Pearson: Team spirit is fantastic

Defenceman Suzi Pearson says fantastic team spirit in the camp is already evident as Great Britain Women undergo their final preparations ahead of the World Championship, which gets under way on Tuesday.

GB, who arrived in Dumfries on Saturday evening, faced Solway Sharks U20s this afternoon in the U20s Cup.

Katie Marsden and Saffron Allen scored GB’s goals in a battling 7-2 defeat, while Nicole Jackson and Sam Bolwell shared netminding duties.

GB begin their World Championship Division II Group A campaign at the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Tuesday against Australia (8pm).

Pearson will make her full GB Women’s debut in the game after being capped 14 times at junior level.

“The game against Solway was very important,” Pearson said. “It was good to prepare our systems.

“I am very excited. We have a great group of girls and we all get on so well. It is fun but we are working so hard at the same time.”

GB begin the six-team tournament on Tuesday against Australia and then play Slovenia Women on 4th April.

Mexico Women are the opponents on 5th April before they go head to head with Spain Women on 7th April.

Cheryl Smith’s side will round off their fixtures against DPR Korea Women on 8th April.

“Home support is huge,” added Pearson. “It will be very useful and hopefully a lot of people will be out here to cheer us on.”

All of GB’s games are being shown live on free-to-air television by FreeSports.

FreeSports is available free on Sky Channel 422, Virgin Media Channel 553, on Channel 64 on Freeview and BT and on Freesat Channel 252.

Photo credit: Karl Denham