Great Britain have confirmed the full team for next week’s IIHF European Cup of Nations at Murrayfield Ice Rink in Edinburgh.
GB will host Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine from Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th February at the famous old ice rink.
Netminders
The experienced pair of Ben Bowns (86 caps) and Jackson Whistle (51 caps) who have 137 international caps between them have been named in the squad, as has Lucas Brine who has been part of the GB senior set-up since 2024.
Ben Clarke-Leach has also been called into the squad as part of the NextGen process. The 18-year-old was named Netminder of the Tournament earlier this month as GB secured silver at the men’s U20 World Championship in Bucharest.
Defence
David Clements, Nathanael Halbert and Josh Tetlow will provide the experience on defence. Kris Inglis, who made his first GB appearances in November’s European Cup of Nations in Poland, is also part of the squad.
There are three first-time call-ups for NextGen players Jake Hayward, Rhodes Mitchell-King and Alex Rimko. Mitchell-King, 22, has previously represented GB at under-20 level. He’s having a standout season for Telford Tigers in in the NIHL and is on a two-way deal with EIHL side Belfast Giants.
Hayward and Rimko won the silver medal with GB at the men’s U20 World Championship in Bucharest earlier this month. Twenty-year-old Hayward is currently playing junior hockey in North America in the USPHL Premier with Red River Spartans.
After playing junior hockey in Cardiff and Swindon, 18-year-old Rimko has been in Slovakia since 2021-22 and this season made his professional debut for HK Dukla Michalovce.
Forwards
Five capped forwards are named on the roster – Johnny Curran, Liam Kirk, Logan Neilson, Sean Norris and Josh Waller.
After representing GB at November’s European Cup of Nations, Bayley Harewood, Jack Hopkins, Sam Lyne and Patrick Larkin are part of the roster again.
There are first-time call-ups for Ivan Björkly Nordström, Finley Bradon, Brynley Capps and Austin Mitchell-King.
Björkly Nordström is having a standout season for NIHL side Sheffield Steeldogs, scoring at well over a point per game. The 23-year-old is on a two-way deal with EIHL club Sheffield Steelers.
Bradon has represented Great Britain at both under-18 and under-20 level and captained GB U20s at the 2025 World Championship in Italy. The 20-year-old is now in his fourth season with NIHL side Leeds Knights and is currently scoring at a point per game.
Capps captained GB U18s to a silver medal at the World Championship in Italy in 2025. Earlier this month, he scored six points in five games as GB U20s won a silver medal at the World Championship in Romania. The 18-year-old has Elite League experience with Coventry Blaze and joined NIHL side Telford Tigers this season.
Twenty-four-year-old Mitchell-King played 15 games for GB U18s and U20s and is currently in his first full season in the EIHL with Glasgow Clan.
Great Britain captain, Robert Dowd, said: “This is a really exciting squad with some experienced players mixed with some of our brightest young talent.
“I was looking forward to being part of the roster but we have just had a beautiful little addition to the family with the birth of a baby boy and I feel I cannot be away in these early stages for an extended period of time.
“I’d like to wish the guys good luck and I am excited for the World Championship in Switzerland which is under four months away now.”
Grant King, Interim Chief Executive Officer for Ice Hockey UK, said: “Developing the next generation means giving talented young players meaningful exposure to the senior environment, learning from established internationals, training at the required level, and being challenged day-to-day by the standards around them.
“Ben Clarke-Leach is one great example of that approach: spending time with experienced goalies, absorbing the detail of how we work and being ready to step in as support if needed. It’s a clear reflection of our philosophy, bringing young talent into the group while still surrounding them with proven leaders.
“We’ve used this approach successfully in the past and players such as Ben Bowns, Stevie Lyle, David Clarke and Jonathan Phillips were given similar opportunities early on before going on to become key figures for Great Britain.”
European Cup of Nations Schedule
Thursday 5th February
Poland v Slovenia 14:00
Great Britain v Ukraine 18:30
Friday 6th February
Ukraine v Poland 14:00
Great Britain v Slovenia 18:30
Saturday 7th February
Slovenia v Ukraine 14:00
Great Britain v Poland 18:30