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Hand: "GB campaign an exciting experience."

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Manchester Phoenix Director of Hockey Tony Hand is currently on National Team duty with Great Britain at the World Championships in Slovenia, but took time out to talk to the Official Manchester Phoenix Web Site about the campaign.

"It's certainly an exciting experience for us all," commented the Phoenix chief. "We're up against some really tough teams and tonight's game against Slovenia was probably the toughest of the lot. They came at us with speed from every line they put out and they were very focussed on the job in hand."

On his own form, Hand noted, "Obviously I'd like to be getting a point of two, but the main thing is to contribute, and overall, I think everyone is giving their very best for the team. We've played some good hockey, but the opposition are tough and we have to be aware of that every shift. Our spirit is good despite the loss tonight and to Lithuania, but that showed you cannot afford to relax for one second."

He continued, "We still have two big game against Hungary and Romania to play and if we can get two wins then we'll achieve our aim of making it into the top thirty nations and we can still pick up a medal."

Looking to matter concerning the Phoenix, Tony Hand added, "Even whilst I'm out here, I'm working on my recruiting in the spare time we have. There are players here to possibly look at and we're receiving details on players all the time. It's still early in the close season and there are teams in other leagues still playing so we won't be rushing just yet. Having said that, we have a lot of research under way at the moment and it might not be too long before we have some signing news."

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