Team GB Head Coach Pete Russell has been forced into two roster changes through injuries.
Ollie Betteridge and Mike Hammond have withdrawn from the squad to go to Finland due to concerns about their condition.
Betteridge made seven appearances at last years World Championships, scoring 0 points in those games.
However, Hammond grabbed four points (two goals and two assists) in his seven appearances.
This leaves Russell without two of his main attacking threats in Hammond and Liam Kirk.
Kirk notched up nine points in 2021 making him GB’s most dangerous player.
Something our writer Luke James discusses on his Twitter page:
Team GB will travel to the Worlds without their two biggest offensive threats from last year’s tournament:
— Mike Hammond ❌
— Liam Kirk ❌It’s a major uphill battle 🏔 https://t.co/fxPF7NnScU
— Luke James (@LukeJames_32) April 22, 2022
With absence of these players Dallas Ehrhardt and Luke Ferrara have been called-up to fill the gaps.
Ehrhardt and Ferrara (PHOTO: Dean Woolley)
Both have extensive experience with Team GB so will be more than capable replacements.
Manchester Storm’s Ehrhardt has made 54 league appearances and scored 32 points in that time.
Ferrara has had a similarly successful season marking him as one to watch for the Elite League play-offs this weekend.
The Coventry Blaze forward has scored 49 points in 52 league appearance marking him out as a threat.
He is very effective on the powerplay as discussed by Luke:
Hammond’s absence leaves a hole in Pete Russell’s top-six forward group.
If Ferrara didn’t make the cut because 🇬🇧 needed checkers, there’s a strong argument for his inclusion high in the line-up.
EIHL 2021-22:
— 25 goals
— 24 assists
— 49 points
— 12 PPGs 🏆📸 S. Wiggins pic.twitter.com/Zu5YpX0lmk
— Luke James (@LukeJames_32) April 22, 2022
Russell spoke on losing Betteridge and Hammond, saying: “Losing both Ollie and Mike is a massive blow for us and they will be very much missed in Finland.
“I know they – along with Brendan (Connolly), Liam (Kirk) and Stevie Lee – are devastated to miss out on this year’s tournament,” he said.
“But thanks to the depth we now have, we are able to bring in two players who already have World Championship experience at this level.”
Without their main attacking conduits from last years competition the question remains, can GB threaten the top sides?
That question will be answered soon as the side depart for Finland on the 11th of May.
This after four warm-up games versus Italy and Denmark twice each.
For more on this or anything else check our Twitter @BritIceHockey.
