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Longstaff and Johnson confirm their return to the GB Squad
Another positive day for the Senior Great Britain Ice Hockey Team with the confirmation that Newcastle Vipers forwards, David Longstaff and Shaun Johnson will both be available for the national team when they compete in Division 1, Group B of the World Championships in Slovenia next April.
Both players had retired from the International programme but have been persuaded to return by new Head Coach Paul Thompson. “Day by day we are getting confidence back into this programme.” he said. “Players are wanting to play for the National side again and that has to be good for the team and the sport.”
“Both players are key to the success of the team.” Thompson continued. “They have the experience and the desire to help us improve our standing in the division. As I have said from the start, we need our best players and these are two of our best players.”
Longstaff is delighted to be returning to the International game. “I have always been pro British and always wanted to be part of a winning GB set up. I have total respect for both Paul, as Head Coach and my Vipers Coach, Rob Wilson as his assistant. They are the two best coaches in the country and I know they will have us prepared and structured come April”.
Longstaff added, “I’m delighted that the British team has a British coach. It’s the way it should be and Thommo is definitely the right man for the job. He won’t have any trouble persuading the best British players to play for him in his set up. Everyone who knows him fully respects him.”
Likewise, Shaun Johnson is happy to be back with Team GB. “Every British player should want to play for his country. I always did and always do, but the programme has to be geared to give us a fighting chance of success. Having played for Thommo before in Coventry, I know we will be the best-prepared British team ever.”
Johnson continued, “I’m running out of years and maybe only have another two World Championships in me, but under Thommo I know that in both of these tournaments we will have that fighting chance and that our preparation will be like no other. You can see that with the likes of Tony (Hand) and Lobby (David Longstaff) coming back, all the British guys are hungry to go to Slovenia. We all want to be a part of what’s being built right now.”
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