Israel barely avoided relegation to the lowest depths of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) rankings thanks to a single win at a World Championship Division II tournament recently.

Israel opened the tournament in Novi Sad, Serbia, with a 2-1 victory over North Korea, but after that, it was all downhill. Estonia clobbered the Israelis 16-2, the host Serbs spanked them 12-1, China defeated them 5-1 and Israel even succumbed to Iceland 4-3 in the final game of the round robin event.

It’s a far cry from the team’s glory days in 2005 when the team was first in Division II and moved up to Division I the next year, competing against France, England and Germany.

But that team was led by the Eizenman brothers – Oren, who is now with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL; Alon, who played professionally in France, and Erez, another talented player.

None of them were available this year. Neither was Kazakhstan-born Max Birbraer, a former draft choice of the New Jersey Devils who has also added offensive punch to the Israelis.

Sergei Frankel was named top Israeli player in Novi Sad. The 25-year-old, who plays for Bat Yam, had four goals in five games. Defenceman Daniel Spivak was next with one goal and two assists.

Other returning Israeli included Shlomo Levy, Daniel Bochner, Ron Soreanu and Ely Oosterhuis.