British stars back to face world’s elite

GREAT Britain will face Canada and USA as part of their first World Championship campaign at the top level for 25 years.

Peter Russell’s side secured promotion back among the world’s elite following a dramatic 3-2 win after penalty shots against Hungary in Budapest last month.

They went into the game knowing a point would guarantee them the gold medal in Division 1 Group A and they achieved that with only 15.8 seconds remaining of regulation time.

As well as facing Canada and USA – the teams who contested the bronze medal game last Sunday – Britain will also take on Finland, Germany, hosts Slovakia, Denmark and France in Group A in Kosice next May.

Champions Sweden are joined in Group B by Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Norway, Latvia, Austria and Italy, with their matches taking place in Bratislava.

Russell said: “Seeing the teams we will be playing next year really makes the magnitude of what we achieved in Budapest hit home. To play in Pool A is the ultimate and we are going to get to do that next season.

“It’s going to be an amazing experience and we will be facing some of the best players on the planet.

“It is something every one of us will embrace and this group of players has earned that right with the fantastic achievement in getting promotion last month. It is going to be an amazing year for British ice hockey.” ■■Manchester Storm have decided to retire their number 22 jersey in honour of the victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack.

As the country marks the one-year anniversary of the bombing, in which 22 people were killed and hundreds of others injured following an Ariana Grande concert, the Elite League club have paid their own tribute.

Storm and former EPL side Manchester Phoenix also took part in a one-off game against a UK All-Star team last year to raise money for the victims and their families.