Great Britain have named their squad ahead of next month’s IIHF European Cup of Nations in Sosnowiec, Poland.
A total of 12 players are in line for their international debut having been named in Pete Russell’s squad for the first time.
GB will face hosts Poland, along with Italy and Slovenia during the four-team tournament, which runs from November 6-8.
Of the 12 uncapped players, seven currently ply their trade in the Planet Ice NIHL National League.
Netminder Renny Marr, defencemen Kell Beattie, Kris Inglis, Reece Kelly and Liam Steele are set to be part of GB matchday roster for the first time, along with forwards Mason Alderson, Bayley Harewood, Jack Hopkins, Patrick Larkin, Sam Lyne, Jonathan McBean and Kyle Watson.
‘An important moment for GB’
Ice Hockey UK CEO Henry Staelens, said: “This is an important moment for GB. All the players receiving their first call-up fully deserve this opportunity and we are proud of each and every one of them for the work they’ve put in to get here.
“We have a brilliant core of players that have achieved significant successes for Great Britain over the past few years.
“Now we must work to find the future stars that are able to complement that group, especially as we work towards 2030 Olympic qualifying.
“Thank you to the Elite League and National League for the collaboration during selection.”
Grant King, IHUK COO & interim performance director, said: “This squad blends exciting young players with core experience and every selection has been earned.
“The IIHF European Cup of Nations will give them high-quality minutes, the chance to show their talent and a pathway to compete for places at next year’s World Championship in Zurich and beyond.”
Head coach Pete Russell said: “This is an exciting moment for the young players who will make their GB debuts at this tournament.
“We are taking a handful of senior players to this tournament and they will be important in the development of the young players.
“These young players are our future and this is a great opportunity for them to experience ice hockey on the international stage.”
Journey to IIHF World Championship begins
Next month’s IIHF European Cup of Nations campaign marks the first stage of preparations for Great Britain ahead of the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
In February 2026, the UK will host the second leg of the same tournament in Edinburgh, welcoming Poland, Slovenia, and Ukraine to Murrayfield Ice Rink.
As explained in a recent column, that in itself is already a marked improvement from 2024, when GB played just three exhibition games before facing the world’s heavyweights in Prague.
But they’re not stopping there.
In the fortnight before the World Championship, GB will face Italy in a four-game series — two games at home, two in Varese.
Under the leadership of new Ice Hockey UK CEO Staelens — a figure who cut his teeth in football with Forest Green Rovers — there has been a clear cultural shift in how the organisation operates.
And pre-tournament programming is just one area where his impact is clear to see.
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