Great Britain have left Cardiff Devils defenceman Josh Batch out of their team for the World Championships.
Batch is one of five players released from the 28-man squad following back-to-back warm-up matches against Poland.
GB lost 4-1 in the first game at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham before winning 5-4 after overtime and penalties in the second clash.
Head coach Pete Russell is preparing GB for the first men’s World Championship in the UK for 25 years.
Belfast’s SSE Arena will host the six-team Division One Group B from April 23 to April 29.
Russell’s team play Japan, who were relegated last year, and Division Two winners Netherlands, as well as last seasons opponents Croatia, Estonia and Lithuania.
There are first World Championship call-ups for Brendan Brooks and 18-year-old Sam Duggan, while Batch, Luke Ferrara, Jack Prince, Zach Sullivan and Ross Venus are released from the squad.
Liam Stewart is set to make his first World Championship appearance after being named in the 2015 squad in the Netherlands, but had to pull out because of injury.
Evan Mosey will fly in from North America this week to link-up with the squad, before they depart for Belfast on Thursday.
“Cutting the squad is never easy, but I believe we have a fantastic 23 players who want to create some history next week,” said Russell.
“We have great balance across the squad and we will be extremely competitive.
“We know that the aim is the gold medal and there will be pressure on us to perform, but I believe we have the right group of players.
“The players will experience something a generation of players haven’t been able to do by playing a tournament on home ice.
“Everybody is focused and excited about the challenges ahead.”
Prince scored the sudden-death penalty winner in Britain’s 5-4 win at Coventry’s Skydome on Saturday.
Luke Ferrara, Matthew Myers, Zach Sullivan and Ross Venus, who all missed the Friday match, were called up and Cardiff’s Tom Murdy started in net.
Poland took the lead at four minutes 51 seconds when Grzegorz Pasiut forced home a rebound from close range.
Britain levelled when Steve Lee’s pass out of defence put Craig Peacock through and he went backhand-forehand to slide the puck into the net as goalie Radziszewski knocked the net off. As the shot was in process the goal stood and GB were level.
Less than two minutes later Poland regained the lead with a penalty shot goal. Damian Kapica was fouled on a breakaway and the player made no mistake with the penalty, firing a slapshot past Murdy.
The middle period saw Great Britain level again, Robert Farmer on hand to slam home a rebound after Brendan Brooks shot was saved.
Before the end of the period GB were ahead for the first time with a fantastic team goal. Mark Richardson and Farmer set up captain and former Devils forward Jonathan Phillips and he one-timed the puck home at 37-47 for a 3-2 lead.
A broken play in the GB zone early in the third let Jakub Wanacki in close and his backhand shot found the net for 3-3 (43-02).
A bad hit behind the GB net by Marcin Kolusz caused a coming together of players and led to Poland’s Zapala and Guzik along with GB’s Stewart being ejected.
There was more late drama during a 59th minute GB powerplay when Poland goalie Radziszewski pushed the net off as GB threatened and was penalised.
A penalty shot was awarded and Robert Farmer waited for the goalie to commit before lifting the puck over him and into the net for a 4-3 GB lead with 53 seconds to play.
Poland still hit back when Pasiut scored to make it 4-4 at 59-59.
Overtime was goalless and the issue was decided on penalties. Robert Dowd and Prince scored for GB to earn the victory.
After the match assistant coach Tom Watkins said: “The players showed heart and passion and came back to take the win.”
Great Britain’s first game in the World Championship is in Belfast on Sunday, April 23 against Croatia (4pm).
GB team:
Netminders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils), Stephen Murphy (Belfast Giants), Thomas Murdy (Cardiff Devils, reserve).
Defence: Mark Garside (Belfast Giants), Steve Lee (Nottingham Panthers), Ben O’Connor (Sheffield Steelers), David Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Paul Swindlehurst (Manchester Storm), Jonathan Weaver (Telford Tigers).
Forwards: Brendan Brooks (Fife Flyers), David Clarke (Nottingham Panthers), Russell Cowley (Coventry Blaze), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Sam Duggan (Orebro, Sweden), Robert Farmer (Nottingham Panthers), Robert Lachowicz (Nottingham Panthers), Evan Mosey (Rockford Ice Hogs, USA), Matthew Myers (Cardiff Devils), Craig Peacock (Braehead Clan), Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Colin Shields (Belfast Giants), Liam Stewart (Coventry Blaze).