GB Women's Team Looking For Promotion

The Great Britain Women's ice hockey team has announced the names of the eighteen women who will compete in the 2001 IIHF World Women's Championships Pool B qualification tournament, taking place in Szekesferhevar, Hungary, between the 22nd and 26th March 2000. In Group B of the competition, Great Britain will face DPR Korea, Australia and the Netherlands, whilst in Group A, Slovakia, Hungary, South Africa and Belgium will do battle for promotion. First on the agenda is a match against DPR Korea on Wednesday 22nd March. The next day (23rd March), GB face Australia and on 25th March, tackle old rivals the Netherlands. To have any chance of gaining promotion to Pool B of the World Championships next year, GB must top their table after their round-robin of fixtures. After the three group matches, the team placed first in Group A will play the winner of Group B; second placed in Group A will play the runners-up of group B, et seq, for the medal positions. In preparation for the tournament, the team have played several warm-up games against junior teams, beating the England under 14's 4-3 and drawing 3-3 with the Midland conference under 15's team, who beat the GB Women's team 8-2 last year. One-day camps have been held before every warm-up game and training session, and to make extra sure the players are at their very best before the first match, the GB team will participate in a three-day training camp in Hungary, which will include a challenge match against the host nation. GB did well in the competition last year, coming a close second to Italy, who gained promotion to Pool B. They lost out 4-1 to Italy, then went on to beat South Africa 22-0 - the highest ever score in IIHF Women's World Championships - and Hungary 9-1. Three GB players topped the scoring tables, with five players in the top ten. So with key changes made to the squad, can the GB Women's team improve on the performances of last year? Coach Laura Urquhart is very optimistic. "We have only made three changes to last years roster - but this team is faster, more experienced and definitely more determined to succeed. The players are really playing well together as a unit. The competition this year will be tough as always. We know little about Korea, but they are sure to be fast skaters and tough minded. Australia are another unknown quantity, although we know they have prepared well with several tours of the US and Canada under their belts. Our last game is against old rivals the Netherlands, whom we have played many times with mixed results. We have not met since 1996 so we are going to surprise them I am sure with our improvement." "We are all very excited about the team and our prospects in Hungary. The skill and work ethic of all the players is extremely high this year and we have a very good chance of promotion." Urquhart added. The team would like to extend thanks to 'Misson Hockey' Paul Biffen who generously supplied the team with caps this season and to the Nottingham Ice Stadium for providing training ice. The 18 women selected to participate in the Championships are: Netminders: Amy Johnson (Swindon), Vicky Robbins (Guildford). Defence: Nicola Bicknell (Slough), Vicky Burton (Bracknell), Louise Fisher (Slough), Sue Hemmerman (Kingston), Cheryl Smith (Nottingham), Tonia Scialdone (Nottingham). Forwards: Natalie Arthur (Blackburn), Zoe Bayne (Billingham), Laura Byrne (Bracknell), Sam Cheetham (Bracknell), Fiona King (Guildford), Claire Oldfield (Whitley Bay), Debbie Palmer (Swindon), Michelle Smith (Nottingham), Emily Turner (Sheffield), Louise Wheeler (Slough). Coaches: Laura Urquhart, Matt Bradbury. Goalie Coach - David Graham. 17th March 2000 For further information contact the GBIHB Media Office on 01530 838899, or Laura Urquhart, Coach of the GB Women's Team, on 0115 9871962