Great Britain have named a 28-man squad for a training camp and two matches against Poland ahead of this year’s World Championship (Division 1B) tournament in Belfast.
GB will play games against Poland at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on Friday 14th April (7.30pm) and at Coventry’s Skydome the following day (1.00pm).
The squad will be cut to 23 ahead of the tournament, where GB will face Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Japan from 23rd to 29th April.
Head Coach Pete Russell said: “We are delighted with our final 28 players.
This was the toughest group to select, but the coaches feel we have picked the right balance and the right group. There was so much competition across the board.
“From the Norway games we felt some guys really put themselves into the picture and that was a positive outcome.
“We have a good balance of offense and defense. I think it’s the strongest team we have selected in the two years we have been involved as coaches.
“We have been challenged to win a gold medal by the association and to do it on home soil.
“It’s going to be a wonderful experience and we need everyone behind the whole group. Let’s all pull together, be positive and believe this is our year.”
Netminders
Ben Bowns – Cardiff Devils
Stephen Murphy – Belfast Giants
Jackson Whistle – Belfast Giants
Defence
Josh Batch – Cardiff Devils
Mark Garside – Belfast Giants
Steve Lee – Nottingham Panthers
Ben O’Connor – Sheffield Steelers
David Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Mark Richardson – Cardiff Devils
Zach Sullivan – Braehead Clan
Paul Swindlehurst – Manchester Storm
Jonathan Weaver – Telford Tigers
Forwards
Brendan Brooks – Fife Flyers
David Clarke – Nottingham Panthers
Russell Cowley – Coventry Blaze
Robert Dowd – Sheffield Steelers
Sam Duggan – Orebro (Sweden)
Robert Farmer – Nottingham Panthers
Luke Ferrara – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Lachowicz – Nottingham Panthers
Evan Mosey – Rockford Ice Hogs (USA)
Matthew Myers – Cardiff Devils
Craig Peacock – Braehead Clan
Jonathan Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Jack Prince – Manchester Storm
Colin Shields – Belfast Giants
Liam Stewart – Coventry Blaze
Ross Venus – Coventry Blaze
To buy tickets for GB against Poland in Nottingham please click here and for the game in Coventry please click here.
Alternatively you can visit the respective box offices in person or telephone 0843 373 3000 (Nottingham) or 02476 630693 (Coventry).
(Image permission: Karl Denham)
