SHEFFIELD STEELERS’ duo Rob Dowd and Cole Shudra have been named in the Great Britain squad to compete at this year’s World Championships in Switzerland in May.

Defenceman Liam Steele, who has spent most of the season with Sheffield Steeldogs and last weekend made his Sheffield Steelers’ debut against Nottingham Panthers, has been named on the reserve list.

Steele played in both European Cup of Nations tournaments for GB earlier this season, first in Poland and then in Edinburgh last month.

Fellow Steelers’ defenceman Reece Kelly, who played alongside Steele in Sosnowiec in November, has not been selected.

YOU'RE IN: Cole Shudra - pictured in action at last year's World Championships - has made the GB squad for this year's Pool A tournament in Switzerland. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media

placeholder image — YOU'RE IN: Cole Shudra - pictured in action at last year's World Championships - has made the GB squad for this year's Pool A tournament in Switzerland. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media

Steelers’ two-way forwards Ivan Björkly Nordström and Kyle Watson, along with Leeds Knights’ centre Finn Bradon - all selected for one of ECN tournaments - also miss out.

There is also no place for Leeds’ forward Kieran Brown, who was part of the GB squad that earned promotion back to the top tier of the World Championships when winning gold in the Division 1A tournament held in Romania last April.

Former Steelers’ forward Liam Kirk - now playing in the DEL with Eibaren Berlin - will again be expected to play a leading role for head coach Pete Russell’s team.

GB will face Austria, USA, Hungary, Switzerland, Finland, Latvia and Germany in the group stages at the 12,000-seater Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

Six players are set to make their tournament debut - netminder Mat Robson, defencemen Travis Brown, Kris Inglis and Brad Jenion and forwards Jack Hopkins and Sam Lyne.

GB World Championship squad (Switzerland, May 15-31) - Netminders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils), Mat Robson (Coventry Blaze), Jackson Whistle (Belfast Giants). Defence: Travis Brown (Guildford Flames), David Clements (Coventry Blaze), Nathanael Halbert (Olimpija Ljubljana - ICEHL, Slovenia), Joe Hazeldine (Glasgow Clan), Kris Inglis (Dundee Stars), Brad Jenion (Manchester Storm), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Josh Tetlow (Nottingham Panthers). Forwards: Ollie Betteridge (Nottingham Panthers), Johnny Curran (Dundee Stars), Ben Davies (Cardiff Devils), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Jack Hopkins (Coventry Blaze), Liam Kirk (Eisbaren Berlin - DEL, Germany), Robert Lachowicz (Glasgow Clan), Sam Lyne (Cranbrook Bucks - BCHL, Canada), Cade Neilson (Glasgow Clan), Logan Neilson (Fife Flyers), Sean Norris (Milton Keynes Lightning), Brett Perlini (Cardiff Devils), Cole Shudra (Sheffield Steelers), Josh Waller (Guildford Flames).

Reserves - Netminder: Lucas Brine (Glasgow Clan). Defence: Liam Steele (Sheffield Steeldogs/Steelers). Forwards: Sam Duggan (Cardiff Devils), Bayley Harewood (Cardiff Devils).