Great Britain secured the goal medal and promotion with a 3-0 victory over Poland on the final day of the World Championship Division I Group A in Romania.
It means GB will play at the top level once again next year in the 2026 World Championship in Switzerland.
Ben Bowns, who secured a 40-shot shutout, started between the pipes with Jackson Whistle as back-up.
Head Coach Pete Russell won his 75th cap since first joining the men’s team in 2014.
Waller gives GB first-period lead
Liam Kirk had the first chance of the game inside the opening minute but his shot was saved by Tomas Fucik and Brett Perlini hit the side-netting soon after.
Robert Lachowicz, Logan Neilson and Robert Dowd went close as GB piled on the pressure on successive shifts.
At the other end, Bowns made a good stop to deny Dominik Pas from close-range and made a huge sprawling save to turn away Krzysztof Macias’ effort.
GB went ahead when Josh Tetlow set up Dowd who saw his shot saved, before Josh Waller buried the rebound for his third goal of the tournament (17:01).
Hazeldine gets assist for first GB point
Defenceman Joe Hazeldine secured his first GB point when he produced a great play on the blueline to glide away from his man and although his shot was saved, Dowd slammed home the rebound (28:20).
Poland came back strong after the goal and Bowns made a string of good stops including a good glove save to deny Mikolaj Syty.
GB’s third goal came on the powerplay as Waller skated down the left-wing and fed Ollie Betteridge who spun in the slot and fired past Fucik (35:22).
GB secure promotion to 2026 World Championship in Switzerland
Bowns made four big saves on two successive Poland powerplays early in the third period.
Dowd had a one-timer saved on a GB man advantage just past the midway point of the session.
The clock ticked down and GB saw out the game to secure a immediate return to the top level of World Championship ice hockey.
GB World Championship Results
Sunday 27th April: Ukraine 3-4 Great Britain (penalty-shots)
Monday 28th April: Great Britain 2-1 Romania (overtime)
Wednesday 30th April: Great Britain 5-4 Japan (overtime)
Thursday 1st May: Italy 1-5 Great Britain
Saturday 3rd May: Great Britain 3-0 Poland
Click for full results and stats on the tournament website.
