Team GB had a great performance at the IIHF championship 2021, held in Riga, Latvia. The team seemed to take another big step forward and there were a number of positives and learning pints from their performances. We saw an exciting, hard-nosed, workmanlike style of hockey that often focused on being physical (get in!). This was contrasted by Liam Kirk’s efficient, massively improved technically style that saw him joint top scorer of the championship. Ben O’Connor recently having left the Steelers, also showed that he can impact games at this level.
Team GB’s identity at the IIHF championship
Physicality. Yes please. And more physicality, yes please some more.
Team GB played with a gritty, workmanlike attitude at the IIHF championships 2021 and we loved it. It was exciting and felt as though you could really relate to the team and get behind their energy. As a strategy, this could also not have been more appropriate. Sadly, it will not come as a surprise that the majority of Team GB platers are just not as technically sound as those playing for other teams in the tournament. So chasing down pucks hard, making teams work for every inch of ice and generally being a nuisance makes every bit of sense.
Let’s also be fair, the games were so much fun to watch! Great hockey, with intensity!
Who played well at the IIHF championship
Liam Kirk
Kirky was amazing. Oddly though perhaps, possibly the one player who did not fit into the above identity of the team. Whilst he worked hard and that could be easily seen, he seemed to have a more graceful edge to his skating and a better efficiency to his game than the rest of the team. Rarely was he seen mentally chasing after a dead puck, but always appeared at the right time and in the right place. He also seemed to take the majority of his chances on goal too.
Let’s not beat around the bush. Everyone in UK hockey needs to do everything they can to help and support Liam. The benefit that it would bring to have a UK trained player, play(ing) in the NHL would be amazing for the sport. Amongst others, it would provide credibility to our UK academies and coaches, greater media interest (and with that possibly media money) and inspire more younger players to play and go further in the game.
It is our understanding that Liam is now basically too old to return to the OHL, which was clearly doing wonders for his development, having missed his senior year due to Covid. This was even more reason for him to have a good turnout at the IIHF championship. There’s a good chance that the performance has solidified his invite to the Arizona Coyotes (the team that drafted him) rookie camp for the upcoming season.
The real question however, is if Liam does not get signed after this camp (and it takes most 6th round picks more than one camp to be signed), how does he not only guarantee his invite for the following year but also manage to develop and improve enough to get signed.
In the same vein, a good IIHF championship has only helped in this regard. Options for Kirky are the seek a spot on a team in the Swedish top league (SHL) and/or even in Russia (KHL). This should allow him to stay on the Coyotes radar and continue to develop his skills in competitive leagues. Finishing joint top goal scorer in the competition will only have helped in a difficult year.
Ben O’Connor
Ben had a great IIHF championship. He was the heart of the GB defence, providing timely offence, solid defence and clean physicality off the puck. The real question here is, why did the Steelers let him go and why have no other Elite League teams tried to pick him up. He more than showed that he can positively impact games at this level. Another face who could possibly make a SHL/KHL move?
Rob Dowd and Brendan Connolly
Whilst it is making us start to feel sick, writing so many good things about players that play or have played for Sheffield, we must continue to do so. Rob Dowd looked head and shoulders the best player on the team for brief spells, during each match. if he could have maintained that combination of intensity and skill for longer each match, he and Kirky would have been dynamite. We would put money on GB having done even better! Also, a honourable mention is required for Brendan. Let’s be fair, any player playing the antagoniser role is an absolute hero. Wind-em up Brendan.
What about Manchester in the IIHF championship?
Sadly, there wasn’t much to take for the glorious Manchester from the IIHF championship. The Manchester Storm captain Dallas Ehrhardt had a solid performance in defence for Team GB. Dallas was solid and ever-present but didn’t ruffle any feathers or out-perform some of the star players for Team GB. A positive sign but it would have been brilliant to have someone like Ben, Liam, Brendan or Rob to watch in the competition.
Conclusion
So we’ve learned that team GB made an impressive jump at the IIHF championships in 2021. Liam has hopefully helped his stock and plight to get into the NHL and some other players stood out.
Let’s go team GB for 2022 and as always, let’s grow the game!
Yak
#growthegame
Check out the Facebook page GB Ice Hockey for up to date news and info on Team GB.
Check out our other blog posts if you liked this one!
- Complete season preview 2021/2022
- What did we learn from the IIHF championship 2021?
- Manchester Storm visiting away fans – The Guide
- The Elite Series 2021 – Storm preview
- How much do Manchester Storm players get paid?
