Great Britain has named their final squad for the men’s 2024 IIHF Under-20 World Championship Division II Group A, being hosted on home ice in Scotland.
As per the official press release, Head Coach, Martin Grubb, said: “As always, there have been some very tough decisions to be made to select this final team and some very good players were left out.”
“As a coaching staff, we knew we needed the right mix of skill, speed, character and players who would fit into our system and embrace their role and we feel we have that.”
“We are looking forward to working with this group and are all excited by a home tournament and we can’t wait till December. We would like to thank all the players for their effort and commitment to the programme.”
The squad contains a selection of interesting names, some more familiar than others.
Goaltenders
Ben Norton (Bristol Pitbulls/Cardiff Devils)
Alex Oldale (Manchester Storm)
Dan Norton (Milton Keynes Lightning/Thunder)
It is no surprise to see the stellar Ben Norton included. He has never let his nation down and has often been the standout performer in GB colours.
Alex Oldale is one of few young British goaltenders in the Elite League and will make a solid tandem with Norton. The coaching staff will certainly not have any doubts about splitting the workload between the two should they wish to head in that direction.
Defencemen
Kell Beattie (Solway Sharks/Belfast Giants)
Keiran Chung (Powell River Kings – BCHL)
Sam Cooper (Sheffield Steeldogs/Steelers)
Archie Hazeldine (Coventry Blaze)
Milique Martelly (Milton Keynes Lightning)
Billy Thorpe (Peterborough Phantoms)
Jacob White-Sey (Slough Jets/Bristol Pitbulls)
With five 19yo’s and a pair of 18yo’s, the defence core is not without experience.
The trio of Kell Beattie, Sam Cooper and Archie Hazeldine take the eye initially and will doubtless be leading from the front.
Having previously featured with the U18s, this represents Billy Thorpe’s first call-up to the older age bracket.
Keiran Chung is having a solid season so far in the BCHL and it’ll be interesting to see how his game has developed in a tough league.
Forwards
Finley Bradon (Leeds Knights)
Ben Brown (Milton Keynes Lightning)
Owen Bruton (Hull Seahawks)
Oliver Endicott (Leeds Knights/Coventry Blaze)
Carter Hamill (Milton Keynes Lightning/Thunder)
Jack Hopkins (Coventry Blaze)
Connor Lee (Manchester Storm/Telford Tigers)
Samuel Lyne (Northwood School – USHS Prep)
Austin Osborn (Vernall Oilers – USPHL Premier)
Dawson Osborn (Vernall Oilers – USPHL Premier)
Lucas Price (Telford Tigers)
Joshua Shaw (Swindon Wildcats)
Mack Stewart (Belfast Giants/Milton Keynes Lightning)
The forward group has a plethora of talent amongst its ranks and some potential fantastic stories.
Jack Hopkins will not only lead the line but likely captain the team. His talent is undisputed and he will be the name that other nations will be incredibly wary of come game time.
Sixteen-year-old prodigy Connor Lee is the name that caught many by surprise though I don’t count myself in that number. Having already signed a professional deal with Elite League outfit Manchester Storm, Lee is being watched by teams across Europe and North America.
Very few players of his tender age have suited up for GB at the U20 level and the young forward will not be short of confidence. After Jack Hopkins, Lee is the player to follow closely.
Austin and Dawson Osborn are twins who have spent their playing career exclusively together and currently featuring in the USPHL Premier. The pair have already combined for twelve points and six goals through six games at the time of writing.
It’ll be their second tournament for the national team and first at the U20 level. Will Martin Grubb opt to play them on the same line?
I’ve no intention of naming every player in the forward list but a mention must be given to Samuel Lyne. He’s putting together a nice start to what could be a big year for him at Northwood School.
With three goals and eight points through eleven games, the utility forward is fourth on the team in scoring at the USHS Prep level.
Finley Brandon was Great Britain’s U18 top goal scorer at the last world championships (four goals) and will be making his U20 debut.
Reserves – Netminder: Ben Keddie (Blackburn Hawks/Kirkcaldy Kestrels). Defence: Dan Bradley (Bristol Pitbulls), Jack Hoppes (Streatham IHC/Bees IHC), Bailey Perre (Leeds Knights). Forwards: Tom Byrne (Telford Tigers), Henry Corkum (Montreal Phoenix, Canada), Callum Field (MK Lightning), Innes Gallacher (Kilmarnock Thunder/Widnes Wild), Cameron Hamill (MK Lightning/MK Thunder), Leo Markey (Peterborough Phantoms), Cain Russell (Solent Devils), Tate Shudra (Sheffield Steeldogs).
The World Championships will run from Monday 11th to Sunday 17th December.
The other nations comprising the group are Lithuania, Netherlands and Spain, promoted China (promoted) and Korea (relegated).
The six-team tournament is being held at Dumfries Ice Bowl, a venue that has hosted many international tournaments in previous years.
Great Britain shall report for their pre-tournament training camp in Dumfries on Tuesday 5th December. They will face Korea in a challenge game on Friday 8th December.
Week-long passes for the World Championship cost only £25 and with 15 games throughout the tournament. Children under the age of 16 go free with a paying adult.
Tournament passes can be purchased at the below link.
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