GB Futures have named their squad for next month’s Under-16s Boys Four Nations in Tallinn.
The GB youngsters will face hosts Estonia, as well as Hungary and HS Riga, in the four-team tournament from 27th to 29th August.
Matches will take place at the Tondiraba Ice Hall which was opened back in 2014.
GB Futures: Under-16s Four Nations schedule
Thursday 27th August 14:30 (12:30 BST) – Great Britain v Hungary
Friday 28th August 18:00 (16:00 BST) – Great Britain v Estonia
Saturday 29th August 14:30 (12:30 BST) – HS Riga v Great Britain
GB will travel to Tallinn on Sunday 23rd August and will play a challenge game against Estonia on Tuesday 25th August at 16:00 (14:00 BST) as part of preparations for the tournament.
The squad was selected following a training camp of 44 players last week in Cardiff which was led by Head Coach Euan King.
Great Britain Men’s Assistant Coach Corey Neilson was part of the coaching staff, along with defenceman Mark Richardson, former GB forward Matthew Myers, GB Goalie Coach Davey Lawrence and Quintin Bollue who has been part of the Norway junior programme for many years.
King said: “We have been tracking these players with extensive scouting. It was an excellent camp and the coaches were so impressed with their tenacity and the way they played the game.
“This tournament is super important for the players’ development and they will go up against top hockey nations.
“It will be set-up like a World Championship and it will show the players what it takes to play at an international tournament and I think that’s so valuable moving forward.”
Ice Hockey UK’s Interim CEO, Tim Bratton, said: “The GB Futures programme demonstrates how effectively Ice Hockey UK and the UK Ice Hockey Foundation can work together for the benefit of the sport in this country.
“IHUK has brought together a highly promising group of under-16s boys who have benefited from the world-class coaching provided by Euan King and his team at the Foundation.
“It’s not just about the camp in Cardiff and the tournament in Estonia, it’s also about the access all of these young players will have to top quality coaching during the next 12 months.
“I’d like to thank Kevin McLaughlin, Euan and the UKIHF team for their commitment to supporting the GB Programme. We can all be optimistic about the emerging GB talent pool.”
