Five members of the Widnes–based Mayhem sledge team are away in Norway this week with the Great Britain team taking part in the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championships.
Mark Colquitt, Karl Nicholson, Dean Lahan and Felicity Gregory, along with Canadian Peggy Assinck who is Head Coach are part of the 18-strong squad that is competing in Pool B of the championships in Skien from the 15th-20th April.
Great Britain are up against Norway and Germany, who were relegated from the A-Pool last year, as well as Sweden, Kazakhstan, and France in the six-team tournament. Each team plays the others for 5 games in all and the top two teams in the final group table will be promoted to the elite Pool A for next year’s World Championships.
The GB team hold their regular training sessions at the Planet Ice rink in Widnes and they were also able to have some extra sessions with the Sheffield Steelkings team prior to flying out to Norway.
Peggy Assinck said of the preparations: “We have had monthly camps leading up to the World Championships and last weekend’s was a great final camp where we were really able to bring all the hard work and training together. I am really pleased to see all our athletes working so hard to improve their skills and hockey knowledge on and off the ice.
“We are looking strong going into the World Championship and the skill level of the entire group is improving, laying the foundation for both a sustainable programme for years to come and the ability to put a strong team forward at this year’s competition.”