PREVIEW: Dwarf from the islands and the thorny shrew to the rescue? Put K(i)rk | on it Hokej.cz – Czech hockey website
Foto: 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 Bows
goalkeeper, 33 years old
” href=” Bowns, but… This year, the coaching staff doesn’t have to be afraid to split the shifts more. Especially considering the three back-to-back matches, he will surely look into the cage as well
Jackson Whistle
goalkeeper, 28 years old
” href=” Whistle. He has made significant progress in Belfast over the past two seasons, slowly growing into Bowns’ successor. Behind them, the young man will accumulate knowledge from the big international event 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=” Richardson, the oldest player ever on the British roster. He has been counting national team starts since he was young and knows what and how. Don’t expect any panic from either
David Phillips
defender, 36 years old
” href=” Phillips or offensively minded
Ben O’Connor
defender, 35 years old
” href=” O’Connor. All three are well versed in the international scene. He could direct power plays Nathanael Halbert, one of two compatriots in the British backline. He will arrive in Prague with the business card of the second highest point guard of the Austrian Innsbruck. He also likes to go out for a walk Sam Ruopp, the one-time Columbus prospect even claimed a lasso (and promotion) to Ingolstadt with his exploits in DEL2. They will then clean dangerous areas
Josh Batch
defender, 33 years old
” href=” Batch a <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Joshua Tetlow
defender, 26 years old
” href=” Tetlow, both weigh a meter and measure almost 200 cm. You just don’t want to mess 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=” to Mosey. But in general, there is beauty in simplicity. Don’t lose pucks unnecessarily, don’t lose, solve situations as safely as possible. That should be the credo of Great Britain.
Attackers: Like this…
Liam Kirk
attacker, 24 years old
” href=” Kirk and who else? No way, such a description would not be fair to the other members of the attack squadron. But British ambitions are growing in proportion to how the championship fits the Exlitvín bomber. The Czech Republic has long been convinced that if they sleep well, they can turn matches in a favorable direction. He will have it on hand
Cade Neilson
attacker, 22 years old
” href=” Neilson, this name is worth underlining twice. The young center from the World Cup in 2022 is only flourishing, gathering spurs overseas in the university NCAA and profiling himself as a future national team leader. From verified names like
Robert Dowd
attacker, 35 years old
” href=” Dowd, <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Ben Lake
attacker, 34 years old
” href=” Lake nebo <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Robert Lachowicz
attacker, 34 years old
” href=” Lachowicz anyone can take it on. All of them have already tasted the atmosphere of the World Championship, in the domestic competition they fall into the column of highly superior fighters. A successful season in the third German league will give confidence
Brett Perlini
attacker, 33 years old
” href=” Perlini, slightly under the radar of opponents, could do well Johnny Curran. Like Neilson, he went through an American university in the past. A small worker pumps calm into the British offensive
Ben Davies
attacker, 33 years old
” href=” Davies. He will probably be content with smaller roles
Oliver Betteridge
attacker, 28 years old
” href=” Betteridge a <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Sam Duggan
attacker, 25 years old
” href=” Duggan nebo debutanti Cameron Critchlow, Cole Shudra a Sean Norris. For the last of them, it will be a special experience: his mother comes from the Czech Republic, he himself briefly played 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 Bows (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? <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Evan Mosey
defender, 35 years old
” href=” 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 – <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Ben Davies
attacker, 33 years old
” href=” 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 – <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Cade Neilson
attacker, 22 years old
” href=” 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 – <a target="_blank" class="hasqtip" data-content="
Scott Conway
attacker, 29 years old
” href=” 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 | Foto: 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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