Ice Hockey
Journalists UK
Great Britain Rosters
1981

World Championships Pool (C) 24th place finish overall

European Championships 19th place finish overall

Goalie Mike Ward Murrayfield Racers
Goalie John Pullar Fife Flyers
Defence Dave Mason Murrayfield Racers
Defence Ally Wood  Murrayfield Racers
Defence Rob Binns Durham Wasps
Defence David Keirl Durham Wasps
Defence Robin Andrew Streatham Redskins
Defence Al Brennan  Ayr Bruins
Defence Gordon Latto Fife Flyers
Forward Scott Neil Murrayfield Racers
Forward Ronnie Wood Murrayfield Racers
Forward Jim Pennycook Murrayfield Racers
Forward Stevie Hunter Murrayfield Racers
Forward John 'Jock' Hay Murrayfield Racers
Forward John Hester Glasgow Dynamos
Forward Neil McKay Fife Flyers
Forward Jimmy Jack Fife Flyers
Forward Paul Whitehouse  Billingham Bombers
Forward Alfie Miller Whitley Warriors
Forward Paul Smith Durham Wasps
Coach Alex Dampier Murrayfield Racers
Trainer Ellie Firestone   
Manager John Milne   

GB won Fair Play Trophy for fewest penalty minutes

World Championships, Pool C – 1981 in China.

Venue –Peking.

Great Britain made the long trek to the Peoples Republic of China, only to be thwarted by the speed of their opponents.

For the first time since the 1976 championships held in Poland, the Great Britain team failed to register at least one point, and in the end had to settle for the same prize as in Poland – the Fair Play Cup for the team recording the least penalty minutes. In all seven games played, the Great Britain squad were penalised for a mere 39 minutes in total. Another bright point was new cap Robin Andrew, from Streatham Redskins, being voted as Great Britain’s Best Player by the tournament organisers.

The teams’ cause was not helped going into the tournament when, at the last minute Spain and Australia, the only two teams Great Britain had defeated two years previously in Barcelona, pulled out of the competition to be replaced by two Pool B standard nations – Austria and Denmark.

Veteran centreman Alfie Miller of the Whitley Warriors commented, “It was the toughest world championships I’ve played in. The opposition, particularly the host Chinese, were simply too fast for us.” Paul Whitehouse of the Billingham Bombers top-scored for Great Britain with three goals and two assists from the seven games played, while Murrayfield’s Jim Pennycook also scored three goals.

March 7th   vs Hungary L   0-8 (0-2, 0-3, 0-3)
March 8th   vs France L 2-11 (0-4, 1-4, 1-3)
March 10th vs China L 2-12 (0-2, 1-6, 1-4)
March 11th   vs Denmark L 2-13 (1-5, 1-4, 0-4)
March 13th  vs Bulgaria L 2-4 (1-1, 0-2, 1-1)
March14th vs North Korea L   1-5 (0-1, 0-2, 1-2)
March 16th vs Austria L   2-7 (1-1, 0-3, 1-3)

Compiled with material provided by the pages of the Ice Hockey Annual.

2008 / 2009 (c) All materials copyright of IHJUK