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| Mayhem player Felicity Gregory at the World Women's Challenge (Photo by Peter Hagan) |
Players and staff from the Widnes–based Mayhem sledge team travelled to Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, as part of the Great Britain women’s Para Ice Hockey to compete in a 4-team international tournament.
Felicity Gregory was named in the GB squad while Ontario-born Peggy Assinck lined up for her native Canada. Karl Nicholson travelled as one of three Assistant Coaches and Peter Hagan was Equipment Manager.
Despite putting in plucky performances, the Great Britain team lost all three of their group games – 9-0 to Canada, 7-0 to USA and 5-1 to “Team World”, made up from a combination of players from Europe and Asia.
In the final medal round, GB lost 7-0 to Team World in the bronze medal match while Peggy Assinck picked up a silver after her Canada team lost 2-0 to overall winners USA.
GB’s only goal of the tournament came 5.50 into their first game against Team World and was scored by team captain Stacey Quirk – who plays for the Peterborough Phantoms - assisted by Emily McLean of Sheffield Steelkings.
This was the second year that the World Women’s Challenge had taken place in Green Bay and there are plans for an official World Championship for next year.
Mayhem head coach Peter Hagan – who travelled to the tournament as Equipment Manager - said:
“The team performed exceptionally, the coaching team had specific things they wanted to get out of the tournament and the team accomplished them, and the feedback from all the other teams reinforced how much the team had improved from the first year.”
“The team should be immensely proud of how they played and it was an honour for me to be part of the off ice team. I am looking forward to what lies ahead for the programme and the sport.”
Team GB Results Schedule
Group Games: 31st Aug: Team World 5 – Great Britain 1, 1st Sept: USA 7 – Great Britain 0, 2nd Sept: Canada 9 – Great Britain 0
Bronze Medal Play Off: 3rd Sept: Team World 7 – Team GB 0
Gold Medal Game: 3rd Sept: USA 2 - Canada 0
GB Team Photo
Players (left to right): Susi Marguerite, Nicola Terrell, Leanne Emmerson, Freya Levy, Helen McGivern, Sarah Hope A, Stacey Quirk C, Felicity Gregory A, Shannon Couch A, Dani Czernuszka-Watts, Emily McLean, Alysha Atkinson, Jodie Hill
Team Staff: Peter Hagan (Equipment Manager), Ian Offers (Head Coach), Karl Nicholson (Assistant Coach - Offense) Breanna Wagner (Assistant Coach - Defence), Louise Beresford (Assistant Coach - Netminders).
