✍️ Wednesday View: Taking a breath
Encouraging if not hard-fought start for GB
If there’s one major positive Great Britain’s Men’s team can take from their start to the World Championship campaign, it’s that there are two wins on the board. But they need more in the final three games.
Sunday’s penalty shots win over Ukraine was a great morale-boosting start to the campaign and was followed up by the overtime victory over the hosts, Romania to put them second in the group so far after two rounds of games.
You hope further down the line, the two points dropped aren’t going to be costly as we get to the business end of things later in the week.
For those not familiar with internationals, it’s three points for a win in regulation time, two if you get the result in overtime or a shootout and one if you lose the game in the extra period or penalty shots and, of course, nothing for a 60-minute loss.
Just ahead of them are Poland, who have maximum points from their wins against the Romanians and Japan so far and with Italy, also on four points and Ukraine on three, the tournament will really take shape over the next couple of days.
The team itself have looked good despite not a lot of preparation time coming into the tournament.
Cade Neilson scores the overtime winner against Romania on Monday (Video courtesy of Premier Sports)
Pete Russell has utilised both netminders well in the two games and while we know what we get with Ben Bowns, giving more responsibility to Jackson Whistle is a good thing after the season he had with Belfast.
To call him a back-up would be a little disingenuous, but making 24 saves from 25 was a terrific shift for the 29-year-old.
Josh Waller’s two goals in both games have got GB going, Joe Hazeldine has impressed in his maiden campaign for the national team, while the veteran work of Ben O’Connor and Robert Dowd hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Plus we can’t not mention Nathanael Halbert’s almost half an hour of ice time average across the two games and it shows the guys are leaving it all out there as they aim for the top flight again.
While they haven’t quite hit their rhythm in the way we’re maybe used to seeing, the GB boys certainly have it in them to crank it up a notch.
Liam Kirk joined the squad on Tuesday after his DEL play-off success with Eisbaren Berlin so what he brings could be the injection of what Russell’s men need in the next few days.
Moments like Cade Neilson’s overtime winner against the hosts on Monday are worth their weight in gold, but GB can’t afford to sit back. The quality of the other teams simply won’t allow for it so they need to find another gear.
The next two games will certainly give a much better idea of where Great Britain stand in their quest for promotion again as they head into two early starts over the next couple of days.
Wins those games, the pressure is on the others to perform when they play later in the day. That could work to GB’s advantage.
📊 DIVISION 1A TABLE
THE NEXT OPPONENTS
The next couple of days are crucial for Great Britain and they start with an early meeting with Japan on Wednesday, knowing victory can really help their cause in these World Championships.
The fact Japan are currently bottom of the group shouldn’t fool anyone. If GB aren’t on top of their game, they could find themselves in trouble with other teams to play later in the day.
Japan lost 4-1 to Italy in their opening game, then were edged 2-1 by Poland in their second outing so could see this as a chance to really kickstart their campaign.
Coached by former Cardiff Devils coach Jarrod Skalde, there could be one or two scores to settle against former players from his time in Wales, while Kohei Sato, a former Belfast Giants forward, might fancy scoring against his old team-mate, Jackson Whistle, if he plays.
For GB assistant coach Corey Neilson, he’ll get a chance to see forward Yu Sato in person - a player who was announced as joining his Glasgow Clan team last summer, but paperwork meant he couldn’t come to the UK.
There will be fresh memories of when they played in Olympic qualifying back in September when Josh Waller scored what proved to be the winner in a five-goal thriller, but both teams saw their dreams of travelling to Cortina end there.
WATCH NOW: GB’s last meeting against Japan
On Thursday, it’s another early start and the turn of Italy to come up against Pete Russell’s side, looking for points of their own.
This is their third year at this level, finishing third in the last two years, including in Nottingham two years ago, when GB returned to the top flight.
Their campaign thus far has saw a 4-1 opening day win over Japan followed by a shock 3-2 penalty shots loss at the hands of Ukraine and irrespective of how the Italians get on against Poland today (Wednesday), their game against GB could be make or break for their chances.
In the last few years, GB tend to leave wins over the Italians for competitive games, losing in friendlies, but you can be sure, this certainly won’t be a friendly one.
Elite League fans should watch out for Guildford Flames’ Daniel Tedesco, in his second Worlds campaign and he would certainly be keen to pick up points at the expense of friends and rivals from the EIHL.
WATCH NOW: GB’s last meeting against Italy
🇬🇧 GB FIXTURES AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 📆
Sunday 27th April - Ukraine 3 Great Britain 4 (Penalty Shots)
Monday 28th April - Great Britain 2 Romania 1 (After Overtime)
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
🟠 Sheffield Steelers announced another two returnees to their squad for 2025/26, with Cole Shudra and Dominic Cormier both signing on the dotted line - Sheffield Steelers website
🔥 There was a big announcement from Guildford Flames when they released the news that long-serving captain Brett Ferguson would be leaving the Spectrum after seven years at the club - Guildford Flames website
👋 Glasgow Clan announced that forward Tyson McLellan would be leaving the club to join DEL2 side ESV Kaufbeuren next season, where Clan will go for a weekend as part of their pre-season plans - Glasgow Clan on X
🟣 …but the loss of McLellan was cushioned by the news that defenceman Chris McKay had committed to a second season in Glasgow - Glasgow Clan website
⭐️ Dundee Stars got in on the signing news themselves by first announcing a two-year deal for talented youngster Jonathan McBean - Dundee Stars website
🫡 Then they followed it up a short time later with the announcement that captain Drydn Dow would be returning to Tayside for a seventh season - Dundee Stars on X
⛈️ Manchester Storm released the news that defenceman CJ Garcia would be leaving the club after two seasons at the Storm Shelter - Manchester Storm website
🏟️ AROUND THE RINKS
Let’s take a look at what else has been going on up and down the country as we go around the rinks
📰 A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the tragic death of Nottingham Panthers forward Adam Johnson in October 2023 has been released from bail and will not face charges - South Yorkshire Police website
🙌 There’s been another addition to the roster for David Clements Testimonial at Coventry Blaze, with someone about to do something different on the big night - David Clements Testimonial on X
🤝 Belfast Giants were invited to Belfast City Hall earlier this week for a reception with the Lord Mayor of the city to mark their two trophy successes this season - Belfast Giants on X
🤔 Nottingham Panthers are getting their fans to think about which Panthers players would be in their dream line-up - Nottingham Panthers on X
🏅 Back to Romania and a hearty congratulations to Team GB’s General Manager, Andy Buxton, who oversaw his 100th game with the national team on Monday against Romania. Well done, Andy! - Team GB Ice Hockey on X
👕 And a final reminder that the Elite League play-off jersey auction ends tonight, with jerseys from all teams all available for bidding. Don’t leave it too late! - Elite League Auctions
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