Great Britain have named their squad for the upcoming international matches against Norway in Nottingham and Cardiff.
The two sides will meet at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on Tuesday 1st November, before meeting again the following evening at Cardiff’s Ice Arena Wales.
GB have named 43 players in their squad, which will be split into two rosters for the games against the 11th-ranked team in the world.
Head Coach Peter Russell said: “The first two games of the season for Team GB won’t come much bigger or tougher than this.
“It’s great to be utilising the international break. This is a great beginning and hopefully something that grows to help push our national team forward and our future players forward.
“It’s a huge challenge, but what fantastic experience it will be to play two games against Norway.
“In the last ten to twelve years they’ve come such a long way and are a country that, in many ways, we can learn a lot from in our quest to push to higher levels.
“We’ve selected a mixed squad with returnees and players on the bubble. We are going to use this opportunity to give some of our country’s youngest prospects a chance to experience hockey at the very highest level.
“We will be able to see everyone in a very competitive environment, which is great and we are all looking forward to this experience.
“I personally want to thank IHUK and the Elite League for working together to make this happen as I know it was no easy task, but for the national team program it’s the right thing to do and long may it continue and develop further.
“Thanks to Nottingham and Cardiff for hosting these games and we are fortunate to be playing in two great arenas and in front of many great supporters.
“My last thanks goes out to our general manager, Andy ‘The Glue’ Buxton, for managing to pull this altogether off the ice.
“It’s a huge job from contacting teams, players, hotels, flights, practice ice, buses, communication with team staff and schedules. He just makes it happen and this was a tough one to pull together.”
GB v Norway at the National Ice Centre – Tuesday 1st November
Netminders
Ben Bowns – Cardiff Devils
Stephen Murphy – Belfast Giants
Defence
Josh Batch – Cardiff Devils
Mark Garside – Belfast Giants
Tom Norton – Peterborough Phantoms
Sam Oakford – Telford Tigers
Ben O’Connor – Sheffield Steelers
Mark Richardson – Cardiff Devils
Zach Sullivan – Braehead Clan
Forwards
Ollie Betteridge – Nottingham Panthers
Jonathan Boxill – Belfast Giants
David Clarke – Nottingham Panthers
Robert Dowd – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Farmer – Nottingham Panthers
Luke Ferrara – Sheffield Steelers
Liam Kirk – Sheffield Steelers
Robert Lachowicz – Nottingham Panthers
Matthew Myers – Cardiff Devils
Craig Peacock – Braehead Clan
Jonathan Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Colin Shields – Belfast Giants
GB v Norway at Ice Arena Wales – Wednesday 2nd November
Netminders
Tom Murdy – Cardiff Devils
Jackson Whistle – Belfast Giants
Defence
David Clements – Coventry Blaze
James Griffin – MK Lightning
Steve Lee – Nottingham Panthers
Craig Moore – Dundee Stars
Paul Swindlehurst – Manchester Storm
David Phillips – Sheffield Steelers
Jonathan Weaver – Telford Tigers
Sam Zajac – Telford Tigers
Forwards
Russell Cowley – Coventry Blaze
Jordan Cownie – MK Lightning
Matty Davies – Telford Tigers
Sam Duggan – Örebro (Sweden)
Matthew Haywood- Braehead Clan
Lewis Hook – MK Lightning
Chris Jones – Cardiff Devils
Jack Prince – Manchester Storm
Liam Stewart – Coventry Blaze
Ashley Tait – Coventry Blaze
Cale Tanaka – Dundee Stars
Ross Venus – Coventry Blaze
(Image permission: IceHockeyMedia)
