Fife forward on a high after helping GB win gold

Fife Flyers forward helps GB to world glory with strike in final victory over Japan

Fife Flyers forward Brendan Brooks says Great Britain’s World Championship gold medal and promotion to Division 1A was something great and an experience he will hold forever.

Team GB secured five wins from five during their World Championships 1B tournament in Belfast, with a winner takes all showdown on Saturday versus Japan.

Brooks was on the scoresheet on Saturday along with Matthew Myers (2) and Robert Dowd, to secure a 4-0 victory which wrapped up the gold medal.

“It’s a great feeling to be moving up and winning gold this year. It was such an accomplishment after all of the hard work the guys put in the last three weeks,” he said.

“There weren’t a lot of nerves in the room. We were so focused on what we had to do, and everyone was physically and mentally ready for the gold medal against Japan.”

Prior to the World Championships in Belfast, Great Britain faced Poland in Nottingham and Coventry, a side they will face in Division 1 in 2018.

“Those games were important for us to get used to one another and find the right line combinations. We came into the World Championships prepared following those games, and it showed as each game we got better and better.”

Following those warm-up games Brooks was paired with Coventry Blaze forward Liam Stewart and Nottingham Panthers Robert Farmer, all three combined for a total of six goals and seven assists in Belfast.

Brooks enjoyed playing with both players and felt that the more they played, the better the became.

“I really enjoyed playing on a line with Stewy and Farms. Every shift we got a little bit better playing with one another.”

During GB’s penultimate game against the Netherlands GB recorded a huge 14-0 victory and Brooks got his first two goals.

Brooks added: “Scoring the first one was a special moment and getting monkey off the back. I had a lot of chances from the moment the tournament started and knew it was going to happen but it can be frustrating at times.

“Scoring in the gold medal game was amazing. It didn’t matter who was scoring that game because we all had a the gold on our minds and everyone was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.

“I was grateful to be a part of that special moment when the clock had finally run down. It’s a memory I will have with those guys forever.”

There weren’t a lot of nerves in the room. We were focused on what we had to do. BRENDAN BROOKS

Flyers forward Brendan Brooks was on the scoresheet against Japan in Saturday’s final.

Matthew Myers, right, celebrates one of his goals against Japan.