Great Britain ‘Horror Show’ In World Championship Defeat

Great Britain 0, Denmark 9

Great Britain suffered in Slovakia, crashing to a heavy defeat at the Steel Arena.

BBC commentator Seth Bennett was shocked by the team display and called it a ‘horror show in Kosice’.

GB have now lost their first three World Championship top tier matches, falling against Germany (1-3), Canada (0-8) and Denmark.

Their next test is against USA on Wednesday, while they then take on Finland and Slovakia.

GB’s only hope in reality is to win their final match, against France on Monday, and hope that could enough to stay up.

A record breaking 8th goal for @DKIshockey, the first time they have scored this many goals in a single game. #GBRDEN #IIHFWorlds
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— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 14, 2019

This was the worst of their three performances, but it has to be remembered that Britain were playing in third tier of the World Championships only two years ago.

Their rise has been rapid and they are now playing top class opposition.

Britain had identified the match against Denmark as one they were capable of winning, but the Danes played to a far higher level. The pain only ended for GB when the 60 minutes were over.

GB suffered during a disastrous first period at the Steel Arena in Kosice.

Denmark scored three times in the first 12 minutes, the first two on powerplays, and took control.

And here we have a demonstration of what is described as a "laser" @DKIshockey #GBRDEN #IIHFWorlds
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— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 14, 2019

Welshman Jonathan Phillips (hooking) and Paul Swindlehurst (delay of game) picked up two minute penalties within 20 seconds of each other, leaving GB facing a 5v3 penalty kill.

Jesper Jensen (8-49) and Mathias Bau (9-37) netted PP goals, while Morton Paulsen added an even-handed third after 12-11.

This was the first match between GB and Denmark since 2002 and the Danes seemed to shock the Brits with the ferocity of their offensive play and some clinical finishing.

Head coach Peter Russell recalled Colin Shields and went with a team of 13 forwards and seven D-men plus goalies Ben Bowns and Jackson Whistle.

Cardiff Devils player Evan Mosey, of course, is able to switch seamlessly between offense and defense.

A little tippy-tap for Jesper Jensen to get things going in #GBRDEN #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/2CeEAXvg5H

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 14, 2019

Welsh winger Matthew Myers was earning his 90th GB cap.

When the Danes added a fourth goal early in the second period head coach Russell sent on netminder Jackson Whistle in place of Bowns.

It was Phillip Bruggisser who ended Bowns’ time between the pipes when he fired in a cracker at 21-08.

There was worse to come for GB when Lars Eller, who plays for NHL club Washington Capitals, scored on a powerplay on 23-17 and then Nicklas Jensen added a sixth (24-38).

That was Denmark’s fourth PP goal in four attempts.

https://twitter.com/IIHFHockey/status/1128295570064510978

GB were struggling at face-offs, winning only 26.6 per cent during the opening period.

The Danes added a seventh goal when Nicklas Jensen scored on 31 minutes and Poulsen netted number eight (35-44).

The Danes were on the goals trail again after 51-53 when Poulsen was the scorer, completing his hat-trick.

Soon after Devils’ Myers showed outstanding hand-eye coordination when he swatted the puck out of the air and into net following a Robert Dowd shot.

Myers was left dejected when the officials ruled the effort out because his stick had been too high.

Match stats:

Scorers: Morten Poulsen 3+0, Niklas Jensen 2+0, Lars Eller 1+3, Phillip Bruggisser 1+0, Mathias Bau 1+0, Jesper Jensen 1+1, Nick Olesen 0+2, Mikkel Boedker 0+2, Peter Regin 0+1, Markus Lauridsen 0+2, Morten Madsen 0+1, Aabo Jensen 0+1, Peter Regin 0+1, Frederik Storm 0+1, Julian Jakobsen 0+1.

Period scores (GB first): 0-3; 0-5 (0-8); 0-1 (0-9).

Penalties in minutes: GB 4+4+2=10; Denmark 2+2+2=6

Shots on goal: GB (on Sebastian Dahm) 6+7+6=19, Denmark (on Ben Bowns/Jackson Whistle) 13+15+14=42.

Referees: Martin Frano (Czech Republic), Olivier Gouin (Canada).

Schedule for GB at the 2019 World Championship in Slovakia (face-off times local time).

Saturday, May 11: Germany 3 Great Britain 1

Sunday, May 12: Great Britain 0, Canada 8

Tuesday, May 14: Great Britain 0, Denmark 9

Wednesday, May 15: USA v Great Britain 4.15pm

Friday, May 17: Finland v Great Britain 8.15pm

Saturday, May 18: Great Britain v Slovakia 8.15pm

Monday, May 20: France v Great Britain 4.15pm

GB squad

Netminders

Ben Bowns – Cardiff Devils

Thomas Murdy – Cardiff Devils

Jackson Whistle – Sheffield Steelers

Defencemen

Tim Billingsley – Nottingham Panthers

Dallas Ehrhardt – Manchester Storm

Steve Lee – Nottingham Panthers

Evan Mosey – Cardiff Devils

Ben O’Connor – Sheffield Steelers

David Phillips – Sheffield Steelers

Mark Richardson – Cardiff Devils

Paul Swindlehurst – Belfast Giants

Forwards

Ollie Betteridge – Nottingham Panthers

Ben Davies – Guildford Flames

Robert Dowd – Sheffield Steelers

Robert Farmer – Nottingham Panthers

Luke Ferrara – Coventry Blaze

Mike Hammond – Manchester Storm

Liam Kirk – Peterborough Petes

Robert Lachowicz – Nottingham Panthers

Ben Lake – Coventry Blaze

Joey Lewis – ESV Kaufbeuren

Matthew Myers – Cardiff Devils

Brett Perlini – Nottingham Panthers

Jonathan Phillips – Sheffield Steelers

Colin Shield – Belfast Giants