Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Mayhem Players In GB Action At Para World Championships

The Great Britain team at the 2023 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan

Mayhem sledge players Mark Colquitt and Felicity Gregory were members of the Great Britain team that took part in the World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 6th to 11th October.

GB were playing in Pool B of the championships for the first time, having won promotion from Pool C last year, and expecting it to be a tough challenge,  their main objective was to try and stay in the division.

The Great Britain team lost their opening game against eventual Pool B champions Japan 0-13 and then lost 5-1 to Sweden, with Nathan Stephens scoring the consolation goal.

They were hammered 18-1 by Slovakia  (GB goal from Stephens again) but then picked up to beat Finland 4-1, with goals from Stephens, Gary Farmer and Tyler Christopher (2).  

They came close to another victory in their final game with a narrow 4-3 defeat to hosts Kazakhstan – with goals from Dani Watts, Stephens and Christopher – but their overall record was enough to avoid bottom place in the final table and retain their Pool B status for next year.

The top GB points scorers for the tournament were Tyler Christopher with 3 goals and 4 assists, Nathan Stephens 4+2 and Gary Farmer with 1+2.  Dani Watts, Stacey Quirk, John le Galloudec and Paul Brown all picked up 1 point each.

The Mayhem pairing of Mark Colquitt and Felicity Gregory played in all 5 games and Colquitt got his name on the scoresheet for picking up 4 penalty minutes in the win over Finland.

The full Great Britain squad was: Dani Watts (1+0), Stacey Quirk (0+1), Tyler Christopher (3+4, 4PIM), Felicity Gregory, Gary Farmer (1+2, 24PIM), Ben O’Brien, Leanne Emmerson, Jon le Galloudec (0+1, 2PIM), Mark Colquitt (4PIM), Paul Brown (0+1), Nathan Stephens (4+2, 4PIM) Emily McLean and netminders Bryan Hackworth  & Susi Rogers-Hartley.