IIHF World Championships

[smbmetal]

We deserve all the credit and plaudits with zero budget and holding our own against some world class players. Got to be an amazing experience for all the players.

I’ve watched a lot of the games and the one consistent thing I’ve seen that we don’t do hardly at all is clearing of the front of the net is very aggressive. We stand and watch, very similar to how the EIHL is in general.

Hope we can get at least one win.

[ginger]

Obviously a fair few newer fans have taken an interest in GB this year, and shows with some of the negative responses to losses.

Pool A is such a step up in quality, NHL guys paid millions to be the best hockey players in the world on most teams.

It does bring up legitimate questions regarding development, and as usual, import numbers are brought up. Whilst the ideal of course is to have lower numbers, we need Brits good enough to step in to the EIHL at 21/22. This is about junior development, not the top league import numbers.

The obvious deficiencies GB have at this level are skating, and the general pace of play. These are both teachable, so it has to come down to coaching quality and ice time. Kids need more ice - once a week doesn't cut it. Need to be on the ice 4 times a week plus stick skills off ice.

[smbmetal]

Good effort lads. I didn’t see this one being at work. Thought it would have been closer though.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/wm/ ... 72/gbr_nor

Onto the Olympic qualifiers next. That would be a miracle if we qualified for that looking at our group we’re in.

[lovedenisvial]

Yea! one game too many for GB, real shame their least effective game turns out to be the most important one! Never really got to grips with the Danish game plan, far too many loose pucks and giveaways to win against a Pool A team. They did have their chances in the last game against Demark! that was the one to win to have a real chance of staying up. Still a very good performance all round, thought the performance against the Swiss was just brilliant!! Can't see us getting anything from Austria. Well done guys! the gap is closing!!

[smbmetal]

I think the performance against Canada was the best performance I’ve seen in a short 10 years of watching GB. Really had them worried at one point. And maybe the OT win against France a few years ago.

[BontSteeler]

Yea! one game too many for GB, real shame their least effective game turns out to be the most important one! Never really got to grips with the Danish game plan, far too many loose pucks and giveaways to win against a Pool A team. They did have their chances in the last game against Demark! that was the one to win to have a real chance of staying up. Still a very good performance all round, thought the performance against the Swiss was just brilliant!! Can't see us getting anything from Austria. Well done guys! the gap is closing!!

That was a cracking victory over Austria earlier, hats off to the guys to finish on a winning note, when they could've easily thrown the towel in.

[steeler pete]

GB beat Austria 4-2 today. Kirk didn’t play as he’s been unwell, so Mosey moved up front. A shame they didn’t move him up earlier in the tournament as Kirk seemed to be our only real threat. The opposition just closed him down and our offence was negated.

I doubt Dowd’s wrist injury was healed, he didn’t seem his normal self.

Pity about that penalty in the 3rd v Denmark, if we could’ve got something from that game it may have been what we needed to avoid relegation.

Still I think on the whole they can hold their heads up.

[lovedenisvial]

Well! what I know about hockey after 23 years watching the Steelers? ??
Well done to GB on a brilliant last game performance (totally against my prediction) special mention for Ben O Conner! what a tournament he's had! But all the guys played their part in every game, just a shame that naff call against Denmark has made the difference.