Head coach Pete Russell says Great Britain’s five international challenge games in the UK next year will be excellent preparation for the World Championship in Slovakia.
GB first return to ice hockey’s elite level for the first time since 1994 next May and their training camp will include five top class international games.
Ice Hockey UK secretary Andy French described the matches arranged as ‘exciting and mouth-watering’, while a delighted Russell said GB have a ‘great line-up’ of fixtures.
Britain play KHL side Riga at the Skydome Coventry on Wednesday, February 6, Italy at the same arena on Friday, April 19 and Hungary at Planet Ice Milton Keynes two days later (Sunday, April 21).
Britain defeated Italy and Hungary during last season’s gold-medal campaign in Budapest, including the dramatic game against the hosts when Robert Farmer scored with 10 seconds remaining to secure GB the point they needed for promotion (see video interview above)
Great Britain then face KHL team Torpedo on Saturday, April 27 (Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham) and the following evening at the Fly DSA Arena Sheffield.
Face-off times and ticket information will be announced shortly.
“This is great line-up of games and really good preparation for the World Championships,” said Russell.
“The variety of opponents is excellent and just the sort of games we need ahead of such a huge year for GB.
“The games against Italy and Hungary will bring back memories of when we dared to dream in Budapest.
“The matches against the KHL sides will be fantastic and it will be great to pit our wits against players from one of the top leagues in the world.”
French, said: “This is a really exciting line-up of warm-up games for Great Britain in their World Championship preparations.
“It has been a lot of work getting everything into place but we are heading down the final stretch now with something we have been working on since May.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in getting these mouth-watering fixtures lined up and assisting Great Britain with preparations for the World Championship.
“They are sure to be five fantastic games and it would be great to see thousands turn out in such a big year for the national side.”
Pre-World Championship tournament schedule
Wednesday, February 6: Great Britain v Dinamo Riga (Skydome Coventry)
Friday 19th April 19: Great Britain v Italy (Skydome Coventry)
Saturday, April 20: Italy v Hungary (Skydome Coventry)
Sunday, April 21: Great Britain v Hungary (Planet Ice Milton Keynes)
Saturday, April 27: Great Britain v Torpedo (Motorpoint Arena Nottingham)
Sunday, April 28: Great Britain v Torpedo (Fly DSA Arena Sheffield)
GB’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Championships, when they won gold and earned promotion to the top tier, included Devils players Ben Bowns, Thomas Murdy, Mark Richardson and Matthew Myers.
Cardiff-born Jonathan Phillips, a former Devil now playing for Sheffield, was also in the team.
Cardiff D-man Josh Batch missed out last season, but is having the sort of season for Devils which suggests he could step up this time.
Welsh winger Ben Davies and Scottish forward Craig Moore, who has joined Fife Flyers from Devils, are others who will fancy a tilt at making the GB squad for the 2019 World Championships.
GB’s 2018 squad (players for next year not yet see;ected)
Netminders
Ben Bowns – Cardiff Devils
Jackson Whistle – Belfast Giants
Thomas Murdy – Cardiff Devils (reserve)
Defence
Dallas Ehrhardt – Manchester Storm
Steve Lee – Nottingham Panthers
Ben O’Connor – Sheffield Steelers
David Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Mark Richardson – Cardiff Devils
Zach Sullivan – Braehead Clan
Paul Swindlehurst – Manchester Storm
Forwards
Ollie Betteridge – Nottingham Panthers
Brendan Brooks – Braehead Clan
Ben Davies – Guildford Flames
Robert Dowd – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Farmer – Nottingham Panthers
Luke Ferrara – Coventry Blaze
Mike Hammond – Manchester Storm
Liam Kirk – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Lachowicz – Nottingham Panthers
Matthew Myers – Cardiff Devils
Jonathan Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Brett Perlini – Nottingham Panthers
Colin Shields – Belfast Giants