Ice Hockey
Journalists UK
Great Britain Rosters
1997

World Championships Pool (B) 6th place finish overall

* Known to be Canadian born players

Goalie Bill Morrison Ratingen Lions-Germany
Goalie Stephen Foster Newcastle Cobras
Goalie Stevie Lyle Cardiff Devils
Defence Rick Strachan (AC) Basingstoke Bison
Defence Shannon Hope (C) Cardiff Devils
Defence Paul Dixon Newcastle Cobras
Defence Mike Bishop Nottingham Panthers
Defence Andre Malo Sheffield Steelers
Defence Bryan Larkin Swindon Icelords
Forward Kevin Conway Basingstoke Bison
Forward Richard Little Basingstoke Bison
Forward Patrick Scott Basingstoke Bison
Forward Ian Cooper Cardiff Devils
Forward Doug McEwen Cardiff Devils
Forward Steve Moria Cardiff Devils
Forward Paul Adey Nottingham Panthers
Forward Neil Morgan Nottingham Panthers
Forward Scott Morrison Basingstoke Bison
Forward Doug Marsden Paisley Pirates
Forward Nicky Chinn Sheffield Steelers
Forward David Longstaff Sheffield Steelers
Forward Tim Cranston (AC) Sheffield Steelers
Forward Graham Garden Deggendorf - Germany
Coach Peter Woods Basingstoke Bison
Asst Coach Mike Blaisdell Nottingham Panthers
Asst Coach Paul Heavey Cardiff Devils
Manager Andy French Cardiff Devils

World Championships, Pool B – 1997 in Poland.

Venues – Katowice and Sosnowiec.

Two words can best sum up the ’97 campaign to Poland – frustration and competitive.

The frustration was Great Britain’s sixth place finish in the eight team pool, which left them one place short of gaining entry to the 1998 Pool A qualifying tournament. The competitiveness of Peter Woods’ team was shown in them being well in six of the seven games, only the Belarussians proved to be clearly a better outfit.

Team spirit though was the over-riding factor in this campaign as the squad overcame a less than desirable location, and food not to their liking to again emerge with the national team status intact. Not surprisingly therefore that coach Peter Woods did not entertain dramatic changes. Asked about his selection policy, he mused, “The criticism is that you have to go with youth. No. I think you have got to go the best players. We weren’t blown out by any team and in three of the seven games, the opposing netminder was the number one star. I think our programme has made great strides over the last two years. We’ve only lost six of twenty-four games, and going into the game against the Swiss, we still had a shot at the bronze medal. Unfortunately (this time), things didn’t go our way, but I don’t think we have to make any drastic overall changes in our programme.”

Patrick Scott took the leading scorer honours with 4+3 from seven games with Paul Adey (5+1) and Steve Moria (4+2) just a point behind.

Game Results
April 12th vs Poland L 3-4 (2-1, 0-1, 1-2)
April 13th vs Kazakhstan L 2-4 (1-1, 0-3, 1-0)
April 15th vs Holland W 8-2 (4-0, 3-1, 1-1)
April 16th vs Denmark W 9-1 (1-1, 5-0, 3-0)
April18th vs Austria T 2-2 (1-0, 1-1, 0-1)
April 20th vs Switzerland L 2-3 (0-1, 1-2, 1-0)
April 21st vs Belarus L 2-6 (0-1, 1-4, 1-1)

Compiled by Anthony Beer, using material reported at the time in the Ice Hockey News Review.

2008 / 2009 (c) All materials copyright of IHJUK