IIHF 2026 World Championship

[Bryan]

I’m struggling to see what value it is playing at this level. Against the Swiss we have been totally outclassed. They even outplayed us when we were on a pp. Steele showed some promise and Robson did well in the net, but otherwise….

[steeler pete]

The Swiss haven’t lost a game yet and they’ve outclassed other teams more. I thought that was our most creditable performance.

Make a mistake at this level and it’s can be very costly. If we don’t play at this level what are we supposed to do?

[Bryan]

The Swiss haven’t lost a game yet and they’ve outclassed other teams more. I thought that was our most creditable performance.

Make a mistake at this level and it’s can be very costly. If we don’t play at this level what are we supposed to do?

Oh, sorry. I didn’t see the same game as you.

[steeler pete]

The Swiss certainly dominated the game and they are in a different class but a 3-1 defeat of USA, a 6-1 defeat of Germany and a 9-0 defeat of Austria suggest to me that we could’ve been humiliated more had we not at least defended relatively well.

I think you could reasonably argue all those teams should be better than us.

We were poorer against Hungary who are also not in the same class as the Swiss.

[lovedenisvial]

4 0 defeat to Finland tonight against possibly the next world champions!
We battled for long periods without the puck but we stayed with it! Can't say we are getting any closer to these elite countries but we are the pick of the nations who sit just below them in the world structure.
I do think we are seeing the end of a number of brits on the international stage who have had stellar careers but now should call it a day! Richardson, Davies, Bowns, Perlini (who did nothing in this tournament) and possibly Dowd too! include Laco in that group as well.
I do feel the group of younger players who have shown themselves to be very competent at this level, should now be given the opportunity to take GB forward! I don't think Logan Neilson is good enough at the moment to be part of GB but he does have time on his side and a season in France might develop his skills.

[BontSteeler]

4 0 defeat to Finland tonight against possibly the next world champions!
We battled for long periods without the puck but we stayed with it! Can't say we are getting any closer to these elite countries but we are the pick of the nations who sit just below them in the world structure.
I do think we are seeing the end of a number of brits on the international stage who have had stellar careers but now should call it a day! Richardson, Davies, Bowns, Perlini (who did nothing in this tournament) and possibly Dowd too! include Laco in that group as well.
I do feel the group of younger players who have shown themselves to be very competent at this level, should now be given the opportunity to take GB forward! I don't think Logan Neilson is good enough at the moment to be part of GB but he does have time on his side and a season in France might develop his skills.

Dowd & Bowns both announced that they're retiring from GB duty

[steeler pete]

They’ve done their time and can retire with their heads held high.

Latvia are 6-0 ahead with a 3rd period to go. I can’t watch any more of that. I think relegation is inevitable and it seems likely there’ll be no bounce back next year based on this showing. Many of this group of players are well short of the level required.

Germany had some tough fixtures early in the competition. I think they’ll also be way too strong for us.

It may be some time before we can aspire to this level again

[lovedenisvial]

ANO 6 0 battering from Latvia this time! I just don't understand this 'dump everything' attitude we have? Why can't we at least pass out into the neutral zone when in good possession ? the fear factor has gotten into our game and its not doing us any favours.
Big changes required!!!!!

[Doom]

A shame, but not really a surprise we've struggled so badly.

You just have to look at the GB squad and ask yourself how many of the players would play 1st line in the EIHL? - My guess is 2 or possibly 3.

Some of the teams we've been playing I would guess virtually their entire squad would be good enough for the top line on an EIHL team.

We've done remarkably well to make it into the top pool, but realistically our level is below this.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

ANO 6 0 battering from Latvia this time! I just don't understand this 'dump everything' attitude we have? Why can't we at least pass out into the neutral zone when in good possession ? the fear factor has gotten into our game and its not doing us any favours.
Big changes required!!!!!

Simply put, we don't have players who can cope with the skating of teams at that level. We also have a distinct lack of puck moving D (Steele has the potential though).

This is what we need from junior development. Better skating and then better skills development at a higher pace. Whenever GB get a chance to break, the pass is either behind/in front or is miscontrolled.

Austria was essentially an ICEHL all star team made up of domestic players. Baring in mind we recruit a number of imports from that league, we need Brits to be getting to the same level as a minimum. We have maybe 3 in the league (Dowd, Conway and Waller), and one doesn't want to be involved at national team level seemingly.

Ultimately it will never improve unless we start better development - it's no good trying to do 50% of the development at age 21/22 - that should be where it's about putting the skills together at a pro level and experience (i.e like the last 15-20% of the player's development). They should have the skating/skills all locked down by that point.