It’s been a golden Christmas holiday for Vernon Vipers Slovenian defenceman Maks Percic.
The 19-year-old won gold in his home country at the 2024 Ice Hockey U20 World Championship, Division 1 Group B, in Bled, Slovenia, about two hours west of Percic’s hometown of Maribor.
The host Slovenians went undefeated in the tournament, defeating all five opponents to secure a spot in the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division 1 Group A tournament. Slovenia clinched its spot with a 5-3 win over Ukraine, who settled for the silver medal for the second straight year. Italy won the bronze.
Goalie Hlib Artsatbanov of the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs was in goal for Ukraine. He finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Percic had five assists in five games. With Vernon, he has contributed a goal and seven helpers in 22 BCHL games.
Slovenia also scored wins over Croatia (7-0), Poland (3-0), Estonia (5-2), and Italy (5-1). The tournament was played Dec. 11-17.
The World Junior Hockey Championships begin Sunday, Boxing Day, in Gothenburg, Sweden, and three current and one former B.C. Hockey League players will take part.
Former Victoria Grizzlies forward Matthew Wood will play for defending champion Team Canada. He’s currently with the University of Connecticut Huskies. Wood led the BCHL in scoring in 2021-22 with 85 points in 46 games.
Richard Baran of the Grizzlies will suit up for Slovakia. Johannes Løkkeberg of the West Kelowna Warriors will play for Norway and Simon Meier of the Penticton Vees is playing for Switzerland.
A pair of BCHL players were involved in the Division 1 Group A in Budapest Hungary. Goalie Vladimir Nikitin of the Chilliwack Chiefs helped Kazakhstan win gold and promotion to the World Junior tournament in 2025.
Nikitin had the tournament’s best goals against average (1.48) and best save percentage (.944). He was named the event’s top goalie and top player for Kazakhstand.
Kazumo Sasaki of the Prince George Spruce Kings scored one goal in five games for Japan, which went 0-1-4.
• The Vipers return to league play following the Christmas break with a pair of home games at Kal Tire Place. Vernon kicks off the four-game homestand against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m., and will entertain the Penticton Vees in a Sunday matinee Dec. 31. Game time is 2 p.m.
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