Great Britain’s opponents for next year’s World Championship (Division 1A) tournament have been confirmed.

Slovenia and Italy have been relegated from the IIHF’s top flight this week and will take their place in tier two of the structure next season.

The other three teams in the group will be Hungary, Kazakhstan and Poland.

GB beat Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Japan in Belfast last month to secure promotion from Division 1B.

Hungary have submitted an application to host the six-team tournament in Budapest. Poland are the only other applicant and if successful would host in either Warsaw or Katowice.

The venue will be decided this week at the IIHF Congress in Cologne, Germany.

(Image permission: Dean Woolley)