After some near misses in recent tournaments, the Great Britain U18 women’s team earned promotion back to Division 1, Group B.
Since being relegated to Division 2, Group A, in 2020, re-establishing their position on the world stage has proven problematic.
Silver medals in 2022 and 2024, were sandwiched by a fourth-place finish in 2023, in a remarkable tournament in which three teams had the same number of points behind the gold medal winners.
There was no fluke about this 2025 success as Great Britain took on every challenge head-on and prevailed.
The opening game was a must-win against Kazakhstan.
Crucially, Great Britain found a way to claim all three points.
After being pegged back in the second period, it was all to play for in the final frame.
Defensively, GB shut the door, enabling them to score two 5v5 goals to clinch a 3-1 victory against the eventual silver medallists.
Clinical 3-0 and 16-1 victories against the Netherlands and New Zealand respectively, set the scene for a memorable game against the host nation.
A victory against Latvia would clinch promotion and the gold medal with still one game remaining in the tournament.
Great Britain twice came from behind in the first and second periods respectively, setting up another intense final frame of regulation play.
With 3:48 remaining, Ruby Newlands scored the biggest goal of her young career to give GB a narrow 3-2 lead. Lucy Holliday shut the door the rest of the way to ensure promotion.
There would be no easing up despite the final game meaning nothing in the standings. Great Britain despatched Chinese Taipei, recording a comfortable 10-2 victory.
“I am incredibly proud of the group – players and staff. Everyone bought into our vision and stuck to our systems, helping us achieve our goal of winning gold and gaining promotion. The resilience and patience of the group throughout each game has been fantastic. Everything the coaching team have thrown at them they’ve taken on board and adapted. They have also excelled in game management. Last night’s game [Latvia] proved testament to that.” – Great Britain Head Coach Sean Alderson
Courtesy of Ice Hockey UK (https://icehockeyuk.co.uk/alderson-proud-of-gbs-gold-success/)
Great Britain’s success began with solid defence and goaltending.
In four starts, netminder Lucy Holliday posted a 95.38 save percentage and 0.90 GAA. Across the tournament, Great Britain conceded six goals, of which only four were during 5v5 action.
Special teams are always key in international tournaments. GB wasn’t tournament leader in any department but a power play firing at 25% and more importantly, a penalty kill registering at 85.71% went a long way to success.
Meeyah Forbes led the way with seven goals, ably assisted by Ruby Newlands (5), Emma Lamberton (5) and Lilly Endicott (4).
Great Britain had point contributions from eighteen of twenty skaters and ten players scored at least one goal in a team effort offensively.
Newlands (13) and Lamberton (10) hit the double-figure mark in points. The former used her experience at the senior level to good effect, while Lamberton pushed on from a promising first tournament at this level last year.
Not only did this group earn gold with a magnificent display throughout the tournament but set a national record. The 16-1 win against New Zealand was the highest victory by a U18 women’s team.
Heads will turn to what can be accomplished in 2026, but before that, the senior team have a big appointment on home ice this April in Dumfries.
With promotion very much on the minds of an ambitious program, players from this group including Ruby Newlands will be hoping to be part of another promotion-winning campaign in 2025.
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