Finland edges hosts to take C-Pool title in Bangkok

Top-seeded Finland defeated host nation Thailand, 1-0, to win gold at the World Para Ice Hockey Championships C-Pool in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday (30 November). With the victory, Finland will advance to the B-Pool for next season and keep its dream of qualifying for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games alive.

Finland’s close victory came only three days after losing to Thailand, 2-0, in the round-robin portion of the tournament, as it halted the host nation’s undefeated streak on its home ice. The gold-medal contest was played in front of Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana of Thailand.

Following a scoreless first two periods in the gold-medal game, Markku Hirvela found the net unassisted 11 seconds into the final frame for what would be the game-winning goal and his second score of the tournament. It was the first goal allowed by Thailand all tournament, coming in the final 15 minutes of play.

Timo Karko recorded the shutout between the pipes with 17 saves for Finland, while Bunchauy Phanoot had five saves for Thailand.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to go back to the B-Pool. We will stay there forever or go to the A-Pool next. I’ll now rest for two weeks and then go back to the gym to start training again as we aim for the A-Pool, said Finnish goal scorer Markku Hirvela.

Forward Tuomo Niskanen (7 goals, 6 assists) and defenseman Nemo Pajula (5 goals, 8 assists) finished the tournament as the leading scorers for Finland with 13 points apiece, as Finland outscored its opponents 33-3. It marked the third time Finland won a medal at the C-Pool Worlds, having taken silver in 2018 and 2016.

Finland swept all three Best Player Directorate awards at the event, as Karko was named Best Goaltender, Pajula was named Best Defenseman and Aaron Hanninen was named Best Forward.

Thailand’s Mathee Yenkuan (11 goals, 11 assists) and Tawatchai Saennai (12 goals, 4 assists) finished as the tournament’s top-two point getters with 22 points and 16 points, respectively, as the host nation outscored its opponents 40-1. 

The stage is set for the C-Pool gold medal showdown!

🏆 Thailand 🇹🇭 vs. Finland 🇫🇮

Adding to the excitement, Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana is in attendance to cheer on the Thai team! 👑✨

Who will take home the gold?

🔴 LIVE: https://t.co/BZFy7pTC3p pic.twitter.com/Ach6D7hOVD

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) November 30, 2024

Earlier in the day on Saturday, Austria beat Australia, 9-0, to claim bronze, with goals from five different skaters, including four from Kai Habeler who earned Best Player of the Game honours. Habeler opened the scoring barrage on a power play 2:46 into the contest, and the rest proved to be insurance for the Austrians. 

Michael Ladstaetter recorded the shutout for Austria, which won two of its four games in Thailand, while Darren Peacock had 24 saves for Australia. 

Timo Ropp (5 goals, 9 assists) — voted overall Most Valuable Player at the event by the media — and Habeler (9 goals, 4 assists) led Austria with 14 and 13 points, respectively, at the tournament as the team continued to try to bounce back after having won the inaugural C-Pool Worlds in 2016. 

“It was quite the tournament for us,” said Austrian assistant coach Gee Goll. “We still need to work on a few things and come back better next time on a couple of things. We need to be a bit quicker with stick handling and focus more on scoring and passing during game play.”

The tournament, hosted by the Sport Association for the Disabled of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (SPADT), took place at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena.

List of World Championships C-Pool winners

Novi Sad 2016: Austria

Vierumaki 2018: China

Bangkok 2022: Great Britain

Bangkok 2024: Finland

Complete stats and results of the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championships C-Pool can be found here.