GB Futures produced a battling performance but were narrowly beaten 5-4 by HS Riga in the opening game of the Under-16s Boys Four Nations in Tallinn.
It’s the first of three games in the tournament for GB with matches to come against Team EESTI on Friday and Hungary on Saturday.
Freddie Cole was between the pipes for GB with Joel Munroe as back-up.
Murray Johnston gave GB the lead after only 87 seconds (01:27) and Jaiden Martin made it 2-0 just 15 seconds later (01:43).
Riga turned the game around with three unanswered goals from Alberts Lazarevs (09:11), Martins Berzups (21:21) and Arons Miezitis (23:34), before Dylan Ferguson equalised for GB (24:48).
Markuss Polis scored twice in under two minutes at 36:04 and 38:53 to put Riga into a two-goal lead just before the midway point of the second period.
Charlie Butler made it a one-goal game early in the third session (40:26). GB pushed hard for an equaliser and outshot Riga but were unable to beat Dmitrijs Generalovs again.
Head Coach, Euan King, said: “The boys bought in and battled hard. In the third period we dominated and the shot count was 23 to two in our favour.
“We had the opportunities to get something out of the game and, to be honest, go on and win. We were probably the better team for over half the game.
“But it goes back to learning lessons and cutting out little errors. That’s why we are here and the boys will learn a lot of it. They are playing quality nations in a real hockey environment.”
GB are back into action tomorrow (Friday) against Team EESTI with an 18:00 face-off (16:00 BST).
All games can be watched live on a webcast by clicking here.
GB Futures schedule and results
Thursday 27th August – Great Britain 4-5 HS Riga
Friday 28th August 18:00 (16:00 BST) – Great Britain v Team EESTI
Saturday 29th August 11:00 (09:00 BST) – Great Britain v Hungary