Great Britain Under-18s Head Coach Sean Easton has named his team for this year’s IIHF U18 World Championship Division II Group A in Tallinn, Estonia.
The tournament is scheduled to run from April 03-09 at the Tondiraba Ice Hall, a multi-purpose venue opened as recently as 2014.
It will be the first international action for the GB U18s since the 2019 tournament in Hungary.
That ended in disappointment, with Great Britain relegated from Division I Group B in a very competitive tournament where only three points separated 3rd – 6th in the final standings.
The 2020 and 2021 tournaments – also scheduled for Tallinn – were cancelled because of the pandemic.
The IIHF has done the right thing for Estonia by giving them a third opportunity to host.
Great Britain will face hosts Estonia, as well as Korea, Lithuania, Romania and Serbia.
With the loss of so much junior hockey through the pandemic, this tournament will be hugely unpredictable and feature a host of new faces.
Great Britain Head Coach Sean Easton elaborated that point and more when speaking with Ice Hockey UK:
“We can’t wait to get going. I’ve been Head Coach for two years now and we haven’t played a game in that time.
“It’s a great group of guys we’ve got this year. The team looks strong and we’ve had to cut good players to get to our final selection. This group will be very hard-working.
“We’ve got a great mixture of skill, hunger and speed. There will be a lot of determination. I think we have a rounded team and all four lines are very well-balanced. All my teams, we skate hard and I like them to be relentless.”
Sean Easton will have the benefit of players with experience of tournament play at a higher level.
Five of the roster played at the recent Under-20 World Championship Division II Group A in Brasov, Romania, in which Great Britain won a bronze medal.
More importantly, the experience of playing in IIHF competitions will hugely benefit the squad.
“They can guide the players through the dos and don’ts, the tournament rules and how you conduct yourself. They have the experience of the little things you probably don’t get to experience at club level. They can be a calming head because they have been there already.” – Sean Easton.
The roster is a fascinating mix of unfamiliar names, potential future stars and the possibility for heart-warming stories.
Sam Cooper, Oliver Endicott, Jack Hopkins, Cain Russell and Liam Steele all represented GB at the recent U20 tournament.
Four players are part of the Belfast Giants junior system, whilst another two are in the Kitchener Jr Rangers system.
Six players are currently playing in North America and the roster also includes a pair of twin brothers.
Goaltenders
Ben Norton (Northwood Huskies)
Like the majority of this roster, Norton’s career to date has been hugely impacted by the pandemic.
The eighteen-year-old has been in the USA since 2019 with Northwood School.
Northwood is an independent boarding school located in Lake Placid, New York.
Norton is a member of the Huskies Boy’s Varsity team, who owns a record of 16-9-2 at the time of writing.
Sadly statistics are difficult to locate, but the Huskies have only allowed 59 goals in 27 games.
Alex Oldale – Sheffield Steelhawks
Alex is a product of Sheffield’s junior system and is currently with the Steelhawks.
A year younger than Norton, he’s also been on loan with NIHL club Raiders IHC (Romford) but is yet to receive any playing time.
Defensemen
Kell Beattie – Solway Sharks/Belfast Giants
Remember the name, Kell Beattie. A lot of the focus on a very talented blue line will be elsewhere but this young man is turning heads this season.
Beattie has played ten games for the Solway Sharks (NIHL) but also suited up seven times for the Belfast Giants. It’s rare for any young British player to play for one of the top EIHL teams, let alone a 17-year-old defenseman.
In this article by Adam McKendry, Griffin Reinhart talks about the young defenseman and his play in the Elite League.
Daniel Bradley – Slough Jets
If Daniel Bradley wanted advice on playing at the international level he could always lean on one of his older brothers. Edward has represented Great Britain five times at the junior level including at three U18 campaigns.
Daniel has worked his way through the Slough Jets system and is now receiving his first taste of the NIHL 1, playing sixteen games for the Jets. At the U18 level this season, Bradley wears an ‘A’ and has five points in seven games.
Kieran Chung – Connecticut RoughRiders
Chung has been playing hockey in North America since 2018.
After three years in Canada, the right-handed defenseman switched to the Eastern Hockey League in the United States.
Chung is ranked fifth in team scoring on the Connecticut RoughRiders this season (despite playing far fewer games than the majority of his teammates.
He also ranks ninth amongst all defensemen in the EHL with two goals and seventeen assists for nineteen points.
Taken from his NCSA Recruitment profile, the Nottingham native says this about himself.
“My long-term goal for my hockey career is to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for an American university.
On the ice, I would say I’m a very calm patient defenseman who likes to move to the offence and join the rush, as well as playing a strong defensive game and making the simple plays. I would also say that my vision is a strong aspect in my game and it helps me put myself in good positions to take advantage of any play or situation. “
Samuel Cooper – Raiders IHC/Guildford Flames
Sam Cooper is another exciting defenseman to have Elite League experience this season.
The towering 6’3” blueliner has nine games under his belt for Guildford Flames and was a part of the U20’s campaign in Romania.
Cooper is never going to blow you away with dazzling play offensively like some on this roster but he’s a very solid and reliable defenseman who can play a physical game.
Archie Hazeldine – Leeds Knights
Given different circumstances, Archie Hazeldine might have been a part of the recent U20 GB roster.
The Nottingham native has risen through the ranks of the youth system before signing with Leeds Knights (previously Chiefs) for their inaugural NIHL campaign.
Hazeldine has accumulated eleven points in 24 league games for the Knights, including a solitary goal.
A nice moment earlier this season was making his Elite League debut with Manchester Storm.
Not only did he play alongside his brother Joseph, but Archie also recorded an assist.
Another towering right-handed shot defenseman who is fun to watch and will doubtless provide some offensive creativity.
Milique Martelly – Streatham/Milton Keynes
There are players on this roster that I simply know next to nothing about and that’s on me, not them. The wonderfully named Milique Martelly, unfortunately, fits that criteria.
He is a product of Streatham’s junior set-up and signed a two-way contract with Milton Keynes Lightning this season.
Martelly has played eleven games for MK in NIH, registering three assists.
With Streatham in NIHL 1, the left-handed defenseman has recorded fifteen points in fourteen games.
Liam Steele – Stanstead College
What can I say about Liam Steele that I haven’t said in the past few days, weeks and months?
The 2022 NHL prospect was a standout performer with Great Britain at the most recent U20 tournament.
For more on Liam please check out these two articles:
Great Britain prospect listed on NHL Central Scouting Watch
Great Britain U20 Men – A look back and leading lights
Jacob White-Sey – Slough Jets/Bees IHC
Jacob White-Sey is a Guildford native who moved on from his hometown team to the Slough Jets.
He has played at the U18 and NIHL 1 levels for Slough this season and has gotten into five games of NIHL action with Bees IHC.
Forwards
Ben Brown – Dundee Comets/Dundee Stars
Somewhat surprisingly, Ben Brown is the lone Scottish representative on this roster.
Brown is the pride of Dundee, having risen through their junior system and making his professional debut this season.
The 17-year-old has suited up on ten occasions for the Stars this year in Elite League and Cup action but is still yet to record a point.
Harry Corkum – Slough Jets/Raiders IHC
Harry Corkum is another young player to come through Streatham’s junior ranks.
The eighteen-year-old centreman has played at four levels already this year. Streatham’s U18’s NIHL 2, NIHL 1 and NIHL for Raiders IHC
Oliver Endicott – Swindon Wildcats/Bristol Pitbulls
Ollie Endicott turned some heads as part of GB U20’s fourth line in Romania.
They were the spark plug of the team on occasions.
Their work ethic and determination did not go unnoticed.
At the U18 level, I would expect a little more offensive output from the left-handed centreman.
Endicott has played five games at the NIHL level for Swindon and is currently on loan to Bees IHC until the end of January.
Cameron Hamill – Belfast Giants
We get to the first of the twin brothers with Cameron Hamill.
The Belfast native is a left-handed forward who plays right-wing.
Cameron had a taste of the NIHL 1 during this campaign with four games of North Cup action with Dundee Comets.
Carter Hamill – Leeds Knights/Belfast Giants
It’s safe to say that at this point, Carter is the better known of the two brothers.
He’s gotten into two games of NIHL with Leeds Knights and scored one goal.
The centreman has also played four games with Dundee Comets registering two assists.
More remarkably, Carter has suited up twice for Belfast Giants.
Both brothers have dominated at the junior levels but it’s Carter with the better numbers at this stage of their careers.
Jack Hopkins – Telford Tigers/Nottingham Panthers
I think by this stage pretty much everyone on the internet knows how much of a fan of Jack Hopkins I am.
For his play during the GB U20’s please check out this article where I dive into his game: Great Britain U20 Men – A look back and leading lights
The seventeen-year-old has 23 points in NIHL league action with Telford (17 games) this season including seven goals.
He’s also gotten into nine EIHL games for the struggling Nottingham Panthers during the current campaign.
A ridiculously talented player, it would be stunning if Hopkins didn’t end up as one of the leading scorers in this tournament.
Sam Lyne – Northwood Huskies
Sam Lyne is another GB player to be over with the Northwood school.
A Chelmsford native, Lyne played junior hockey in his hometown and Streatham before moving to Canada in 2019.
He returned to the UK before heading out to the USA to join Ben Norton at Northwood this year.
Austin Osborn – Kitchener Jr Rangers, Canada
Dawson Osborn – Kitchener Jr Rangers, Canada
I dislike talking about twin brothers as a pair as they are individuals and should be recognised as such.
However, the Osborn’s have played together their whole career to this point.
There is even a website dedicated to following their career which you can find here https://motiv8us.co.uk/index.html where there is video, photos and more.
The duo has played in Scotland, England, Czechia and now Canada with Kitchener Jr Rangers AAA of the Alliance U18 league.
Austin, known as ‘Oz’ is a left-winger whilst Dawson, referred to as ‘Zib’ is listed as playing centre or RW.
It’ll be the first time representing Great Britain for the pair of eighteen-year-olds and it’ll be fascinating to see whether Sean Easton plays them on a line together.
Cain Russell – Swindon Wildcats/Bristol Pitbulls
Cain Russell was a part of GB U20’s impactful fourth line with Oliver Endicott.
A right-handed winger, Russell has bounced between NIHL 2, NIHL 1 and the NIHl this season. He’s currently on loan with his hometown team Basingstoke Bison (NIHL).
In the same vein as Endicott, I expect more of Russell at this younger age level, with the tournament experience behind him.
Josh Shaw – Swindon/Bristol Pitbulls
Josh Shaw is the youngest player on the roster at the time of writing at sixteen years of age.
This season he’s played at four levels including against men for the very first time.
Shaw has bounced between Swindon’s U18, NIHL 2 (Swindon), NIHL 1 (Bristol) and NIHL (Swindon).
Mack Stewart – Leeds Knights/Belfast Giants
Last but certainly not least is Mack Stewart.
Let’s get the elephant out of the room, to begin with. Yes, Mack is the son of former Giants forward and now current Belfast Giants Assistant Coach Rob Stewart.
Mack is carving out his own path as yet another product of the impressive Giants junior system.
He played in the Danish U17 league last year and is another Belfast player to suit up for Leeds in the NIHL.
To go along with that experience, Stweart has also played in eleven games (nine elite league) for the Belfast Giants this season.
Despite playing for different teams in the level below, he and Kell Beattie played for Belfast together. A special moment for them both after thriving together at the junior level.
Reserves
Goaltenders: Tyler de la Bertouche (Raiders IHC), Luca Tessadri (Chelmsford).
Defense: Max Lewis (Ontario Hockey Academy, Canada), Bailey Perre (Swindon/Bristol Pitbulls), Tommy Spraggon (Billingham Stars), Billy Thorpe (Peterborough Phantoms), Monty Tucker (New England Wolves, USA).
Forwards: Finley Bradon (Billingham Stars), Adam Erskine ( Raiders IHC), Callum Field (Milton Keynes Lightning), Dan Martin (Peterborough Phantoms/Nottingham Lions), Ellis Ricci (Nottingham Lions), Louie White (Ontario Hockey Academy, Canada).
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