Great Britain beat China 4-1 to secure their second victory in three matches to stay on course for a medal at the men’s U20 World Championship Division II Group A in Dumfries.
Ben Brown scored twice and Finley Bradon and Carter Hamill were also on target, while Ben Norton – on his third successive start – turned away 29 of the 30 shots he faced.
No goals in end-to-end first period
Norton made a great stop to deny Jia Yuze on a breakaway, while GB’s best chance of the opening stages fell to Mack Stewart who saw his shot from close-range saved by Chen Shifeng.
Chen made an outstanding save to stop Jack Hopkins’ effort from the slot, but the two teams went to the first intermission scoreless.
Second-period goals from Brown and Bradon put GB ahead
Norton made a superb point-blank pad save to stop Chen Kailin on the doorstep as China made a good start to the second period.
Great hustle in the offensive zone saw Lucas Price set-up Brown on the doorstep to put GB ahead (24:31).
Bradon made it 2-0 on the powerplay when he pounced first to a rebound and buried the puck top-shelf (37:40).
Brown and Hamill wrap-up GB victory
China closed the gap with a well-worked five-on-three powerplay goal as Liu Zihao scored from the bottom of the left circle (44:05).
Archie Hazeldine was the architect of GB’s third goal with great work in the offensive zone to find Brown to slot home his second of the night (48:48).
GB successfully killed off two penalties in the final 10 minutes, before Hamill bundled the puck over the line after a goalmouth scramble to put the seal on the victory (58:43).
Britain move onto seven points and into second place in the group after three matches.
Spain next up for GB tomorrow
Great Britain are straight back into action tomorrow against Spain at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
After Saturday’s Rest Day, GB complete the six-team tournament against Korea on Sunday.
Great Britain schedule and results
Monday 11th December – Great Britain 4-1 Netherlands – Goals: Kell Beattie, Jack Hopkins, Mack Stewart, Lucas Price.
Tuesday 12th December – Great Britain 4-5 Lithuania (overtime) – Goals: Jack Hopkins 2, Oli Endicott 2.
Thursday 14th December – Great Britain 4-1 China – Goals: Ben Brown 2, Finley Bradon, Carter Hamill.
Friday 15th December – Spain v Great Britain 20:00
Sunday 17th December – Korea v Great Britain 16:30