-1 in the second period.
Early in the third period, Theethatthan Luangon tied the game 2-2 after just two minutes. At the 47th minute, Thai fans cheered as Chayapol Jaratsakorn put Thailand ahead 3-2. However, Iceland equalized 3-3 ten minutes later, sending the match into a 5-minute overtime. In overtime, Thailand’s fighting spirit prevailed; Chayapol Jaratsakorn intercepted the puck and scored the winning goal in the final minute, securing a 4-3 victory and the Division III Group B world championship. Theethatthan Luangon earned the tournament’s best forward award with 8 goals and 8 assists, while goalkeeper Kingston Jue Jun Pan was named best goaltender. Chayapol Jaratsakorn, who scored three goals in the final, was voted Thailand’s most valuable player by his teammates.
The championship-winning U18 roster includes Panwat Sriprachittichai, Anakin Wasitthitanon, Kingston Jue Jun Pan, Theethatthan Luangon, Theethonthan Luangon, Thitthawin Piriyapinyoh, Wipaspong Sriprachittichai, Kiatrat Pawattjirachot, Woraprach Watthanaphraya, Thamthorn Jroongruangkit, Teerthawat Patramatsakun, Chayapol Jaratsakorn, Thanadon Sakchaicharoenkul, Siradon Siriphrananon, Poon Jarusakulareekul, Papangkorn Nakdee, Thanaprasert Sinsirithap, Thaphat Mongkolrattanachat, and Theeranon Ajharn. The team was led by Mr. Kritsada Kasemsan, president of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, with coach Tevin Chatsuwan as head coach.