Team GB, with a new year to look forward to, will be making it a priority to bounce back from this disappointment of their showing at the 2022 Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships.
Having finished rock-bottom of their eight-nation table following seven defeats on the spin in Finland last May, Team GB were relegated to Division 1 Group A.
However, their demise from the elite teams has resulted in playing host for one of the most prestigious international ice hockey events ever to be held on home ice in the UK, the 2023 IIHF WMIA at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.
Team GB will face-off against Italy, Lithuania, Korea, Poland and Romania in the 2023 IIHF WMIA in April and May. The ultimate prize awaits the top two nations, with promotion to the lucrative 2024 Ice Hockey World Championships in Czechia.
Team GB found last year’s tournament, where they were constantly beaten inside Tampere’s brand new Nokia Arena, too hot to handle.
With Belarus and Russia suspended from competing, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Austria and France were thrown into the mix. The Austrians registered their first-ever victory over eventual bronze medallists Czechia, and Denmark caused an equally stunning result to beat Canada.
There were no shocks for out-of-sorts Team GB, who suffered defeats to Austria, Czechia, future champions Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and the US.
Now Team GB have the opportunity to set the record straight in front of home supporters for the tournament. They will battle it out in a round-robin format in a bid to swiftly return to the top division.
2023 IIHF World Championship Division I Group A schedule
- 29 April
Italy v Romania
Korea v Great Britain
Lithuania v Poland
- 30 April
Italy v Romania
Korea v Great Britain
Lithuania v Poland
- 2 May
Italy v Poland
Korea v Romania
Great Britain v Lithuania
- 3 May
Great Britain v Romania
Korea v Poland
Lithuania v Italy
- 5 May
Italy v Great Britain
Lithuania v Korea
Poland v Romania
Great Britain has struggled both on and off the ice for some considerable time, meaning that the sport has now become a major player with the lucrative television deals.
Despite winning the 1936 Olympic Gold in Berlin, Germany, and toying with some credible results in the 1950s and 1960s, the popularity of the sport has not attracted the numbers expected. Which probably accounts for Team GB languishing outside the elite nations.
The Elite Ice Hockey League, formed in 2003 following the breakdown of the Ice Hockey Superleague, featuring teams from across the UK and Ireland has put the Brits back on the map. The Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers are top clubs, who often attracted overseas stars.
Team GB will feel that they are the favourites, despite being ranked world no.18, based on past history and home-ice advantage.
Scottish-born coach Peter Russell divides his time between overseeing Team GB and coaching the German outfit Augsburger Panther.
His skills as a former goaltender should greatly come to Team GB’s rescue as the tournament is likely to boil down to transitional offense and alert goaltending.
Italy, ranked only one place above Team GB, are the pick of the teams alongside the hosts pre-tournament. Their superior ranking doesn’t guarantee success, as they will need to be on their toes when the event begins.
There are ever-changing odds as to who will win matches from bookmakers who have online casinos, with free spins no deposit in the UK proving popular.
There’s very little between the others with fans who fancy a flutter given a tough time to distinguish between Lithuania (ranked no.23), Korea (no.21), Poland (no.22) and Romania (no.24) until the first matches have been played in Nottingham.
