Pete Russell has named a 32-player training camp roster as Team Great Britain open their preparations for the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Kieran Brown and Sean Norris have been selected by the senior national team for the first time, adding to the squad that dominated the Euro Hockey Challenge in February.
Team GB will take a 22-player squad to the World Championship, which starts later this month in Nottingham, as they target an immediate return to the premier division.
“We feel we have selected a quality group if players for training camp,” explained Russell. “Cutting players from this roster is going to be tough for the coaching staff, but that’s a great position to be in.”
Team GB will take on old foes Latvia and Hungary in pre-tournament exhibitions, with Russell expected to finalise his roster for the Division I, Group A World Championship in the final week of April.
“The four games will be vital in our preparations for the World Championship and it’s fantastic to be hosting such a prestigious tournament on home ice,” he added.
Team Great Britain: 2023 World Championship Training Camp Roster
Netminders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils), Jordan Hedley (MK Lightning), Jackson Whistle (Belfast Giants)
Ben Bowns, Cardiff Devils (Image: James Assinder)
Defenceman: Josh Batch, Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), David Clements, Nathanael Halbert (Coventry Blaze), Sam Jones, Evan Mosey, David Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Ben O’Connor (Guildford Flames), Sam Ruopp (Belfast Giants), Josh Tetlow (Roki, FIN)
Forwards: Cam Critchlow (Manchester Storm), Johnny Curran, Ross Venus (Coventry Blaze), Ben Davies, Sam Duggan, Josh Waller (Cardiff Devils), Robert Down, Jonathan Phillips, Brandon Whistle (Sheffield Steelers), Mike Hammond, Matthew Myers (Nottingham Panthers), Robert Lachowicz (Guildford Flames), Ben Lake (Belfast Giants), Kieran Brown (Leeds Knights), Sean Norris (MK Lightning), Ollie Betteridge (Ferencvarosi, HUN), Liam Kirk (Jukurit, FIN), Brett Perlini (Herning, DEN), Cade Neilson (Alaska Fairbanks)
Analysis: Kieran Brown receives Team Great Britain 2023 World Championship training camp invitation
Leeds Knights forward Kieran Brown has toyed with the National League all season, recording an absurd tally of 121 points (57 goals, 64 assists) in 56 appearances.
The 22-year-old now has the chance to measure himself against seasoned professionals from the Elite League – which could reveal some difficult home truths about the top division.
If Brown excels with the national team as many expect, it will pose awkward questions about the Elite League and its reluctance to platform homegrown talent.
In other words, the Bradford-born marksman is set to become the yardstick in the latest development league debate.
Another important question – is the national team poised for a netminder controversy?
Jackson Whistle outduelled Ben Bowns for large portions of the season and could challenge the Cardiff Devils goalie for the number one jersey.
And what about Liam Kirk?
The former seventh round pick of the Arizona Coyotes hasn’t played competitive hockey for over a month and will have to rediscover game fitness during training camp.
In short, Team GB have a massive month ahead and plenty of questions to answer before puck drop at the World Championship.
