View source for 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I

{{Infobox International Ice Hockey Competition
| tourney_name   = IIHF World U18 Championship Division I
| year           = 2003
| other_titles   = 
| image          = 
| size           = 
| caption        = 
| country        = Latvia
| country2       = France
| dates          = 22–28 March 2003<br />23–29 March 2003
| num_teams      = 12
| venues         = 
| cities         = 
| winners_other  = 
| count          = 
| second_other   = 
| third_other    = 
| games          = 
| goals          = 
| attendance     = 
| scoring_leader = 
| prevseason     = [[2002 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I|2002]]
| nextseason     = [[2004 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I|2004]]
}}

The '''2003 IIHF World U18 Championship Division I''' was a pair of international under-18 ice hockey tournaments run by the [[International Ice Hockey Federation]]. The Division I tournaments made up the second level of competition at the [[2003 IIHF World U18 Championships]]. The Group A tournament took place between 23 and 29 March 2003 in [[Ventspils]], Latvia and the Group B tournament took place between 22 and 28 March 2003 in [[Briançon]], France. [[Denmark]] and [[Norway]] won the Group A and Group B tournaments respectively and gained promotion to the Championship Division for the [[2004 IIHF World U18 Championships]]. While [[Great Britain]] finished last in Group A and [[Ukraine]] last in Group B and were both relegated to Division II for 2004.

==Group A tournament==
The Group A tournament began on 23 March 2003 in [[Ventspils]], Latvia.<ref name="2003U18D1A">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/tournaments/W18IA.htm | title=2003 IIHF World U18 Championship Div I,Group A | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Denmark]], [[Japan]], [[Latvia]] and [[Slovenia]] all returned to compete in this year's Division I tournament after missing promotion to the Championship Division at the previous years World Championship. [[Great Britain]] gained promotion to Division I after finishing third in last years Division II tournament and [[Germany]] was relegated from the Championship Division after failing to survive the relegation round at the [[2002 IIHF World U18 Championships]].<ref name="IIHE19042005">{{cite book |title=International Ice Hockey Encyclopaedia 1904–2005 |last=Müller |first=Stephan |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=Books on Demand |location=Germany |isbn=3-8334-4189-5 |page= |pages=308–326 |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> Denmark won the tournament after finishing first in the group standings and gained promotion to the Championship Division for the [[2004 IIHF World U18 Championships]].<ref name="1ARANKING">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000002.htm | title=Final Ranking | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Germany finished second losing only to Denmark and Slovenia finished in third place.<ref name="1AGAMES">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm | title=Games & Standings | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Great Britain finished in last place after losing all five of their games and were relegated back to Division II for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref name="1ARANKING"/> Martin Nielsen of Denmark finished as the top scorer of the tournament with eleven points including four goals and seven assists.<ref name="1ASCORER">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/playerstat/pg000003.htm | title=Scoring Leaders | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Japan's Kaku Asari finished the tournament as the leading goaltender based on save percentage.<ref name="1AGOALIES">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/playerstat/pg000020.htm | title=Leading Goaltenders (SVS%) | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref>

===Standings===
{| class="infobox bordered"
|-
|width=20px bgcolor="#ccffcc"| ||Promoted to the Championship Division for 2004
|-
|width=20px bgcolor="#ffccff"| ||Relegated to Division II for 2004
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=40|{{Tooltip|Rk|Ranking}}
!width=180|Team
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|W|Wins}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|T|Ties}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|L|Losses}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GDF|Goal difference}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|PTS|Points}}
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|1 ||align="left"| {{ih18|DEN}} || 5 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 31 || 12 || +19 || '''9'''
|-
|2 ||align="left"| {{ih18|GER}} || 5 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 34 || 8 || +26 || '''8'''
|-
|3 ||align="left"| {{ih18|SLO}} || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2 || 24 || 27 || –3 || '''6'''
|-
|4 ||align="left"| {{ih18|LAT}} || 5 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 14 || 15 || –1 || '''4'''
|-
|5 ||align="left"| {{ih18|JPN}} || 5 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 15 || 19 || –4 || '''3'''
|- style="background:#ffccff;"
|6 ||align="left"| {{ih18|GBR}} || 5 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 8 || 45 || –37 || '''0'''
|}

===Fixtures===
<small>All times local.</small>
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 23 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|DEN}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|SLO}}
| score       = 10 – 4
| periods     = (6–2, 3–1, 1–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = [[Ventspils]]
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 23 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|LAT}}
| team2       = {{ih18|JPN}}
| score       = 1 – 1
| periods     = (0–1, 0–0, 1–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 1000
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 23 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|GBR}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|GER}}'''
| score       = 0 – 13
| periods     = (0–3, 0–5, 0–5)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 24 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|SLO}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|JPN}}
| score       = 7 – 2
| periods     = (1–1, 5–0, 1–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 24 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|GER}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|DEN}}'''
| score       = 3 – 4
| periods     = (2–1, 1–2, 0–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 24 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|LAT}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|GBR}}
| score       = 6 – 2
| periods     = (1–0, 3–0, 2–2)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 910
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|GBR}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|DEN}}'''
| score       = 2 – 11
| periods     = (1–3, 0–4, 1–4)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|GER}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|JPN}}
| score       = 4 – 1
| periods     = (2–1, 2–0, 0–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|SLO}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|LAT}}
| score       = 6 – 4
| periods     = (0–1, 2–2, 4–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 1000
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 27 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|DEN}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|JPN}}
| score       = 4 – 1
| periods     = (2–0, 2–1, 0–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 398
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 27 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|SLO}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|GBR}}
| score       = 5 – 1
| periods     = (0–0, 3–1, 2–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 27 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|LAT}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|GER}}'''
| score       = 1 – 4
| periods     = (0–1, 1–0, 0–3)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 1000
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 29 March 2003
| time        = 11:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|JPN}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|GBR}}
| score       = 10 – 3
| periods     = (5–0, 1–2, 4–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 29 March 2003
| time        = 14:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|GER}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|SLO}}
| score       = 10 – 2
| periods     = (3–0, 4–1, 3–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 300
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 29 March 2003
| time        = 18:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|LAT}}
| team2       = {{ih18|DEN}}
| score       = 2 – 2
| periods     = (1–1, 1–1, 0–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IA/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Ventspils
| attendance  = 1000
}}

==Group B tournament==
The Group B tournament began on 22 March 2003 in [[Briançon]], France.<ref name="2003U18D1B">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/tournaments/W18IB.htm | title=2003 IIHF World U18 Championship Div I,Group B | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Austria]] and [[Italy]] both returned to compete in this year's Division I tournament after missing promotion to the Championship Division at the previous years World Championship. [[France]] and [[Poland]] gained promotion to Division I after finishing first and second respectively in last years Division II tournament and [[Norway]] and [[Ukraine]] were relegated from the Championship Division after failing to survive the relegation round at the [[2002 IIHF World U18 Championships]].<ref name="IIHE19042005"/> Norway won the tournament after finishing first in the group standings and gained promotion to the Championship Division for the [[2004 IIHF World U18 Championships]].<ref name="1BRANKING">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000002.htm | title=Final Ranking | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Poland finished second after winning three of their games and drawing the fourth and Italy finished in third place.<ref name="1BGAMES">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm | title=Games & Standings | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Ukraine finished in last place after finishing last in the group standings and were relegated to Division II for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref name="1BRANKING"/> Marcin Kolusz of Poland finished as the top scorer of the tournament with seven points including four goals and three assists.<ref name="1BSCORER">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/playerstat/pg000003.htm | title=Scoring Leaders | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref> Poland's Bartosz Stepokura finished the tournament as the leading goaltender based on save percentage.<ref name="1BGOALIES">{{cite web | url=http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/playerstat/pg000020.htm | title=Leading Goaltenders (SVS%) | publisher=[[International Ice Hockey Federation]] | date= | accessdate=2012-02-05 |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl=no}}</ref>

===Standings===
{| class="infobox bordered"
|-
|width=20px bgcolor="#ccffcc"| ||Promoted to the Championship Division for 2004
|-
|width=20px bgcolor="#ffccff"| ||Relegated to Division II for 2004
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=40|{{Tooltip|Rk|Ranking}}
!width=180|Team
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GP|Games played}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|W|Wins}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|T|Ties}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|L|Losses}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|GDF|Goal difference}}
!width=40|{{Tooltip|PTS|Points}}
|- style="background:#ccffcc;"
|1 ||align="left"| {{ih18|NOR}} || 5 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 22 || 13 || +9 || '''9'''
|-
|2 ||align="left"| {{ih18|POL}} || 5 || 3 || 1 || 1 || 11 || 14 || –3 || '''7'''
|-
|3 ||align="left"| {{ih18|ITA}} || 5 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 15 || 13 || +2 || '''5'''
|-
|4 ||align="left"| {{ih18|FRA}} || 5 || 2 || 0 || 3 || 20 || 17 || +3 || '''4'''
|-
|5 ||align="left"| {{ih18|AUT}} || 5 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 15 || 18 || –3 || '''3'''
|- style="background:#ffccff;"
|6 ||align="left"| {{ih18|UKR}} || 5 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 16 || 24 || –8 || '''2'''
|}

===Fixtures===
<small>All times local.</small>
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 22 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|POL}}
| team2       = {{ih18|NOR}}
| score       = 2 – 2
| periods     = (1–1, 1–0, 0–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = [[Briançon]]
| attendance  = 407
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 22 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|ITA}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|UKR}}
| score       = 4 – 0
| periods     = (1–0, 0–0, 3–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 462
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 22 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|FRA}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|AUT}}
| score       = 6 – 4
| periods     = (1–3, 3–1, 2–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 1743
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 22 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|NOR}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|ITA}}
| score       = 5 – 2
| periods     = (0–0, 3–1, 2–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 434
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 23 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|AUT}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|POL}}'''
| score       = 1 – 2
| periods     = (0–1, 0–1, 1–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 326
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 23 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|UKR}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|FRA}}'''
| score       = 1 – 7
| periods     = (1–1, 0–4, 0–2)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 1372
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 25 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|POL}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|ITA}}
| score       = 4 – 3
| periods     = (2–2, 1–0, 1–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 889
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 25 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|UKR}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|AUT}}'''
| score       = 5 – 6
| periods     = (0–1, 2–3, 3–2)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 756
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 25 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|NOR}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|FRA}}
| score       = 4 – 2
| periods     = (2–1, 1–1, 1–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 1707
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|UKR}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|POL}}
| score       = 6 – 0
| periods     = (1–0, 5–0, 0–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 417
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|AUT}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|NOR}}'''
| score       = 3 – 4
| periods     = (1–1, 1–1, 1–2)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 512
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 26 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|ITA}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|FRA}}
| score       = 5 – 3
| periods     = (1–0, 2–0, 2–3)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 1728
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 28 March 2003
| time        = 13:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|AUT}}
| team2       = {{ih18|ITA}}
| score       = 1 – 1
| periods     = (0–0, 1–0, 0–1)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 545
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 28 March 2003
| time        = 16:30
| bg          = #eeffff
| team1       = '''{{ih18-rt|NOR}}'''
| team2       = {{ih18|UKR}}
| score       = 7 – 4
| periods     = (3–1, 3–3, 1–0)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 548
}}
{{IceHockeybox
| date        = 28 March 2003
| time        = 20:00
| team1       = {{ih18-rt|FRA}}
| team2       = '''{{ih18|POL}}'''
| score       = 2 – 3
| periods     = (1–0, 0–0, 1–3)
| reference   = http://www.iihf.com/hockey/x/0203/W18IB/0203/scripts/standings/pg000001.htm
| stadium     = Briançon
| attendance  = 2003
}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.iihf.com/ International Ice Hockey Federation]
[[Category:IIHF World U18 Championships]]
[[Category:2003 in ice hockey]]