Ice hockey
Ice hockey will feature at the Olympics next month but sadly Team GB didn't qualify.
However, in December, the GB U20 Ice hockey team was at the Division II World championships. The winning team would be promoted to division I.
They played Spain, Lithuania, Korea, Romania and Italy.
GB U20s – World Championship results
Monday 13th December: GB U20s 7-2 Spain U20s - Neilson 3, McKenzie, Stenton, Graham, Howells
Tuesday 14th December: GB U20s 5-3 Lithuania U20s - Harewood 2, McKenzie, Howells, Neilson
Thursday 16th December: GB U20s 4-5 Korea U20s (after penalty shots) - Graham 2, Goodchild, Hopkins
Friday 17th December: Romania U20s 4-3 GB U20s - Neilson, Endicott, Howells
Sunday 19th December: Italy U20s 3-2 GB U20s - Hopkins, Neilson
GB - Bronze.
This year GB Women and GB U18 men also have their World Championships:
GB Women – Division II Group A
Venue: Jaca, Spain. Dates: 2nd-8th April 2022
Teams: Latvia, Great Britain, Spain, Mexico, DPR Korea, Chinese Taipei
GB Under-18s Men – Division II Group A
Venue: Tallinn, Estonia. Dates: 3rd-9th April 2022
Teams: Great Britain, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Korea, Serbia
Do you play ice hockey?
If you do, did you know that there are exciting opportunities to be seen and to be invited to trials with the GB team? Coaches attend matches and training sessions across the country so you never know when you might be spotted!
Junior Training Camps
In June, over 200 players from U16 and U18 age groups took part in a three-day Great Britain junior camp in Sheffield. It was an important occasion to get everyone back together and on the ice as there are World Championships next year for all age groups.
National Development Head Coach, Tony Hand, said:
“We will continue to look at players throughout the year, so the door is always open if players are excelling in the domestic game.”
Goalies
There's an exciting, positive goalie talent identification programme underway. There are 16 goalies in the programme at the moment and for new goalies coming through the system, they will be invited to main summer camps if selected for specialist advice and training.
Head of the GB Goaltending Development Programme Gary Brine says “The programme is designed to give every young goalie a chance to be seen. If they are at a standard that enables them to compete at international level, we will find them.
“Being a good club goalie isn’t enough. We also want good characters, mental resolve, fitness, accountable social behaviour and good academics on show.”
Keen to try ice hockey
It's a fantastic, high energy, fast paced and exciting sport - 'the fastest team game in the world' - but first you need to be a competent ice skater!
If you are, why not take a look at our previous article on how to get involved here.
