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Great Britain Roster Named

IIHF Team Great Britain Inline News Fifteen Players named to World Championship Roster

After two selection trials and much deliberation, IIHF In-Line Team Great Britain are pleased to announce the names of the players who will represent GB at the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation’s Men’s In-Line World Championships to be held July 9^th-17^th in Budapest, Hungary.

 

Great Britain will take fifteen players to Hungary where they will attempt to emulate 2004’s Gold Medal winning performance. With the roster featuring seven players under the age of twenty-two, the line up is the youngest GB has ever sent to the Worlds and Team Coach Andrew Sillitoe is quick to promote the benefits of such a youthful squad:

“This is the quickest GB team we have ever produced,” says Sillitoe who named the line-up after consulting his team of Assistant Coaches based on player performance at one or both trials. “In both the forward and defensive positions we have great speed and players who are strong on the puck but there is also plenty of experience in this roster.”

 

The line-up boasts twelve players returning from the 2005 tournament where GB finished in third place in Division One. 2005 and 2004 top scorer John Dolan returns to spearhead GB’s attacking threat while Simon Hehir is back for his fourth consecutive World Championship on defence. Three players make their IIHF tournament debut including Nottingham’s Chris Colegate and Brighton’s Kris Hendy.  Nineteen year old forward Nick Avery is named as the team’s thirteenth skater.

 

“Selecting this team was an incredibly difficult job and we could have named another line or two but we’re happy with the line-up,” says Sillitoe. “We’re taking thirteen skaters this year plus two goalies which will give us some cover if we pick up any injuries but it also helps the team for the future.

“Last year we were fortunate enough to bring in three young players for experience purposes and two of those (Stu Brian and Mark Corfield) have stepped up another gear and made the team proper this time so we have seen this policy work.

 

“I know the coaching staff spent a long time choosing this team”, says Team Manager Dave Hawkins. “They faced some very difficult decisions and a very long shortlist. We had an abundance of talent at both trials and several players were really close to making the line-up. I know I share the opinion of the coaching staff that we want these players to know that the door for future selection is never shut and the goal of representing GB is still achievable.”

 

The final roster will meet up on Saturday 1^st of July for a final practice before flying out to Hungary on Sunday the 9^th of July. Great Britain begins the 2006 World Championships on the 10^th of July against Namibia in the first of three group games. GB will then face Argentina and Japan before the playoff round commences.  

 

Further news will be released before the tournament while game reports will be released after each and every game of the World tournament.

 

2006 IIHF In-Line Team Great Britain Roster

Skaters:

Nick Avery*
Stuart Brian**

Mark Corfield
Chris Colgate*
John Dolan
Simon Hehir
Richard Hargreaves
Kris Hendy*, **
John Nash
Leigh Roberts
Andrew Sillitoe (Player / Coach)

Andy Skelding
Aaron Shinwell

Goaltenders

James Tanner

Danny Wood

 

*Denotes debutant

**Denotes was selected due to performance at first trial.

 

Sponsorship and Advertising opportunities still exist for the 2006 tournament. Please contact Dave Hawkins on 07881 923093 for further details.

 

2006 Sponsors

Gold: The Hockey Stop,

Silver: VisitBritain.  

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