What did you think of Great Britain\u2019s recent performance at the International Ice Hockey Championship? If you didn\u2019t watch the game, you\u2019ve come to the right place \u2013 we saw it all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It seems Britain can\u2019t get things right when it comes to sports. If you\u2019ve been following England or Scotland in the UEFA Euros, you\u2019ll know what we mean.<\/p>\n
But the Euros is another story (that the entire nation is glued to), and\u00a0 the IIHF left just as much to discuss. Why? The recent poor performance, a 5-2 loss against Norway, resulted in a gut-wrenching relegation from the top division. But was it deserved?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read on to find out.<\/p>\n
Early Struggles and Defensive Issues<\/b><\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just the Norway game in which Great Britain underperformed, it was every game. As a result, going into the game with Norway, Great Britain sat winless at the bottom of Group A. The live fixtures<\/a> never looked in GB\u2019s\u00a0 favour. Great Britain has never won the IIHF, and they haven\u2019t been in the top 10 since 1962. Sadly, the unfavourable statistics go on. But what about the Norway game specifically?<\/p>\n The issue was their defensive play. The team conceded three quick goals within the first period, which is never good for morale \u2013 teams often crumble after the first goal, let alone three in quick succession.<\/p>\n Norway capitalised on Britain\u2019s defensive lapses\u00a0 with goals from Markus Vikingstad, Patrick Thoresen and Eskild Olsen Bakke. And, unfortunately for Great Britain, it was only downhill from there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Offensive Challenges Without Key Players<\/b><\/p>\n Great Britain were missing some key players, like Liam Kirk. Were they ever going to survive without him? He\u2019d been battling an illness throughout the end of the tournament, being absent for most games. Losing a key player like that is difficult for any team.\u00a0<\/p>\n His limited participation \u2013 he was out by the middle frame \u2013 in the game against Norway left a noticeable void in Britain\u2019s offensive lineup. Without Kirk\u2019s incredible talent, the team struggled to generate scoring opportunities and maintain offensive pressure.<\/p>\n Yes, Brett Perlini and Ollie Betteridge managed to score, but without Kirk it wasn\u2019t enough to match Norway\u2019s attack and compensate for their own defensive lapses. \u00a0 And maybe that\u2019s Great Britain\u2019s problem, they rely too often on one or two key players to carry the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tactical and Strategic Missteps<\/b><\/p>\n Great Britain\u2019s tactical approach was also lacking, and was one of their many issues. Much like with the football squad, it seems the strategic decisions of the coaches and players simply aren\u2019t working.<\/p>\n Head coach Pete Russell acknowledged the tournament\u2019s difficulty after the match \u2013 but this perspective didn\u2019t help them find solutions in-game.\u00a0<\/p>\n The team\u2019s inability to adapt to the fast-paced and aggressive playstyle of most teams<\/a> they came up against was evident when you look at the fact they were winless across the tournament.<\/p>\n Misjudged clearances like Robert Lachowicz\u2019s mistake that resulted in Thoresen\u2019s goal and ineffective penalty kills are only some of the tactical frailties that plagued the GB team.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Areas for Improvement<\/b><\/p>\n Where do we start?<\/p>\n