Proud GB Coach Full Of Praise For His Players

Great Britain suffered heartache on the final day of their World Under-20 ice hockey challenge.

They took on Japan at Dumfries Ice Bowl knowing a win would clinch gold and earn promotion.

But they were edged out 5-2 and left them with the bronze medal position in Division Two group A, while Japan took top spot and move up to the next level.

“There were two good teams out there who gave their all,” said Britain coach Slava Koulikov. “Maybe they had a little more luck.

“I’m proud of this group of guys. Every player bought into our tactics and everything we tried to do.

“I’m proud they set up a gold medal game.”

Cardiff Fire goaltender Jordan Lawday underlined his status as the best in Britain at his age with some outstanding displays and he pulled off a magnificent point blank save from Japan’s Hiroya Tokuda to keep GB in the hunt.

http://https://youtu.be/6jTPvwi7yK0

Britain finished behind group winners Japan and Korea, who finished second after beating Romania 5-2 in their last game of the week.

After early GB pressure Japan went ahead when Masato Kume slid the puck past Lawday on a rebound (4-22) and Daiki Miura scored at the backdoor at 8-49 after constant pressure on the powerplay.

Sam Duggan was denied from close range after Liam Kirk broke down the right side moments after coming out of the penalty box.

Japan led 2-0 at the first interval but GB came out hard in period two as Cole Shudra and Jordan Buesa went close on the same shift.

Kirk took his tournament tally to seven goals when he closed the gap for GB, firing top shelf through traffic on a five-v-three powerplay (29-21).

Japan regained a two-goal lead again when Hayato Aiki bundled in a rebound on the doorstep at 42-33 and made it 4-1 with Daiki Miura’s shot through traffic on the powerplay (51-09).

GB head coach Slava Koulikov took his timeout at 55-22 and lifted netminder Lawday for the extra skater and it paid dividends within 15 seconds as Shudra netted on the rebound (55-37).

Despite a further three minutes of constant pressure GB were unable to find a way past Eiki Sato, and Junki Shinoda wrapped the game up into the empty net (59-03).

Josh Tetlow was named as GB’s man of the match, while Duggan was awarded Britain’s player of the tournament.

Andy French, general secretary of Ice Hockey UK, said: “I’m delighted at how the whole week went and how we have advanced the sport of ice hockey.

“Great Britain took Japan to the wire and really enthused the crowds who came along to Dumfries from all over the country.

“The tried and trusted working partnership we have with the council enabled Ice Hockey UK to deliver this World Championship to the same high standards as previous tournaments.”