Great Britain’s ice hockey teams know their destinations when the IIHF World Championships return next year.
The coronavirus pandemic called a halt to most of the tournaments due to take place in 2020, but a first ever virtual IIHF Congress announced where each of the national teams will play next season.
Last month, it was announced that GB Men would face hosts Belarus, as well as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, at the 2021 top-flight World Championship – and the date of the tournament was officially confirmed today as 21st May to 6th June 2021.
Ice Hockey UK and Dumfries and Galloway Council won the bid to host the four-team Under-18 Women’s Division II Group A tournament, which will be held in Dumfries Ice Bowl in January next year.
GB Women will play their World Championship tournament in Spain, the original host nation for this year’s cancelled tournament.
In addition, GB Women will begin their bid to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in a qualifying tournament Korea next year. In February 2021, they will face hosts Korea, Slovenia and a qualifier from the previous round.
Ben Davies and GB Men’s team are looking ahead to Minsk next year (PHOTO: Dean Woolley)
GB U20s will travel to Romania next year for their World Championship tournament, while GB U18s are off to Estonia who were due to hold this year’s cancelled event.
Please note that all tournaments are subject to government restrictions being lifted in the various countries.
Full group details are below
GB Women – Division II Group A
Venue: Jaca, Spain. Dates: TBC
Teams: Latvia, Great Britain, Spain, Mexico, DPR Korea, Chinese Taipei
GB Under-20s Men – Division II Group A
Venue: Brasov, Romania. Dates: TBC
Teams: Italy, Great Britain, Lithuania, Romania, Spain, Korea
GB Under-18s Men – Division II Group A
Venue: Tallinn, Estonia. Dates: TBC
Teams: Great Britain, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Korea, Serbia
GB Under-18s Women – Division II Group A
Venue: Dumfries, Great Britain. Dates: 19th-22nd January 2021
Teams: Great Britain, Netherlands, Australia, Spain
