AUDIO: Second early GB call for Stingrays’ Davies

The 23-year-old centre is enjoying another fine season for Hull Stingrays in the Elite League, playing an integral role in their push for the Gardiner Conference title with 46 points in 40 games.

He is fourth overall in terms of assists for the league, second only to Coventry’s Ashley Tait in terms of British players.

Davies was selected for the preliminary squad ahead of last year’s world championship campaign in Hungary, but failed to make the final squad, with GB going on to be relegated from Division 1A.

For now, the talented forward is only concerned with fuelling Hull’s Conference title bid.

“I’m pleased to be named in the initial squad again and we will see what happens,” said Davies.

“My job at the moment is with helping Hull finish as high as possible in the league, making the play-offs and hopefully winning the Gardiner Conference. Anything which happens with GB after that is a bonus.”

Davies is joined in head coach Doug Christiansen’s squad by Hull team-mate Ben Bowns, the 23-year-old goaltender who made his international debut last in the Winter Olympics qualifiers last February.

Christiansen – who succeeded Tony Hand after last year’s calamitous campaign in Budapest – has also included six players from his club side Sheffield Steelers.

Defencemen Danny Meyers and Mark Thomas are joined by forwards Jonathan Phillips, Phil Hill, Jason Hewitt and Robert Dowd.

Christiansen’s squad will be cut to 27 for the start of their training camp in April and later reduced to 23 for the trip to Lithuania after two home internationals against Holland.

Once in Vilnius, they will come up against hosts Lithuania, as well as Croatia, Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

Given the current world rankings, GB will be one of the favourites for promotion back to Division 1A.

“We wanted to get a nice blend,” said Christiansen last night. “There are a number of players knocking on the door and also a number of top-quality players in our league.

“We want to get to Lithuania and hit the ground running. Our expectation and goal is to finish top of the group.

“But you look at the teams in our group - Netherlands have done well and Poland have been excellent.

“Poland have beaten Italy, Hungary and Ukraine. They are a team who views this as the same opportunity that we do.”

To hear Doug Christiansen talk about Great Britain’s World Championship squad click HERE

The Steelers head coach – who is preparing his club team for Wednesday night’s Challenge Cup semi-final first leg against Nottingham Panthers, admitted preparation would be key for British hopes.

“Being able to get the guys together and put them on the ice is important,” he added.

“It is great that there is a quality team coming in to play us before we travel and being a team in our World Championship group it will give us the opportunity not only to see our own players, but to see them.

“I think it is going to be something for us which is very, very important.”

GB preliminary squad for World Championships (division 1B), Lithuania, April 20-26.

Netminders: Ben Bowns (Hull Stingrays), Stevie Lyle (Swindon Wildcats), Stephen Murphy (Belfast Giants), Mike Will (Braehead Clan).

Defencemen: Josh Batch (Cardiff Devils), James Griffin (Coventry Blaze), Steve Lee (Nottingham Panthers), Sam McCluskey (Dundee Stars), Danny Meyers (Sheffield Steelers), Ben O’Connor (Arlan Kokshetau), David Phillips (Belfast Giants), Kevin Phillips (Belfast Giants), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Paul Swindlehurst (Dundee Stars), Mark Thomas (Sheffield Steelers), Jonathan Weaver (Nottingham Panthers).

Forwards: Jonathan Boxill (Nottingham Panthers), David Clarke (Nottingham Panthers), Ben Davies (Cardiff Devils), Matty Davies (Hull Stingrays), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Robert Farmer (Nottingham Panthers), Mark Garside (Belfast Giants), Matt Haywood (Braehead Clan), Jason Hewitt (Sheffield Steelers), Phil Hill (Sheffield Steelers), Robert Lachowicz (Nottingham Panthers), Matthew Myers (Cardiff Devils), Aaron Nell (Swindon Wildcats), Craig Peacock (Belfast Giants), Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers), Colin Shields (Belfast Giants), Ashley Tait (Coventry Blaze), Matt Towe (Braehead Clan), Ross Venus (Coventry Blaze).