Great Britain forward Robert Dowd has announced he will retire from international ice hockey at the end of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland.
Dowd will continue to play domestically for Sheffield Steelers, but today’s game against Germany at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich will be his final game for GB.
Dowd represented Great Britain at Under 18 (2004/5, 2005/6) and Under 20 (2006/7, 2007/8) levels, before making his World Championship debut in the 2009 Division I Group B tournament in Torun, Poland and scored in just his second game – a 5-2 defeat by Italy.
GB went on to win the bronze medal that year with wins over Romania, Netherlands and Poland.
He has since won four gold medals and two slivers, as well as playing at the top level of the World Championship five times.
Dowd was Great Britain’s Alternate Captain from 2015 and took over as captain in 2024 following the retirement of Jonathan Phillips.
In 109 games at Olympic Qualifiers and World Championship tournaments, Dowd has scored 36 goals and added 37 assists for 73 points.