Today Pete Russell and Team GB learned who they would face in the 2019 World Championships which are to be hosted in Slovakia. It was the reward for the incredible performance in Budapest last month when the Brits surprised everyone; probably themselves included in this, by topping Division 1A only one year after gaining promotion from Division 1B.
The Brits were drawn in Group A which will be based in the city of Košice, Group B being in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava which is where most Brits expected them to be based.
The group is a tough one, but would you expect it to be anything less than that? This is the first time that GB have been in the top flight of hockey since 1994. Their opponents are as follows:
- Canada - Probably the most successful nation in world hockey aside Russia, and are bound to feature a number of NHL stars in their 2019 team. The Canadians finished fourth in Copenhagen/Herning 2018 and are sure to try and amends in Slovakia.
- United States - Another powerhouse of world hockey, having won a couple of World Championships. However, the last of these was in 1960 so you could say that they are overdue a title. They finished third in Copenhagen/Herning 2018.
- Finland - The third member of the so called "Big Six" when it comes to hockey, and like the United States they have a couple of World Championships to their name. The last Finnish world title was in 2011, they were quarter-finalists in Denmark.
- Germany - Surprise silver medallists in the Winter Olympics earlier this year, Germany couldn't repeat that feat in Denmark. They finished 6th in Group B and have a best performance of silver; a feat they achieved twice in 1930 and 1953.
- Denmark - Hosts of the 2018 tournament and an ever improving hockey nation. The Danes finished 10th in their hosted tournament and their best performance came in both 2010 and 2016 when they made the quarter-final stage.
- Slovakia - The hosts of the 2019 tournament and a team who will probably be keen to impress in their home staging. A one time winner of the World Championship in 2002 when Peter Bondra's late goal defeated Russia 4-3 in Stockholm. Finished 9th in Denmark.
- France - One of the teams that GB will be keen to get the better off if they are avoid an immediate return to Division 1A. Their best performance in a World Championship is 7th in 1937, but finished in 12th place in Denmark.
Obviously work schedules permitting, I will be covering the tournament out there but I might be like a few: watching it online back home in Blighty. Are you excited already?
@hockeybhoy
@hockeyblogger71
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