➡️ Monday Review: Getting the job done
GB need shootout to see off Ukraine
Great Britain secured victory in their opening World Championship Division 1A encounter but had to show plenty of nerves to get the game over the line.
Pete Russell’s side saw a two-goal lead unravel as the Ukrainians fought their way back into the game. They managed to draw level in regulation time before taking care of their opponents on penalty shots.
Sometimes it doesn’t need to be pretty, but as long as it’s effective and gets the job done, it’s all that matters.
GB came into the week with very little in the way of preparation, with the domestic season ending just seven days ago and it was straight into international business in a tough group.
Ukraine gave the Brits something to think about in the early stages as Olexander Peresunko and Igor Merezhko both went close, with the latter hitting the post with a chance.
Josh Waller gets GB’s opening goal (Video courtesy of Premier Sports)
But GB went ahead after 11 minutes when Josh Waller got a redirect on a shot from Robert Dowd and the Barmy Army, who had made the journey to the Sepsi Arena, were in raptures.
It took just 90 seconds into the second period when Brett Perlini was in the right place to ricochet Ben O’Connor’s lengthy shot into the Ukrainian net to double the lead.
It wasn’t long before Ukraine got back into the game courtesy of Viktor Zakharov, who finished past Ben Bowns on the breakaway.
The equaliser came after 32 minutes when GB had just killed a slashing penalty on O’Connor when Danil Trakht struck to level the game at 2-2 with a well-hit shot.
With just over ten minutes to in the third, Denys Boradai fired Ukraine in front with a low shot from the right-circle that left Bowns beaten.
The moment Ben Bowns helped GB secure the win (Video courtesy of Premier Sports)
It was starting to look precarious for GB, but Ben Lake’s equaliser was chopped off after it was ruled he had kicked the puck into the net.
They got another chance and took it as O’Connor’s shot from the wide left position found its way into the net at an angle, with a fortunate ricochet off Ukrainian goalie Alexander Levshin.
With overtime failing to produce a winner, the game went to penalty shots, where GB held their nerve to take two points in the end.
The two Bens – O’Connor and Lake – were successful with their attempts to give Russell’s side the edge.
Peresunko stepped up to keep Ukraine in the game, but another Ben proved to be the hero – Cardiff Devils’ netminder Bowns that is – completing four saves from four in the shootout to take the victory.
🔢 SUNDAY RESULTS
Japan 🇯🇵 1 Italy 🇮🇹 4
Romania 🇷🇴 1 Poland 🇵🇱 4
📊 DIVISION 1A TABLE
THE NEXT OPPONENTS
The hosts, Romania, are second in the schedule on Monday and the local crowd would love to see their team make the climb into the big leagues.
In Bolzano last year, the Romanians finished fourth in the 1A table, level on points (9) with promoted Slovenia, but beaten into their final standing by virtue of head-to-head, despite winning three of their five games.
Since that disappointment, they’ve played only two games - a double header against Ukraine where they won the second of the two games so came into this tournament cold, similar to GB.
This year’s competition hasn’t had the best of starts when they went down 4-1 to Poland in Sunday’s last game, with Robert Gliga scoring their only goal.
GB played them in Winter Olympic qualifying in February 2024, coming out on top in a 7-4 game, with goals coming from two from Brett Perlini, Ben Lake, Sam Ruopp, Sam Jones, Liam Kirk and Cade Neilson.
WATCH NOW: GB’s last meeting against Romania
🇬🇧 GB FIXTURES AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 📆
Sunday 27th April -
Ukraine 3 Great Britain 4 (Penalty Shots)
Monday 28th April -
Great Britain vs Romania (5:30pm)
Wednesday 30th April -
Great Britain vs Japan (10:30am)
Thursday 1st May -
Italy vs Great Britain (10:30am)
Saturday 3rd May -
Great Britain vs Poland (5:30pm)
🕰️ All face offs at British Standard Time
📺 All games will be shown live on Premier Sports
🤝 ON THE MOVE
Time to take a look at who’s moving - or not as the case may be - with clubs announcing additions to their 2025/26 rosters.
We’ll update this in every edition over the summer
👂✋ Glasgow Clan confirmed another return as popular forward Mitchell Heard confirmed he would be staying for a second campaign - Glasgow Clan website
🐐 Cardiff Devils did their bit for Welsh agriculture late last week when they announced the return of their very own GOAT (* not an actual goat, for clarity) - Cardiff Devils website
🇫🇮 Sheffield Steelers added to their ranks with the re-signings of two popular Finnish stars, who have agreed to another year in Yorkshire - Sheffield Steelers website
👋 Leaving the EIHL is Cardiff Devils stalwart Josh Batch, who has joined NIHL National League side Bristol Pitbulls after calling it a day in his Elite League career - Bristol Pitbulls website
🏟️ AROUND THE RINKS
🎤 Prior to GB’s opening game on Sunday, the three new caps - Joe Hazeldine, Kieran Brown and Logan Neilson along with netminder Lucas Brine - were brought in for their initiation into the group 🤣 - Team GB Ice Hockey on X
📺 A reminder that all of GB’s World Championship games are on Premier Sports this week. Don’t believe us - Aaron Murphy said it - Aaron Murphy on X
📰 Prior to the start of the World Championships, GB captain Robert Dowd spoke with the Yorkshire Post about the nation’s chances in the competition - Phil Harrison for Yorkshire Post website
👕 Fans of Nottingham Panthers are being encouraged to show off their creative skills by designing their pre-season jerseys for the start of next season. Sponsors need not be included - Nottingham Panthers website
🏆 We mentioned on Friday how Elite League alumni Liam Kirk and Paul Thompson stood on the verge of play-off glory in Germany and Denmark. Well, they only went and did it! Kirk with Eisbaren Berlin in the DEL and Thompson with Odense Bulldogs in Denmark. And congratulations to them both - Sheffield Steelers on X
🗣️ Thompson spoke with Metal Ligaen about his achievement and the journey he’s been on in Denmark since he took the job - Paul Thompson speaking to Metal Ligaen (Facebook)
📺 In case you didn’t see it - and quite frankly why wouldn’t you have? - it’s the highlights from one of the most entertaining and craziest games you’ll ever see. It’s last Sunday’s play-off final
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We return on Wednesday with more from GB’s World Championship campaign in Romania, look ahead to what’s to come and any other bits of news that’s been happening.
Catch you then!
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