Netminder Ben Bowns believes Lithuania will provide Great Britain with a stern test ahead of next month’s World Championship in Budapest.
Yorkshireman Bowns, playing a leading role for Elite League leaders Cardiff Devils in their quest for title glory, helped GB earn promotion last season.
Britain play in Division One of the World Championships soon after the League season ends and they have two challenge matches organised.
GB host Lithuania in Milton Keynes on Saturday, April 14 (7pm) before teams meet again the following day (Sunday, April 15) in Coventry’s Skydome (5.15pm).
They have clashed six times in World Championship action over the last 11 years with three wins each, although GB have won the last two encounters, including 2017 in Belfast on their way to promotion to Division One Group A.
“We always have good games against Lithuania and there is no doubt they will be tough opposition,” said Bowns.
“We may have won the last two matches, but they gave us no end of problems in Eindhoven three years ago.
“They have a great goalie and some star names on the roster who can really hurt you if you let down your guard.
“They earned a bronze medal finish in Belfast and they will be looking to improve on that this year.”
Lithuania are hosting the Division One Group B tournament on home ice in Kaunas at the end of next month at the same time as GB will be making their return to their second tier of the World Championship structure.
Bowns, Thomas Murdy, Mark Richardson, Josh Batch and Matthew Myers are the Devils players likely to be selected for GB, while Cardiff-born Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers) and Ben Davies (Guildford Flames) could also play in Hungary.
Britain are playing in the second tier of the World Championships for the first time since 2013.
The six-team IIHF tournament will be hosted in the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena, the same venue in which GB played when they were last in Division One Group A.
GB start against Slovenia, were relegated from the top flight, on Sunday, April 22 (12.30pm local time).
Their second game is against Kazakhstan two days later (Tuesday, 4pm) and they will then face old rivals Poland on Wednesday 25th April (4pm)
GB go head-to-head with Italy, another nation relegated from the top tier, on Friday, April 27 (7.30pm) and round the tournament off against hosts Hungary the following day (7.30pm).
“The boys are already talking about Budapest and it will be great to come up against some top class nations,” said Bowns.
“There will be competition for places throughout the squad to make the final roster and that’s a healthy situation to be in.”
Challenge matches – GB v Lithuania ticket prices:
If purchased before 23.59 on Sunday, April 8: Adult £15, under-16 £8, 16-18 £11, Senior (60+) £11, NUS Extra £11, Family (2 adult/2 children) £39
After 23:59 on Sunday, April 8: Adult £18, under-16 £10, 16-18 £13, Senior (60+) £13, NUS Extra £13, Family (2 adult/2 children) £47.
To buy tickets for GB v Lithuania at Planet Ice Arena Milton Keynes click here http://iceaccount.co.uk/events/tickets_select?embed=1&client_id=16 or telephone 01908 540020.
To buy tickets at the Skydome in Coventry click here http://iceaccount.co.uk/events/tickets_select?embed=1&client_id=7 or call 02476 630693.
Devils are in action this Saturday (March 10) when Edinburgh Capitals play at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff Bay (7pm).
Head coach Andrew Lord then takes his team to play Sheffield Steelers on Sunday (5pm).
CLICK HERE to book IAW match tickets or CALL 0800 0842 666 to book
CLICK HERE to be redirected to the full fixtures list.
Elite League results last night: Edinburgh Capitals 2, Braehead Clan 7; MK Lightning 1, Nottingham Panthers 5.
MK Lightning have confirmed that former New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Doug McKay will be the club’s new head coach and general manager in 2018-19.
McKay will replace Pete Russell, who leaves the organisation at the end of this season.
Ontario native has also coached in the American League, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark and Poland, while spent time in the Buffalo Sabres front office managing marketing, sales, promotion and media relations.