Returning Steeler Tait in race to hook up with GB squad

Tait - who replaces the outgoing Doug Sheppard as Dave Matsos's No 2 at Steelers for the 2010-11 season - is currently involved with Italian club Ritten Renon in the end-of-season play-off finals against HC Asiago where they are currently 2-0 down in the seven-game series final.

The last game of the play-off final series is scheduled for Thursday, April 22 - one day before GB's last Division 1B match in Llubjana against Poland.

In theory, Tait - who scored the overtime winning goal against hosts Poland to secure bronze in last year's championships - could be available for GB's opening match on Saturday should Ritten lose the next two play-off games - the fourth of which is on Thursday.

GB head coach Paul Thompson yesterday named Tait in his 23-strong squad which will fly out to the former Yugoslav republic on Friday.

The squad will go into the competition in good spirits following back-to-back wins against the Netherlands last weekend.As well as Poland who they beat to take last year's bronze medal, GB will take on Croatia, Korea, Hungary and the hosts.

Sheffield Steelers' trio of forwards Jason Hewitt, Jonathan Phillips and Rob Dowd have all been named in the squad along with Hull Stingrays' forwrd Lee Mitchell.

Nathan Craze will travel with the team as emergency goaltending cover for Stephen Murphy and Stevie Lyle.

David Longstaff, Tom Watkins, Greg Owen, Kyle Horne, Steelers' Mark Thomas and Marc Levers are all forced to miss the tournament through injury, Beverley-born defenceman David Phillips - currently impressing in the AHL with Rockford IceHogs and former Steelers netminder Jody Lehman are also unavailable due to club commitments.

Full squad

Netminders: Stevie Lyle (Cardiff Devils), Stephen Murphy (Belfast Giants), Nathan Craze (Belfast Giants)

Defencemen: Russell Cowley (Coventry Blaze), Steve Lee (Nottingham Panthers), Danny Meyers (Nottingham), Ben O'Connor (Edinburgh Capitals), Kevin Phillips (Belfast), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Jonathan Weaver (Coventry).

Forwards: Greg Chambers (Coventry), David Clarke (Nottingham), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Mark Garside (Edinburgh), Jason Hewitt (Sheffield), Phil Hill (Cardiff), Lee Mitchell (Hull Stingrays)

Matt Myers (Johnstown Chiefs, USA), Craig Peacock (Belfast), Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield), Colin Shields (Belfast), Ashley Tait (Ritten Renon), Matt Towe (Cardiff).

Standby Reserve: Aaron Nell (Swindon Wildcats)