Coach urges players to seal places
Great Britain and newlyappointed Braehead Clan head coach Pete Russell says the upcoming training camp will be an intense battle for places as preparations for this month’s World Championships tournament in Budapest gets underway.
Following promotion last year in Belfast, GB will play in Division 1B of the championship structure.
They will face hosts Hungary, along with Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland and Slovenia, with matches taking place from April 22-28.
GB get their training camp started in Coventry this evening ahead of two warm-up games with Lithuania this weekend.
The two sides meet in Milton Keynes tonight ( 7pm) and at Coventry’s Skydome Arena tomorrow (5.15pm).
After the games against Lithuania, the 28-man squad will be reduced to the 23 players who will represent Great Britain at the World Championships.
Clan’s Zach Sullivan is the only player from the Braehead club still in contention to make the cut.
“It is going to be an intense week that’s for sure,” said Russell. “The camp forms a massive part of our preparations for Budapest and I know how eager the players are to get on the ice.
“Competition for places is always very fierce and it will be no different this time. The games against Lithuania will be good at the weekend to work on systems and plays in a real situation.
“I am sure they will be great games. We have had many battles with Lithuania in recent years and they will be tough opposition.”