Great Britain Roster

2001

World Championships, Div 1 Group B – 2001 in Slovenia.

Venues –Ljubljana

Prior to leaving for Slovenia, not a great deal appeared to have changed from previous years about the immediate pre-tournament preparations of the GB squad. One training camp, to which no Superleague players attended, together with four hours practise in the National Ice Centre, Nottingham was all Chris McSorleys’ hopefuls were able to manage.

But, the man who turned around the fortunes of the London Knights worked his brand of magic with the resources he had. Of the 22 players who travelled, the split between ISL and BNL players was exactly 50-50. Six new caps were awarded and this GB squad saw only seven dual nationals – McSorley, though robbed of the services of veterans Steve Moria, Rick Brebant, Stephen Cooper and Scott Young, stayed true to his stated intention of playing the true Brits.

Even the most ardent GB fans would have been somewhat pessimistic about the squads chances of success, but success was what came… and how. Only goal difference prevented GB from winning the pool as the team not only gelled, they excelled the expectations that even those most ardent fans had.

Things started well as a somewhat disappointing Estonia side were defeated 6-2 with Colin Shields netting twice and Stevie Lyle setting the tone for another impressive championship saving a second period penalty shot. Game Two saw Croatia buckle under the full fire-power of the GB team, conceding 10 goals as they were outshot 49-19 in a game that saw Tony Hand and Paul Adey both reach personal milestones. Hands’ assist on the first goal after just 28 seconds was his 100^th point in international competition, while Adey notched his 50^th international point when he bagged the eighth goal.

Game Three was always going to be the toughest test and so it proved as GB went up against the hard-skating host, Slovenia. And GB were immediately on the back foot as the home side came out flying, peppering Stevie Lyle with shots. Despite the Welshman’s’ efforts, GB found themselves two-nil down inside eight minutes and with the home fans sensing victory Lyle drew on his huge reserves of skill and character to keep them at bay. The second period saw a reversal in fortunes as GB, no doubt boosted (or terrified) by the McSorley interval pep talk, turned the game around. Rob Wilson one-timing home a perfect feed from Tony Hand for a powerplay marker and Paul Adey tied things up by the second break. Rob Wilson fired GB in front only for Zupancic to make it 3-3 before the end of arguably the game of the tournament.

The tightness and competitiveness of the Slovenia game was nowhere to be seen in the next GB outing as the red-shirted Chinese were soundly thrashed 12-1, with a goal almost every six shots as GB totalled 73 sog, leading the ever quotable McSorely to quip, “That’s more rubber than the M1 sees on a bust day.”

Game Four loomed with goal difference beginning to look like the critical factor as Slovenia too had racked up big scores in their games against Croatia and China. Kazakhstan were next up for GB, with memories of the heartbreak of Sheffield in 1999 flooding back. That final two-second equaliser, that prevented GB from gaining a Pool A berth two years earlier, nightmare though stayed in the locker room as GB crushed the Kazakhs 11-2 – a result that left the host nation needing to beat Estonia by 12 goals to rob GB of the gold medal.

The post-match press conference was a stormy affair as a Slovenian ‘journalist’ openly accused the GB coach of bribing the Kazakhs and or the Finnish referee, asking how much they had been paid. Speaking through an interpreter and remaining calm and serene despite the provocation, Chris McSorley responded coolly, “Zero, You don’t have much faith in your team. I believe Slovenia can beat Estonia by at least 12 goals.”

The GB coach was perfectly correct in his analysis of the Slovenians abilities. Needing twelve, the home nation tore into Estonia, and ran out victors with a 16-0 score line, and in so doing to the delight of their army of fans won the pool.

Following the bad blood of the ‘bribe’ accusations, the Kazakhs declined to collect their bronze medals on the ice, But GB did, even though they had to run a gauntlet of abuse and a hail of coins from the home fans in order to do so.

Notable quotes from the GB squad…

“Chris is not a peaceable man. Let’s just say he wants a lot out of his top players, and he came in and told us so.”

Rob Wilson on the first interval pep talk from Chris McSorley against Slovenia.

“I’ve heard the legendary stories of ‘a heart like a lion’. I guess that’s why it’s the crest on each GB jersey.”

Chris McSorley on his teams 3-3 tie with Slovenia.

“Some of our guys prefer body contact to Sunday lunch.”

Chris McSorley on playing a physical style of hockey with ‘temperamental’ European referees.

“This result will make Slovenia’s butts a little tighter going into tomorrows game.”

Chris McSorley after China had been thrashed 12-1.

“No disrespect to the dual nationals here, but most of the British lads came through the junior teams together so they know each other and were desperate to do well.”

GB Captain David Longstaff on the overall performance of the ‘weakened’ squad.

“We jack-hammered a ton of information into their heads, focussing on three or four key points – defence, special teams and face-offs.”

Chris McSorley on how the off-ice team prepared the players.

“We still weren’t a fun team to play against. Darren Hurley and Michael Tasker were ferocious, I had to keep tight reins on both if them.”

Chris McSorley on channeling emotion and intensity while not incurring needless penalties.