Sean Easton has been confirmed as Head Coach of Great Britain Under-20s Men.
Easton is joined by Assistant Coaches Corey Neilson and Matthew Myers, with Davey Lawrence named as Goalie and Video Coach.
Jonathan Phillips, National Teams Programme Director, said: “I am thrilled to unveil our under-20 men’s coaching staff.
“These appointments continue our commitment to ensuring that all our teams receive the best coaching that we can provide. There is now real coaching alignment across the whole programme
“Sean is one of GB’s most successful junior coaches after first joining the programme in 2016. He understands the culture and has played a huge role in the early part of so many GB careers.
“Appointing Corey speaks for itself – especially with his track record of developing GB players – and I think the link between this position and his Head Coach role with the under-18s is so important.
“Matthew is GB through and through. He went to battle for his country night in, night out. He won it all domestically and his leadership qualities make him perfect for this role. We are delighted to welcome Matthew back into the GB Programme as a coach.
“Davey has been part of the programme for a few years now and is developing the next generation of GB netminders. He has been a vital part of the success of Leeds Knights and is one of the most highly-regarded goalie coaches in the UK game.
“Again, all four understand ‘The GB Way’. They understand what being a GB player is all about and they will use that to teach and develop the next generation.”
Sean Easton
Easton has been involved in the GB Programme since 2016 and has worked with the under-20s, under-18s and under-16s for over a decade.
He’s been part of a gold-medal campaign (2018), three silvers and five bronze across 10 World Championship tournaments at junior level.
As a player, Easton spent the majority of his career at Chelmsford Chieftains apart from two seasons in the ENL with Streatham Redskins.
His first major Head Coach role saw him take up the reigns at Chelmsford in 2015/16 where he led the Chieftains to back-to-back NIHL 1 South championship titles.
Easton joined Raiders IHC in 2017/18 and spent seven seasons with the NIHL club before returning to work in the Chelmsford organisation.
Midway through last season he returned to the NIHL with Romford and signed a new deal in March for 2026/27, with the club highlighting that Easton has “improved pathways for younger players and enhanced the club’s reputation across the NIHL”.
Corey Neilson
Neilson becomes Assistant Coach of the under-20s alongside his Head Coach role of the under-18s.
He was a third-round pick in the 1994 NHL Draft by Edmonton Oilers and played much of the early part of his career in North America.
The defenceman arrived in the UK in 2006 with the Nottingham Panthers and won two trophies in his first two seasons as a player, before taking up the role as Head Coach.
Neilson led the Panthers to the Elite League title in 2013 as well as four playoff championships and six Challenge Cups.
He won the Continental Cup with the Panthers in 2017 and took them to the quarter-finals of the Champions Hockey League the following season.
Neilson went on to coach in Germany, Norway and Slovakia and back in the UK with Glasgow Clan.
The blueliner won 10 caps as a Great Britain player and has been GB’s Assistant Coach since 2017, helping the national team to four gold medals as well as five seasons in the top pool of the World Championship.
This summer, Neilson was appointed Regional Manager, Hockey Development (North) for the UK Ice Hockey Foundation which partners with IHUK on the delivery of the GB Programme.
Matthew Myers
Myers appeared in 19 World Championship tournaments and five Olympic Qualifiers, playing 114 games, scoring 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points.
The Cardiff-born forward never missed a World Championship and was part of GB’s gold medal-winning campaigns in Belfast (2017), Hungary (2018) and Nottingham (2023).
Myers also won silver medals in 2011, 2015 and 2016, as well as a bronze in 2009. He played in three successive top-flight World Championship tournaments, starting with Slovakia in 2019.
Myers had a glittering playing career with Cardiff Devils and Nottingham Panthers for over two decades.
He helped Nottingham win five Playoff Championships, five Challenge Cup trophies and the Elite League title in 2013.
With the Devils, Myers won the Elite League twice as well as two playoff Championship and two Challenge Cup titles.
Myers was named Assistant Coach of Cardiff Devils in 2024/25 and last season was named Head Coach of CSM Corona Brasov, leading them to the Romanian Supercup title.
Davey Lawrence
Lawrence is a former GB junior international, playing in World Championship tournaments for both the under-18s and under-20s.
After coming through the Sheffield junior system, his domestic playing career saw him ice for Sheffield Steelers, winning the Elite League and Playoff Championship double in 2003/04. He also played for Romford Raiders, Telford Tigers and Basingstoke Bison in the EPHIL.
Transitioning into coaching, Lawrence has played a key role in the development of goaltending in Leeds, coaching with the junior programme since its inception.
Lawrence has been Goaltending Coach at NIHL side Leeds Knights since 2022/23 and has won three league titles, two Playoff Championships and one National Cup.
He has worked with both Great Britain Under-18s Men and Under-20s since 2024 and was part of the U20s silver medal-winning coaching staff last season.
Earlier this year, Lawrence was named Regional Goaltending Development Coach (England North & Midlands) for the UK Ice Hockey Foundation which partners with IHUK on the delivery of the GB Programme.