The Australian U20 ice hockey team has retained its Division 2 position in world junior hockey after a 6-0 shutout win against archrivals New Zealand in the 2006 World Championships.

Thomas Powell from Ice Hockey Victoria scored three goals and was voted Australia’s MVP for the Championship. Brenton Cooney was in net for the win.

The team finished in fifth place in the Division 2 Group A pool. As well as the win over New Zealand, the team lost narrowly 6-7 to Spain, but went down to the Netherlands, Romania and Great Britain.

Australia entered the 2006 Championships with its youngest team since seriously entering junior participation in 2000 at D-Pool level in Mexico City.

The team was promoted to Division II in 2004 after a gold medal 6 - 3 win over Championship favourite China.

The 2007 team will have fourteen returning players eligible for selection next year, laying the foundations for ongoing progress up the world rankings.