Pete Russell

BIG WEEK: Great Britain took on Elite League teams Belfast Giants (above) and Cardiff Devils as part of their preparations for this week's 2026 Winter Olympics Qualifiers in Denmark. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Steelers duo and Seahawks' D-man make GB Olympic qualifiers roster

ON THE UP: Leeds Knights' winger Mac Howlett has been added to the Cardiff-based GB training squad ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics Qualifiers in Denmark. Picture: Tony Johnson.

Knights duo backed to prove quality at GB camp

TOUGH NIGHT: Cole Shudra battles for possession with Norway's Max Krogdahl during Monday's Group A clash at Prague Arena. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Steelers' Dowd voices frustration after GB's Prague misery

WAITING GAME: GB put the Czechia zone under pressure during SAturday night's 4-1 defeat at Prague Arena. Picture: Dean Woolley.

GB facing straight shoot-out for World Championship survival

PEAKING: Great Britain captain Robert Dowd, in action agaisnt Finland. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Dowd keen for GB to prove World Championship credentials

ON THE UP: Cole Shudra enjoyed a standout season for Sheffield Steelers and is currently facing off against the world's elite in Prague. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Shudra backed to continue upwards trajectory at World Championships

Action from Great Britain v Finland in the 2024 World Championship in Prague (Picture: Dean Woolley)

GB still in good place to 'steal some wins' believes Steelers captain Dowd

PRIMED AND READY: Sheffield Steelers' Sam Jones is looking forward to the challenge of facing Canada in Great Britain's opening game in Prague. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Steelers Jones on 'ridiculous' Bedard and GB's great expectations

LEADING MAN: Liam Kirk was GB captain in the absence of rested Robert Dowd as they beat Poland 3-1 in Leeds on Friday night. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media.

GB warm-up nicely in Leeds in countdown to World Championships

THAT WAS THEN: Cole Shudra celebrates scoring for Leeds Knights against Peterborough Phantoms nack in March 2023. He returns to Elland Road tonight with Great Britain. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Former Knights star Shudra back on familiar ice for GB bid

ELITE COMPANY: Robert Dowd says Great Britain will thrive in their underdog status at next month's World Championships in Czechia. Picture: Dean Woolley/Ice Hockey UK Media.

Steelers' Dowd on what playing for GB really means to him

MISSING IN ACTION: Brandon Whistle (far left), in action for GB against Romania with Steelers' team-mate Cole Shudra in the Olympic Pre-Qualifiers in Cardiff back in February. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media.

Steelers star frustrated as injury again denies him Worlds chance

OVER THE LINE: Sheffield Steelers' Mark Simpson starts to celebrate after jamming the puck home against Cardiff on Saturday. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

Steelers boss hails 'character win' No 42 as Devils are denied

NOT TONIGHT: Cardiff Devils celebrate one of their goals in the 4-0 win over Sheffield Steelers at the Vindico Arena on Wednesday night. Picture: James Assinder/Devils and EIHL Media.

Russell still backing Steelers to be crowned EIHL champions

BACK IN THE GAME: Brandon Whistle gained some invaluable game time for both great Britain and Sheffield Steelers over the past 10 days. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

Steelers' Whistle enjoys return to the fray for both club and country

GOOD SHOWING: Sheffield Steelers' duo Brandon Whistle (left) and Cole Shudra impressed in their debut tournament appearances for Great Britain. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media

GB men's ice hockey team still daring to dream

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Robert Dowd opened his era as captain with a 10-1 win over China in the Olympic Qualifiers in Cardiff. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media.

GB skipper Dowd says 'great expectations' no problem in Cardiff

YOU'RE IN: Cole Shudra has joined up with the Great Britain team ahead of this week's Olympics Qualifiers in Cardiff. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media

Steelers boss says Shudra has earned his GB chance

DUTY CALLS: Sam Jones has dreamt of playing in the Winter Olympics with Great Britain since a young age - he can help the national team start their journey towards that later this week in Cardiff. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media.

Jones aiming to take first step in realising childhood Olympics ambition

INTERNATIONAL CALLING: Sheffield Steelers' Brandon Whistle. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media

Whistle hoping to be in place for GB Winter Olympics quest

CALL UP: Liam Kirk will return home to help great Britain's men qualify for the final stage of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Picture: Jan Jindra/HC Litvinov

Kirk targets history-making year with GB ice hockey

LIAM KIRK is readying himself for what he hopes will be a ‘big year’ with Great Britain after being named in Pete Russell’s squad to contest next month’s Winter Olympics qualifiers in Cardiff.

Phil Harrison

TAKE THAT: Marc-Olivier Vallerand celebrates the first of his two goals in Sheffield Steelers' 5-1 win at second-placed Cardiff Devils on Wednesday night. Picture: James Assinder/EIHL Media.

Clinical Steelers turn screw further on EIHL rivals

MAGIC MOMENT: Great Britain's players celebrate their gold medal triumph in the World Championships Division 1A tournament held in Nottingham in May, emsuring an instant return to the top tier. Picture: Hayley Roberts/Ice Hockey UK

Dowd hoping 2024 heralds GB Winter Olympics qualification

HIGH AIMS: Robert Dowd will hope to be part of the GB team taking part in Olympic qualification in Cardiff next February. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

Steelers captain Dowd on Winter Olympics dream and facing Coventry test

GOLDEN GLORY: GB's players - including Sheffield Steelers' captain Rob Dowd (right) - celebrate their gold medal success in the World Championships Division 1A tournament in Nottingham earlier this tear - securing promotion back to the top tier of the international game at the first attempt. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley/Ice Hockey UK

GB ice hockey hoping home advantage can help Winter Olympics chances

WE'LL MEET AGAIN: Sheffield Steelers' Matt Petgrave gets to grips with Cardiff's Justin Crandall during their pre-season encounter.

Steelers hope to engineer early advantage over rivals Cardiff

BACK FOR MORE: Forward Scott Allen considered his options before deciding that his future lay with Sheffield Steelers. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley/Steelers Media

Steelers lure key forward Allen back for second season

PARTY TIME: GB's players celebrate coming first in Division 1A of the IIHF World Championships in Nottingham in May - earning promotion back to the top tier of the world game at the first attempt Picture: Dean Woolley/Ice Hockey UK

Former Steelers' star on his GB World Championship ambitions

FULL ON: Sheffield Steelers' Alex Graham joins the team on a full-time basis for the 2023-24 season. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

Graham's full-time deal at Steelers softens blow of veteran's exit

MOVING ON: Davey Phillips is looking forward to rejoining Belfast Giants for a third time and winning a second Elite League regular season crown of his career. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Phillips on switch from Steelers to Elite League rivals Belfast

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Sheffield Steelers' Robert Dowd scores GB's second goal of the game against Lithuania at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham last night. Picture courtesy of Karl Denham/Ice Hockey UK

GB endure hard slog but maintain momentum towards end game

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Jonathan Phillips (centre) wants to deliver another promotion to the top tier for GB before he retires from the international game after this week's Division 1A World Championships tournament in Nottingham. Picture: Dean Woolley/Ice Hockey UK

Steelers legend driven to deliver ultimate prize for GB before bowing out

THERE have been a number of fond farewells in recent months for Jonathan Phillips.

Phil Harrison

SAME AGAIN: Jonathan Phillips is hoping to help GB seal promotion back to the top-flight of the World Championships before calling time on his international career. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley

Fierce competition for places has made GB stronger for World Championships

ON TARGET: Liam Kirk celebrates scoring against Latvia in one of GB's warm-up games last weekend. Picture courtesy of Ice Hockey UK/Andy Burnham

Kirk hoping to realise ambition of helping GB get back to world top-flight

IN THE FRAME: Kieran Brown was called up to the initial long-list GB ahead of the World Championships in Nottingham, but was ruled out after sutaining a lower-body injury for Leeds Knights in the NIHL National play-off final in Coventry, which they won to secure a memorable league and play-off double. Picture courtesy of Oliver Portamento

Knights captain Brown vows to use injury blow to fuel GB ambitions

CALL-UP: Kieran Brown has been named in the GB provisional training camp squad ahead of this year's World Championships. Picture courtesy of Oliver Portamento

Knights coach Aldridge backs move to look outside EIHL for GB players

CALL-UP: Kieran Brown has been named in the GB long-list squad for the team's training camp for the World Championships in Nottingham in April-May. Picture courtesy of Oliver Portamento.

Knights' Kieran Brown earns GB call-up for World Championship training camp

INTERNATIONAL CALLING: Sheffield Steelers' forward Robert Dowd is looking forward to pulling on a GB jersey once again. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley/Steelers Media

Steelers stars begin challenge of earning GB World Championship roster spot

DESERVED: Brandon Whistle has 'fully-earned' his call-up to the Great Britain squad. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley/Steelers Media/EIHL

Steelers' boss Fox hails Whistle's 'awesome' GB call-up

Brandon Whistle - pictured in action for Sheffield Steelers last season. Picture: Dean Woolley

Steelers forward Whistle targets GB spot in Nottingham

Pete Russell gets his message across to his players on the bench during the World Championships. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK.

GB coach Russell keen to have better relationship with Elite League

Brett Perlini's opening goal. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK

Great Britain 3 Latvia 4: Pete Russell calls on GB to meet ‘one more’ challenge

GB netminder Ben Bowns (right) denies Finland's Valtteri Fippula. Picture Dean Woolley/IHUK.

GB target win from last two World Championship matches in Tampere

GB captain Jon Phillips, above left, said his team let themselves down with a poor first period against powerhouse Sweden. Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK.

GB 0 Sweden 6 - Steelers' Phillips frustrated after heavy loss in Tampere

On target: Great Britain’s Mark Richardson scores against Norway in the World Championships. (Picture: Dean Woolley/IHUK Media)

Great Britain make their point in World Championship defeat to Norway

Jonathan Phillips (right) is confident GB can secure another year among the World Championships elite Picture courtesy of Karl Denham/IHUK.

GB's pride and passion can upset odds again at World Championships

David Phillips looks exhausted after last year's win against Belarus. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Steelers quintet preparing to be tested by world's elite in Finland

US-BOUND: Liam Kirk has kept his hopes of playing in the NHL alive after securing a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

Why national coach Pete Russell sees Liam Kirk as possible future GB captain

ENTRY LEVEL: Liam Kirk, in action for Great Britain in the recent World Championships in Riga. The 21-year-old winger has signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

Kirk takes further step towards NHL by signing Coyotes entry-level contract

MAGIC MOMENT: GB's players celebrate their historic win over Belarus in Riga, while defenceman Davey Phillips takes it all in. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

Lessons learned, respect earned as GB learns to live among world's elite

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Liam Kirk celebrates his second goal against Belarus at the World Championships in Riga. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Kirk double helps GB seal famous win over Belarus at World Championships

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Sheffield Steelers' Robert Dowd listens in during a practise session in Riga earlier this week. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Steelers' Dowd out to spring surprise with GB at World Championships

IN GOOD HANDS: Pete Russell, centre, will offer support and guidance to assistants Adam Keefe, far left, and Corey Neilson far right, who will be with the GB players in Latvia. Picture: Dean Woolley

Great Britain coach Russell not joining up with players at World Championships

EVERGREEN: Sheffield Steelers and GB captain Jonathan Phillips. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Veteran Jonathan Phillips happy to usher through GB’s next generation

TOUGH NIGHT: Brendan Connolly's frustration boils over as he grapples with Panthers' defenceman, Mark Matheson. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Agony for Sheffield Steelers as they come up short in Elite Series final

PACK YOUR BAGS: Steelers' defenceman Sam Jones has earned a call-up to the GB squad for next month's World Championships in Riga. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

Steelers' Jones fulfils childhood ambition with GB call-up for Worlds

ON THE FRINGES: Josh Waller has just missed out on the GB squad for next month's World Championships, but could get the call if injury hits a fellow player. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Only matter of time before Steelers' Waller gets GB call, says Russell

BACKING: Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers will benefit from £2.3m in funding allocated from the government's Winter Sports Survival Package. Picture courtesy of EIHL Media.

Timely shot in the arm for ice hockey to stage Elite Series and Spring Cup

Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers are two of four teams set to do battle at the NIC throughout April. Picture courtesy of EIHL/Karl Denham

Steelers owner Tony Smith delighted to see Elite Series come to fruition

EXCITED: Sheffield Steelers head coach Aaron Fox. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley

Fox welcomes frantic fortnight to pull Steelers EIHL Series roster together