Luxembourg Defeated 14-0 by Group Leaders Uzbekistan

17th April 2026

HONG KONG — The Luxembourg Senior National Team faced the undefeated group leaders, Uzbekistan, on Friday, concluding with a 14-0 loss.

Uzbekistan, a nation rebuilding its hockey program with professional-level talent, has dominated the division throughout the week with high-scoring margins. Despite the one-sided scoreline, Luxembourg managed to become the first team to hold the Uzbeks under 20 goals.
Joaquim Nunes was chosen as MVP of the team Luxembourg. Also goaltender Jesse Miquel saw a high volume of action in the net for Luxembourg, playing the full game and facing a total of 54 shots.

Coach Esipov's Post-Game Comments
Head Coach Esipov provided a realistic assessment of the mismatch following the game, noting the developmental gap between the two rosters and the sportsmanship shown on the ice.
"We have to understand that we played against a team that should and will compete two or even three divisions higher," Esipov explained. "Huge respect to Uzbekistan, they understood they were playing against amateurs, allowed us to play, didn’t hit our players, and didn’t try to run up the score, even though they could have scored 30+ goals if they wanted."

Esipov also highlighted the team's effort to stick to their defensive structure despite the difficult circumstances.
"Our guys did a great job and followed the game plan for almost two and a half periods. What really stands out is the character of this team; they play until the very end. I believe the players learned a lot from the way Uzbekistan plays, something that unfortunately we don’t see enough of in France or Belgium where we usually play."

Other action on Friday
North Korea vs. Mongolia: Mongolia kept the game close but ultimately lost to North Korea, 8-6.
Hong Kong vs. Philippines: The host nation, Hong Kong, defeated the Philippines 8-3.

Standings and Final Game
Following Friday's results, Luxembourg is in 4th place in the group standings with 6 points.
The Lions will play their final game of the championship against North Korea. While a bronze medal is still mathematically possible, it would require a significant, high-scoring victory over the North Koreans to overcome the current goal differentials.