Kiveton Park’s Cole Shudra, Liam Kirk from Maltby, and Swinton goalie Ben Bowns have been selected to represent Great Britain in the upcoming World Championship in Czechia. This exciting news comes hot on the heels of Shudra’s club side, Sheffield Steelers, clinching the Elite League title.
Shudra, who is just 25 years old, has had an unforgettable week, with his team’s recent victory adding to their collection of prestigious trophies. The Steelers had previously secured the Challenge Cup, and now Shudra is setting his sights on the Grand Slam by aiming for a win in the EIHL Play-Offs.
The national team’s training camp is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday, April 23 in Nottingham, where the 26-man roster will begin their preparations ahead of their matches against Poland the following weekend. The excitement is building up as fans eagerly anticipate the two exhilarating face-offs between GB and Poland at Planet Ice Leeds on Friday, April 26 and at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Saturday, April 27.
Looking ahead to the World Championship in May, GB will be based in Prague and will face tough competition in Group A at the 02 Arena. First up on Saturday, May 11, GB will take on world number one Canada, followed by a match against the second-ranked side, Finland, on Sunday, May 12. The squad will then go head-to-head with Switzerland on Wednesday, May 15, Denmark on Friday, May 17, and hosts Czechia on Saturday, May 18. The group fixtures will culminate with matches against Norway on Monday, May 20, and Austria on Tuesday, May 21.
The team roster includes a number of talented individuals who will be representing GB on the world stage. The defensive lineup consists of players such as Josh Batch from Cardiff Devils and David Clements from Coventry Blaze, while the forwards will be led by the likes of Ollie Betteridge from Nottingham Panthers and Liam Kirk from HC Litvinov.
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming World Championship and cheer for their favourite players, there is no doubt that the trio of Cole Shudra, Liam Kirk, and Ben Bowns will make their mark on the international stage, showcasing their exceptional skills and talent in the world of ice hockey.