Great Britain 2 Italy 6: 2018 Winter Olympics dream is over for GB

A 6-2 defeat to the hosts ended any chance of making the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in two years’ time.

Pete Russell’s team had gone into their final Group G game in Cortina knowing a win over Italy would take them on to the final qualifying stage in Norway in September.

But, against a team sat six places higher than them in the IIHF world rankings, they never recovered from being 4-0 down with only just over half the game gone, while 22 minutes in minor penalties didn’t help their cause either, two of the Italians’ goals coming on the powerplay.

Sheffield Steelers’ Jonathan Phillips admitted the penalty count was partly to blame for their exit, but also felt GB paid their opponents too much respect, particularly in the first period.

“We lost focus a bit with the penalties,” admitted Phillips.

“I think there were a few which were unfair on us but, at the end of the day, I think we could have refocused a bit better.

“I think we gave them just a little too much respect in the first period.

“With our energy and the way we skate, we could’ve gone at them a little bit.

“We were a bit hesitant in that first period and, at three goals down – we just couldn’t get it back.”

Italy, who like GB had beaten Serbia and Netherlands earlier in the tournament, effectively sealed their progress in the first period – powerplay goals from Christian Borgatello and Anton Bernard being complemented by a third from Simon Kostner.

The hosts extended their lead through Borgatello at 35.56 before Russell’s team earned themselves a lifeline through Ashley Tait’s powerplay marker at 38.25.

It became 4-2 when good work by Sheffield Steelers’ defenceman Ben O’Connor kept the puck inside the blue line with his fierce shot being tipped in by David Clarke.

Conceding a quick goal down the other end was the last thing GB needed, but Rotherham-born goalie Ben Bowns was given little chance when a good screen blocked his view of Alexander Gellert’s bullet from the right wing.

As GB pushed for a way back, Joachim Ramoser completed the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Afterwards, head coach Russell said that despite the disappointment, there was still a bright future ahead for the current British roster.

““We gave it our best shot and I am proud of them, but we have to be better and we have to be more disciplined.

“We can take a lot from the tournament and it has given us plenty to work on ahead of April’s World Championship in Croatia.

“We are a young side and I think we have a bright future.”