Sheffield Steeldogs' Liam Steele handed perfect birthday present with Great Britain call-up for World Championships
SHEFFIELD STEELDOGS defenceman Liam Steele has been rewarded for an impressive season by being called up to the Great Britain squad for the World Championships.
It came as the perfect birthday present given Steele turned 22 on Tuesday.
He has replaced the unfortunate Dundee Stars’ D-man Kris Inglis, who has had to pull out of Pete Russell’s squad due to injury.
Steele has excelled in his first season of senior hockey, posting 20 goals and 28 assists in 61 league, Cup and play-off appearances for the Steeldogs, helping them clinch the NIHL National Cup in March.
As part of his two-way deal with the neighbouring Sheffield Steelers, he has also made five league and play-off appearances at Elite League level.
Having represented GB at both Under-18 and Under-20 level already, Steele, from Cobham, was one of a number of players given a chance to show their senior level credentials in the European Cup of Nations earlier this season.
GB head coach Pete Russell, said: “I am firstly gutted for Kris as he put everything into making this team and I know what it meant to him but I know his time will come again.
“On the flip side, I am really excited for Liam as I know how much this will mean for him and it’s going to be a great experience for a talented young defenceman.
“We wish Kris a speedy recovery and look forward to working with Liam.”
Having come through the junior system in Guildford, Steele then headed to North America to further his career, his time there initially held up due to the pandemic before he got up and running at Stanstead College in Canada for the 2021-22 season.
He then played Junior A British Columbia Hockey League, splitting his time between Chilliwack Chiefs and Salmon Arm Silverbacks before spending two years at Cornell University in the NCAA where he found ice time difficult to come by before heading back to the UK last summer on a two-way deal in Sheffield.
GB will play four matches – including two in the UK – against Italy as part of their preparations for the World Championships which get underway in Zurich and Fribourg on May 15.
GB open up their Group A campaign in Switzerland against Austria on May 16 and go on to face USA, Hungary, Switzerland, Finland, Latvia and Germany.