Hook ‘super excited’ to represent GB at World Championship

Forward Lewis Hook says he is “super excited” to represent Great Britain at the World Championship in Latvia.

GB are based in the Group A venue of the Olympic Sports Centre for the tournament and they start against Russia on Saturday, before facing Slovakia, Denmark, Belarus, Sweden, Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Group B consists of hosts Latvia, as well as Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Norway and the USA. Matches will be held at Arena Riga.

“On the bigger stage it’s pretty awesome and I keep pinching myself every now and again,” said Hook.

“It’s going to be a lot faster than what we are used to in the Elite League and I am looking forward to see what we can do.

“I am super excited. It is something I have been dreaming of for a few years now, especially since GB 20s.”

GB landed in Riga on Sunday and underwent a round of covid testing on arrival at the hotel, before isolation in their rooms.

A round of testing in the rooms followed on Monday and after all players and staff tested negative, GB were released yesterday morning before their first training session on Latvian ice later in the day.

Hook added: “I think we were all a little bit stiff after being locked in our rooms for 36 hours but it was good to get out there, get a stretch in and get going again.

“Isolation was OK but once it was done, we were ready to get out there and get going. The covid testing was brutal though!”

All matches will be shown free-to-air on FreeSports, which is available free on Sky Channel 422, Virgin Media Channel 553, on Channel 64 on Freeview and BT and via the FreeSports Player.

GB fixtures
Saturday 22nd May – Great Britain v Russia – 16:15 face-off (14:15 UK time)
Sunday 23rd May – Great Britain v Slovakia – 12:15 face-off (10:15 UK time)
Tuesday 25th May – Great Britain v Denmark – 16:15 face-off (14:15 UK time)
Wednesday 26th May – Belarus v Great Britain – 20:15 face-off (18:15 UK time)
Friday 28th May – Sweden v Great Britain – 16:15 face-off (14:15 UK time)
Saturday 29th May – Czech Republic v Great Britain – 12:15 face-off (10:15 UK time)
Tuesday 1st June – Switzerland v Great Britain – 12:15 face-off (10:15 UK time)

Photo credit: Dean Woolley