Hutchins and Lynch accept GB roles

Great Britain have confirmed new head coaches for their U18 and U16 teams.

Jeff Hutchins has been placed in charge of the U18 side, while Steven Lynch takes over the U16 team.

Hutchins currently works assistant coach and director of player development at Fife Flyers.

He said: “I’m very honoured to be named the head coach of the GB Under-18s team.

“I have been part of the senior programme as a player and understand what it means to play for your country.

“I am excited to be part of it now as the 18s coach. I have to thank Tony (Hand) and the GB board for entrusting me with this opportunity.

“We have discussed at length about the direction of the programme and what the objectives are moving forward. I am excited to get started.”

Lynch is currently heading-up Scottish ice hockey’s national coaching programme and was appointed head coach of SIH-UK last year by David Hand. He has previously had a stint as assistant coach of Fife.

“I am delighted to be appointed as GB Under-16s head coach,” Lynch said.

“I am relishing the challenge of working with and developing the most promising junior players in the country to prepare them for what hopefully will become long international careers.

“It’s exciting for me to be given this opportunity to be involved in the GB programme and I can’t wait to get started.

“Having spent the last three years working with SIH and their national programme, I felt that the time was right to test myself at the next level of junior hockey while continuing to further my own education as a coach.”