The 2025 IIHF World Championship Division I, Group A tournament has thrown up some surprising results and provided various twists and turns through four intense days of competition.
That rings truer for Great Britain than perhaps any other nation.
After throwing away a two-goal lead, GB required a tying goal from Ben O’Connor with seven minutes remaining to force overtime in the opening game. Victory against Ukraine was assured in the ensuing shootout.
Against the tournament hosts, GB produced a turgid performance despite scoring just thirty seconds in. Overtime was required once again and Cade Neilson scored a highly contentious goal that angered the home fans and the Romanian bench.
A 5-4 OT win against Japan relied on another late Ben O’Connor goal to tie the game, this time in the final two minutes! Captain Robert Dowd scored the game-winner on his 100th appearance in a game GB would have won in regulation but for some dreadful defensive breakdowns.
Great Britain delivered its best performance to date in a 5-1 spanking of Italy. Liam Kirk ran riot with a three-point performance and was ably assisted by line and teammates in a comprehensive victory.
The final-day permutations are complicated, to say the least, but Great Britain’s destiny is in its own hands should they want to compete at the top tier for the fifth time in seven years.
In the last game of the tournament, if Great Britain earns at least a point against Poland, then promotion is assured, regardless of finishing first or second.
Only a combination of a regulation defeat for Ukraine (v Japan) and Italy failing to win in regulation (v Romania) would see Great Britain promoted without hitting a puck in anger.
It’s difficult to envisage Ukraine and Italy not winning comfortably in regulation so the pressure will be on the pre-tournament favourites to deliver.
It’ll be interesting to see how Poland approaches the game as their chances of promotion might be over before the puck drop. On the flip side, they might require a regulation win.
It’s tough to judge whether a desperate or freed-up opponent is more problematic but for GB, they can answer all questions by recording a fifth consecutive victory.
Despite some performances not hitting the standard we expect of the current GB team, you have to admire the group’s resiliency to grind out results.
That is born out of the team’s identity under Pete Russell, but also the experiences this current group of veteran players have gone through in previous campaigns at this division and the one above.
With the team now in the groove following a fine win against Italy, a firing Liam Kirk and from around the line-up including the blue line, Great Britain’s return to the world’s elite is most firmly in its own hands.
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