Hosting bid misses but GB are elevated

ICE HOCKEY: Great Britain’s hopes of hosting the prestigious world championships were ended after the world game’s officials voted for Slovenia to stage next year’s Division 1A event next April.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2011, 10:43 BST

Nottingham’s National Ice Centre was the chosen venue as part of Britain’s bid, with Elite League official Andy French spending the past week in Bratislava lobbying International Ice Hockey Federation bosses who were there for the elite level of the world championships.

Slovenia hosted a second-tier event last year which saw GB narrowly miss out on a medal, although that was soon forgotten after last month’s silver medal heroics in the Ukraine.

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Following their second place in Kiev, Britain’s rise of three places and into the world’s top 20 is expected to be confirmed by IIHF in the next few days.

A restructuring of the world championship format, means the second tier will now have two levels, with head coach Paul Thompson’s team being placed in the top group of six, with two promotion places to the top tier up for grabs in 11 months time.

If successful, it would see Britain including the likes of Canada, Russia and Sweden.

But with the likes of of the higher-ranked Austria, Hungary and Slovenia in the same group, Britain will start the event as outsiders.

n Goaltender Christian Boucher has confirmed he will return for a second season with Hull Stingrays in the Elite League.

Related topics:Great BritainNational Ice CentreNottingham