We have a serious misinformation problem. After Team GB secured an immediate return to the promised land, Pete Russell’s players swarmed together at the Motorpoint Arena and bellowed their hivemind anthem. reputation
“We’re shit and we know we are,” Team GB chanted defiantly.
Problem? The Brits aren’t “shit” – and haven’t been for a half-decade.
You know the story by now.
Team GB has enjoyed a fairy tale rise, earning back-to-back promotions to secure their first elite-level World Championship appearance in 25 years. Relegation, the hockey establishment believed, would immediately follow. It didn’t.
Team GB travelled to Kosice dressed in fresh uniforms and stunned France in overtime to ensure survival. They beat Belarus in regulation time at the next tournament, with Liam Kirk outgunning actual NHLers to lead the competition in goals scored.
The Brits were relegated after their third consecutive top-tier appearance, albeit without injury-hit Kirk, but went down swinging thanks to standout performances from NCAA-bound Cade Neilson.
However, the final act of the national team’s Cinderella Story wasn’t inked in Tampere last year, wasn’t inked in Nottingham this month, and won’t be inked in Czechia next season.
Reputation: Jonathan Phillips, Team GB (Image: Hayley Roberts)
Reputation Shift: Team GB ink new lore in Nottingham
Team GB will return to the second division in the future – that much is fairly certain – but the story, this spell of unprecedented success, will run and run for years to come because it is built on solid foundations.
Russell’s squad never trailed in Nottingham.
They were tested by Italy and Poland, but passed the exam with flying colours.
Kirk posted ten points. Neilson chipped in with eight. Ben Bowns had three shutouts. Russell outcoached everyone, including former Stanley Cup champion Mike Keenan.
They deserve their spot alongside Canada, the United States, and Finland – as bizarre as that sounds.
“We have a great group of staff and players, but it’s tough to [win] at home,” Russell told Chris Ellis of Ice Hockey UK. “We battled at the end and deserve that [outcome]. It’s a wild story for us to get another gold medal and earn promotion again.
“The guys have good character and the way they battled is unbelievable. We really pushed the pace of the game and won the battles that we needed to win.”
Speaking of character, what about Jonathan Phillips – who played through a suspected broken wrist?
“Before the tournament, I said that this could be a fairy tale ending,” the retiring captain said after the final buzzer. “It really is. I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud to be a part of something as I have been with the national team for the last twenty years.
“I’ve always said that the most special thing you can do is represent your country. I always talk about how I play hockey to make memories, and we’ve just made another amazing memory.”
Shit? No chance. The Brits are here to stay.
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