Play-offs the immediate focus for Stingrays’ GB hope Davies

The 24-year-old centre has enjoyed another stellar season for the East Yorkshire club, posting a career-best 59 points from 50 games, including 10 goals, making him the third-highest scoring British player in the league, behind only Coventry Blaze’s Ashley Tait and Nottingham Panthers’ David Clarke.

As a result, Davies found himself retained by GB coach Doug Christiansen when he announced his slimmed-down 28-man training camp squad earlier today ahead of next month’s World Championships Division 1B tournament in Lithuania.

Former Sheffield Steelers’ coach Christiansen will reduce his roster further to just 23 following two warm-up games against the Netherlands, who will also be in Vilnius between April 20-26.

Davies is joined in the squad by Hull netminder Ben Bowns, as well as five players from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield - defencemen Danny Meyers lining up alongside team-mates Phil Hill, Jason Hewitt, Robert Dowd and Jonathan Phillips.

But, while better-placed than ever before to make the full GB set-up for the first time – he was picked for a provisional squad last year by former coach Tony hand before being jettisoned ahead of training camp – Davies has more pressing issues on his mind in making sure Hull overcome the odds this weekend to make the post-season.

The Stingrays’ hopes of making the play-offs were dealt a blow last weekend when defeats at Dundee Stars and Sheffield, combined with wins elsewhere for all three of their play-off rivals, meant a top-eight finish is now out of their hands.

All Hull can do is ensure they beat Sheffield at home on Sunday and then hope one or more results in games involving rivals Coventry, Cardiff Devils and Fife Flyers go their way.

“There are a lot of good players on that squad list and there are a lot of experienced players,” said Davies.

“If I’m in that team for Lithuania it would be great and I’m going to try my best and just do whatever is asked of me – that’s all I can really do.”

While many, including his club coach Sylvain Cloutier, believe he should be shoo-in for Vilnius, Davies will only consider he has had a successful season if Hull make the play-offs.

“I can’t really judge my season yet on anything,” added Davies. “If we make the play-offs that’s the biggest thing and you never know what can happen from there as we saw a couple of years ago when we reached the final four weekend.

“It’s a team game at the end of the day and individual stuff and stats and the like can wait until the end of the season when everything is finished and only then can you look back and say whether you’ve had a good season or not.

“If we don’t make the play-offs I don’t think it will have been a good season.”

Cloutier believes Davies is ready to take up the challenge of international hockey, seeing his development at first hand since coming in as Hull coach back in 2009.

“Matty has had a really good season and he has come a long way over the last two years,” said Cloutier.

“He is a very creative player and is good on the powerplay. He sees the ice so well and has also improved his game defensively.

“I am really pleased he has made the top 28 and he deserves a shot.”

Christiansen, sacked by Steelers earlier in the year but now bench coach at Dundee, said a number of places were still up for grabs.

“All 28 players will play in at least one of the two Netherlands games,” said Christiansen.

“I know last season the training camp in Manchester helped determine a number of player selections.

“My goal is to get the players who are playing the best and will be most committed to the team.

“I’m hopeful a couple of younger players will emerge and learn from the veteran leaders that have been so successful over the years.”

GB 28-man training camp squad for World Championships training camp.

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

Defencemen: 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), Jonathan Weaver (Nottingham Panthers).

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