Flyers star Brooks targets gold with Great Britain

Fife Flyers’ vastly experienced campaigner Brendan Brooks yesterday told Great Britain’s success-hungry ice hockey fans: “We’re out to win gold.”

The Canadian forward made his Great Britain debut against Poland in back-to-back challenge games in the Midlands last week.

From Sunday, Brooks and the 23-strong squad face-off their World Championship campaign in Belfast when they play Croatia.

Estonia follow on Monday with Lithuania scheduled for Wednesday, the Netherlands on Friday and Japan on Saturday at the SSE Belfast Arena.

Brooks said it was a great experience pulling on the Great Britain jersey for the first time in last week’s double-header against Poland.

And he admitted that there is a difference between club and international hockey.

The 38-year-old former Braehead Clan star said: “In international hockey the level of play is a lot faster. You have some of the best players from the country on the same ice.

“We have had a hard week of preparation ahead of the championships. The guys are working on team systems and making sure, as individuals, we are ready and in top form for the upcoming games.

“The team expectations, with the talent and personnel we have, is to win the gold.”

Brooks added: “We’re all working towards the same goal. We need to make sure we play our best and give ourselves the opportunity to win.”

Brendan Brooks made his GB debut last week.