Great Britain ended their Olympic Qualifying campaign with a 3-2 over Japan in Aalborg.
It was a hard-fought victory for GB against a fast-skating Japan team who are coached by former Cardiff Devils Head Coach Jarrod Skalde.
Sean Norris scored his first international goal while Liam Kirk and Josh Waller scored their second goals of the tournament. Jackson Whistle got the start in goal with Ben Bowns as back-up.
GB score three in first period
GB went ahead on the powerplay as Waller and Nathanael Halbert combined to set-up Norris who scored with a neat low wrist-shot (2:59).
Brett Perlini hit the post and Davey Phillips was denied from close-range while at the other end, Whistle saved well from Nakajima Shogo.
Kirk netted on the powerplay from the right-circle (14:18) before Ben Lake’s shot was saved and Waller slammed home the rebound for GB’s third (16:20).
Japan hit back with two-goal second period
Japan reduced the arrears early in the second session when Otsu Kosuke cut inside from the left and shot across Whistle into the right-hand corner (22:51).
Whistle superbly saved Irikura Taiga’s close-range effort and then denied Kento Suzuki twice in quick succession.
Robert Dowd went close for GB before Sato Hiroto’s shot came back off the boards and Furuhashi Makuru scored on the rebound from close-range to make it a one-goal game (36:55).
No goals in third period as GB secure victory
Whistle made an outstanding save to deny Sato Yu on the doorstep on an early third-period powerplay for Japan.
Sam Duggan saw his shot saved by the pad of Narisawa Yuta who then made a brilliant glove save to stop Kirk’s goalbound effort.
Japan lifted Narisawa Yuta for the extra out-skater with just over two minutes remaining, but GB held firm to round-off the tournament with a victory.
