Photo: Dean Woolley, Team GB Ice Hockey
From Nottingham to Prague. After a one-year absence, Great Britain is pulling back the curtain on the highest stage, but at the World Cup, it is again wandering with the label of an outsider. In addition, the current generation, which has made the island state among the elite, is aging considerably…
No, a save is definitely not the same for coach Peter Russell’s protégé mission impossible. After all, in 2019 or 2021, the dance on the edge of the abyss reached the desired happy ending. The popularity of hockey across the English Channel is soaring, the British are on the right track.
Another step? At least for a few years to nestle in the top floor again. Just take it – a meeting with Canada, Finland, the Czech Republic or Switzerland… For the representatives there, a big terno.
Only the confrontation with the best will push you a little further. In addition, compared to previous tournaments, the British can now rely on a real star in their center. The rise of ice hockey on the islands is symbolized by Liam Kirk.
Times are changing: legendary winger and long-time captain Jonathan Phillips waved off his professional career last year, another veteran Matthew Myers completed his international journey at the end of March. Together, these two played 230 games at the international level (first and second in history).
Great Britain must build a new core around shooter Kirk.
Hokej.cz tip for the final position: 15th place
The personality of the team – Liam Kirk
Who else? Czech fans devoured him with their eyes all season long and couldn’t stop marveling during the playoffs. In short, Kirk is a master at timing form for a short-term venture. Litvínov scored nine hits in the semi-finals, but after the season he announced a transfer one house away. The all-rounder with incredibly skilled hands still doesn’t give up on his big dream – the NHL. After three years, he can catch the eye of the scouts at the world championship.
Liam Kirk | Photo: Hynek Haruda, hcverva.cz
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Goalkeepers: Again, they will stand on their heads to keep their partners in the match. The position of supreme number one in the British national team belongs to the summer
Ben Bowens
goalkeeper, 33 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/ben-bowns/10096387″>Ben Bowns, but… This year, the coaching staff doesn’t have to be afraid to split the shifts more. Especially with three back-to-backs in mind the match will certainly be watched in the cage as well
Jackson Whistle
goalkeeper, 28 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/jackson-whistle/10096389″>Jackson Whistle. He has made significant progress in Belfast over the last two seasons, he is slowly growing into Bowns’ successor. Behind them will be lessons from a major international event hoard youngster Lucas Brine.
Defenders: Experience and vigorous (almost overseas) style. You won’t find a single newcomer in the defensive ranks, but almost half of the defenders have already celebrated their 35th birthday. He takes the cabin under his wing
Mark Richardson
defender, 37 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/mark-richardson/10096396″>Mark Richardson, the oldest player ever on the British roster. He has been counting international starts since he was young and knows what and how. Don’t panic don’t even expect from
David Phillips
defender, 36 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/david-phillips/10096395″>David Phillips or offensive-minded
Ben O’Connor
defender, 35 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/ben-o-connor/10096394″>Ben O’Connor. All three are well-known from the international scene. Power plays could be directed by Nathanael Halbert, one of the two compatriots in the British back line. Sam Ruopp, the former prospect of Columbus, will come to Prague with the card of the second most points
Josh Batch
defender, 33 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/josh-batch/10100868″>Josh Batch and
Joshua Tetlow
defender, 26 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/joshua-tetlow/10098780″>Joshua Tetlow, both weigh a meter and measure almost 200 cm. You just don’t want to cross paths with them. At the same time, it will be interesting to observe what tasks the implementation team assigns to the universal
Evan Mosey
defender, 35 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/evan-mosey/10096393″>To Evan Mosey. In general, however, there is beauty in simplicity. Don’t lose pucks unnecessarily, don’t lose, solve situations as safely as possible. That’s how it should be to sound the credo of Great Britain.
Attackers: Like this…
Liam Kirk
attacker, 24 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/liam-kirk/10096404″>Liam Kirk and who else? No way, such a description would not be fair to the other members of the attack squadron. But British ambitions grow in proportion to how The Czech Republic has already convinced itself that if it sleeps well, it will be able to break the matches in a favorable direction
Cade Neilson
attacker, 22 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/cade-neilson/10100870″>Cade Neilson, this name is worth underlining twice. The young center from the WC in 2022 is only flourishing, he is gathering spurs in the university NCAA overseas and is profiled as a future national team leader
Robert Dowd
attacker, 35 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/robert-dowd/10096400″>Robert Dowd,
Ben Lake
attacker, 34 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/ben-lake/10096406″>Ben Lake or
Robert Lachowicz
attacker, 34 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/robert-lachowicz/10096405″>Robert Lachowicz can be taken on by anyone. Everyone has already tasted the atmosphere of the World Cup, in the domestic competition they fall into the column of highly above-standard fighters. Well done a season in the third German league will give confidence
Brett Perlini
attacker, 33 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/brett-perlini/10096409″>Brett Perlini, slightly under the radar of the opponents, Johnny Curran could play. Like Neilson, he went through an American university in the past. Calmness pumps up the British offensive small laborer
Ben Davies
attacker, 33 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/ben-davies/10096399″>Ben Davies. He will probably be satisfied with smaller roles
Oliver Betteridge
attacker, 28 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/oliver-betteridge/10096398″>Oliver Betteridge and
Sam Duggan
attacker, 25 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/sam-duggan/10098778″>Samuel Duggan or debutants Cameron Critchlow, Cole Shudra and Sean Norris. For the last of them it will be a special experience: his mother is from the Czech Republic , he himself briefly flashed in the youth of Jihlava and Písek in his youth.
Other: Polished links, well-matched ensemble. Most of the staff are active at club level in the elite British competition, the players know each other – down to the core – also from representative meetings. After all, the nomination for the World Cup has changed only minimally in recent years. The British fight for each other, invoke team spirit. There is an X factor in a tight bunch that could lead to a rescue.
Roster
Goalkeepers:
Ben Bowens (Cardiff Devils), Lucas Brine (Dundee Stars), Jackson Whistle (Belfast Giants).
Defenders:
Josh Batch (Cardiff Devils), Nathanael Halbert (HC Innsbruck, ICEHL), Sam Jones (Sheffield Steelers), Evan Mosey (Cardiff Devils), Ben O’Connor (Guildford Flames), David Phillips (Belfast Giants), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Sam Ruopp (Lausitzer Füchse, GER2), Joshua Tetlow (Nottingham Panthers).
Attackers:
Oliver Betteridge (Nottingham Panthers), Cameron Critchlow (Manchester Storm), Johnny Curran (Coventry Blaze), Ben Davies (Cardiff Devils), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Samuel Duggan (Cardiff Devils), Liam Kirk (HC VERVA Litvínov, CZE), Robert Lachowicz (Glasgow Clan), Ben Lake (Belfast Giants), Cade Neilson (Univ. of Alaska-Fairbanks, NCAA), Sean Norris (Belfast Giants), Brett Perlini (Saale Bulls Halle, GER3), Cole Shudra (Sheffield Steelers).
Photo: iihf.com
Who to follow?
Evan Mosey
defender, 35 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/evan-mosey/10096393″>Evan Mosey
Do you throw him at fullback? Sure why not. And now for the attack? Not a problem. Mosey is a classic hockey amphibian, he doesn’t tie the coaches’ hands, but opens up more diverse possibilities. Even as a defender, he often rushes forward, this year in Belfast he fueled the team’s productivity with ten hits. No other quarterback put up more. Beware of the danger from the second wave.
Secret trump card –
Ben Davies
attacker, 33 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/ben-davies/10096399″>Ben Davies
WC 2019, the duel between Great Britain and France, the newcomer from the islands is already losing 0:3. Cut… In overtime, Davies keeps his cool, pulls off a comeback to 4:3 and gives his country a fabulous retention. An iconic goal, the most important of his career. At the same time, offensive stick is not in his job description. What will the man of key moments in Prague show?
Talent –
Cade Neilson
attacker, 22 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/cade-neilson/10100870″>Cade Neilson
After Kirk, the most interesting name that claws its way into the field of vision. Neilson comes from a hockey family: his father spent years abroad striving for the NHL, his brother is playing for Nottingham after returning from overseas. The smart center is not giving up on the American mission yet, he will try his luck at Michigan Tech next year. Before that, however, he will show up at the World Cup a bit more mature (mentally and physically).
Noticeable absence –
Scott Conway
attacker, 29 years old
” href=”https://www.hokej.cz/hrac/scott-conway/10100869″>Scott Conway
Last year he apologized for personal reasons, there is not much confirmed information regarding Conway this year. Two things are certain – firstly, he is missing in the British nomination. And secondly, if he was there after all, the team would gain offensive strength. He ended his one-year stay in Trenčín as Dukla’s second most productive player, but he is returning to Belfast from the next season.
Coach –Peter Russell
He has dabbled in coaching for almost 25 years, he has been playing in Great Britain with a short break since 2014. The former goalkeeper worked his way up from the islands to Germany, and last year he even started in the DEL as coach of Augsburg. In his staff, he works with leading British experts, including Adam Keefe – brother of Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe.
Peter Russell | Photo: clanihc.com
Previous placement at the WC
2023 – Division IA
2022 – 16th place
2021 – 14th place
2019 – 13th place
2018 – Division IA
2017 – Division IB
2016 – Division IB
2015 – Division IB
2014 – Division IB
2013 – Division IA
2012 – Division IA
Schedule of matches at the World Cup
May 11: Great Britain – Canada
May 12: Great Britain – Finland
15 th May: Great Britain – Switzerland
May 17: Great Britain – Denmark
May 18: Great Britain – Czech Republic
May 20: Great Britain – Norway
May 21st: Great Britain – Austria
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