Cardiff Devils netminder Ben Bowns says the Great Britain squad have settled in well to their surroundings in Budapest ahead of their opening World Championship match against Slovenia on Sunday.
GB go into the tournament on the back of last season’s promotion from Division One Group B in Belfast, while Slovenia were relegated from the top tier of World Championship ice hockey and pose a major threat.
“We will face five exceptionally tough games this week, but it is something we are all looking forward to doing,” said Bowns.
“Slovenia played in the Olympics earlier this year and were in the top flight last season.
“But our squad have settled in well and we have had a couple of great training sessions since arriving in Budapest.”
Bowns is one of four Devils players in the squad, along with Thomas Murdy, Mark Richardson and Matthew Myers, while Ben Davies and Jonathan Phillips are both Welsh.
Eight players will make the full GB World Championship debuts tomorrow, but Bowns says the new guys have settled in well.
“This is a different roster from the one which won promotion in Belfast last year,” says Bowns.
“But there are loads of guys with experience and the new guys are already integrated into the squad.
“There is an air of excitement about the camp and we can’t wait to get going.”
GB v Slovenia starts at 12.30pm on Sunday (11:30am UK time).
Forward Liam Kirk says the start of his first World Championship trip with Great Britain has been an ‘amazing experience.’
The 18-year-old was named in coach Peter Russell’s 23-man squad for the Division One Group A in Budapest after an impressive season with Sheffield Steelers.
“It has been special,” said Kirk. “The facilities here are fantastic and the teams we are going to play will be top quality.
“I have been watching Slovenia practice and they seem exceptional.”
GB had their first training session in the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna today after training in the smaller Vasas Ice Centre venue on Friday.
Kirk won the gold medal with GB at the under-18 World Championship Division Two Group A at the start of the month and he says he has already noticed a massive difference in the two tournaments.
“Winning gold medal was special but this level of hockey is something else,” he said.
“Just seeing the amount of media interest and the set-up here in the arena shows how important this tournament is.
“I have been welcomed into the dressing room by the team and it was useful that I have played with and against this guys this season.
“It’s great to be part of this roster and I am looking forward to the tournament.”
There will be live TV coverage go GB matches on FreeSports with Aaron Murphy and Paul Adey, as well as full-match radio commentary on the BBC Sport website with Seth Bennett.
World Championship matches for Britain in Budapest:
Sunday 22 Great Britain v Slovenia
Tuesday 24 Kazakhstan v Great Britain
Wednesday 25 Great Britain v Poland
Friday 27 Italy v Great Britain
Saturday 28 Hungary v Great Britain
GB’s 23-man squad:
Netminders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils), Jackson Whistle (Belfast Giants), Thomas Murdy (Cardiff Devils, reserve).
Defence: Dallas Ehrhardt (Manchester Storm), Steve Lee (Nottingham Panthers), Ben O’Connor (Sheffield Steelers), David Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Zach Sullivan (Braehead Clan), Paul Swindlehurst (Manchester Storm).
Forwards: Ollie Betteridge (Nottingham Panthers), Brendan Brooks (Braehead Clan), Ben Davies (Guildford Flames), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Robert Farmer (Nottingham Panthers), Luke Ferrara (Coventry Blaze), Mike Hammond (Manchester Storm), Liam Kirk (Sheffield Steelers), Robert Lachowicz (Nottingham Panthers), Matthew Myers (Cardiff Devils), Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Brett Perlini (Nottingham Panthers), Colin Shields (Belfast Giants).