Blaze input helps GB to join the elite
GENTING Casino Coventry Blaze forward Luke Ferrara, chairman Andy Buxton, physio Nikki Sherlock and equipment manager Steve Small were all part of a sensational gold medal campaign for Great Britain.
It secured promotion back to ice hockey’s elite level for the first time since 1994
Following victories over Slovenia, Poland and Italy, GB – ranked 24th in the world and the Budapest tournament’s bottom seeds – needed just a single point against the hosts Hungary in the final World Championship Division 1A game on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 with 10 minutes to go, Sheffield Steelers’ Robert Dowd cut the deficit to one before former Blaze forward and current Nottingham Panther, Robert Farmer sent GB into dreamland with the equalising goal with only 15.8 seconds remaining.
GB went on to win the game 3-2 by securing a penalty-shot victory and will be joined in the top flight by Italy, while Kazakhstan won the bronze medal.
The gold medal was GB’s second in consecutive tournaments, gaining promotion to play the likes of Canada, USA, Finland, Russia and Sweden in the top level of the World Championship.
GB head coach, Pete Russell, said, “We dared to dream and we did it. I just cannot believe it. This team is very special and what we have pulled off is absolutely unbelievable. We did not give up and showed true British spirit to pull that one out of the bag. I am so proud of every single one of them and we will now play the best teams in the world next year.”
GB general manager, Andy Buxton, commented, “It’s incredible. We’ve shaken the hockey world this week and turned it on its head!
“We were 15 seconds away from not making it and going home with a bronze and up pops Robert Farmer. He does amazing things for GB and I’m so thrilled that he could get a goal like that.”
Farmer said: “It was a rubbish goal but I just don’t care.
“I cannot put into words what I am feeling right now.
“It is so hard to sum it up. We are now going to play the best teams in the world next year and that is so amazing.
“We never doubted ourselves and we dug deep to get the most breathtaking victory of my career.”