Great Britain began their IIHF Under-20 Men’s World Championship Division II Group A campaign with a 3-1 loss to hosts Croatia in Zagreb.

It was a strong start to the game for GB with three successful penalty-kills and dangerous forechecking from Sam Lyne whilst short-handed to keep the hosts alert.

GB looked threatening in the first period with captain Finn Bradon driving forward to feed Lyne who was denied by Niksa Slade, before Dylan Lipsey continued the pressure with strong puck control, setting-up Josh Shaw who went close.

It wasn’t until Marko Vukadin sat two minutes for hooking, sending GB on the powerplay, that the deadlock was broken. Brodie Kay played the puck to Jacob White-Sey who walked the blueline before unleashing a shot that beat Slade on his left, going in off the post (19:49).

Looking to quickly extend their lead as the second session began, Kyle Carruth fed Brynley Capps who forced a good pad save out of Slade.

Croatia increased the intensity as the period went on and Matej Mandusic set-up Filip Kasparek to score the home side’s equaliser (28:46).

Huge saves from Alfie Jefferis brought the period to an end with the score level and an all-to-play-for third period.

The hosts went ahead on the powerplay when Fran Zavrski scored a neat one-timer from the left-circle (51:32), before Jefferis made a number of huge saves on another penalty-kill to keep his side in it.

But Luka Bodiroga made the game safe for Croatia when he cut inside from the right and fired across Jefferis inside the final four minutes (56:40).

Chasing a two-goal deficit, GB called a timeout, pulling Jefferis in favour of an extra skater but could not find a way past Slade.

GB are straight back into action tomorrow (Tuesday) against Lithuania.

GB schedule
Monday 6th January: Great Britain 1-3 Croatia
Tuesday 7th January: Lithuania v Great Britain 16:00 (15:00 GMT) – watch on a webcast
Thursday 9th January: Great Britain v China 12:30 (11:30 GMT) – watch on a webcast
Friday 10th January: Netherlands v Great Britain 16:00 (15:00 GMT) – watch on a webcast
Sunday 12th January: Great Britain v Romania 12:30 (11:30 GMT) – watch on a webcast