Britain's players form a guard of honour for captain Robert Dowd after his final international appearance.
It’s the end of an era for GB hockey. Three players announced their retirement from international hockey over the past few days, and the roster that came to Switzerland introduced several new names who will hope to play a part in bringing the country back to the elite.
Goalie Ben Bowns, this year’s captain Robert Dowd and defender Josh Tetlow all confirmed they won’t be suiting up for the national team again. Between them, they have 14 top level World Championship campaigns, plus 22 in the lower divisions. Bowns, 35, and Dowd, 38, were on the teams that leapt from Division IB in 2017 to the World Championship in 2019. Tetlow, aged 28, played his first World Championship campaign in 2021.
Dowd signed off with a goal in his final game, Monday’s 3-6 loss to Germany. But that wasn’t enough to keep Britain clear of relegation in a tournament that brought seven losses in seven games.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said of Britain’s return to Division IA. “But against all odds we’ve had opportunities to play against the world’s best – even though [British hockey] is very underfunded.”
And Dowd, who made his international debut in 2008 and went on to play 109 games in all competitions, said the experience brought “the funnest memories of my life, meeting some of the best people in my life.”
Those people include Bowns: “Ben’s had a spectacular career. He’s an exceptional player and an even better person. It’s been an honour to represent my country with him.”
Bowns earned a reputation as a hugely competitive goalie, coping with an often huge workload. In 2019 he made 197 saves through six appearances for GB, setting a World Championship record to backstop British survival in Slovakia.
But this year he was back-up to Mat Robson, 30, a Canadian-born dual national who spent the last two seasons in the Elite League with Coventry Blaze. Elite League teams routinely dress 14 imports a night, prompting an on-going debate about how British talent can flourish.
Two of the GB rookies at this year, 22-year-olds Bayley Harewood and Liam Steele, spent most of the season in the second-tier NIHL. At February’s European Nation’s Cup event in Edinburgh, a big chunk of the roster was drawn from the lower league. The potential is there, but the opportunity does not always follow.
Harewood, who had time working with national team coach Pete Russell in Cardiff, knows that the path to the top level is a tough one for British youngsters. “The World Championship was an amazing experience,” he said. “I’m grateful I got this opportunity.
“Not many people get it, so I took my opportunity with both hands, and I’m going to take what I got here home and build on to the next one.”
The next one will be in Division IA next season, with Britain battling to join a French team guaranteed promotion as host of the 2028 edition.
While the loss of the likes of Dowd, Bowns and Tetlow will take some filling, he believes Britain can return.
“I’m sure we’ll have a strong enough team to be back in this tournament, 100 percent,” he said. “We’ve got a few things to work on. We know the areas we need to be better in, and we’ll work on those.”
Goalie Ben Bowns, this year’s captain Robert Dowd and defender Josh Tetlow all confirmed they won’t be suiting up for the national team again. Between them, they have 14 top level World Championship campaigns, plus 22 in the lower divisions. Bowns, 35, and Dowd, 38, were on the teams that leapt from Division IB in 2017 to the World Championship in 2019. Tetlow, aged 28, played his first World Championship campaign in 2021.
Dowd signed off with a goal in his final game, Monday’s 3-6 loss to Germany. But that wasn’t enough to keep Britain clear of relegation in a tournament that brought seven losses in seven games.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said of Britain’s return to Division IA. “But against all odds we’ve had opportunities to play against the world’s best – even though [British hockey] is very underfunded.”
And Dowd, who made his international debut in 2008 and went on to play 109 games in all competitions, said the experience brought “the funnest memories of my life, meeting some of the best people in my life.”
Those people include Bowns: “Ben’s had a spectacular career. He’s an exceptional player and an even better person. It’s been an honour to represent my country with him.”
Bowns earned a reputation as a hugely competitive goalie, coping with an often huge workload. In 2019 he made 197 saves through six appearances for GB, setting a World Championship record to backstop British survival in Slovakia.
But this year he was back-up to Mat Robson, 30, a Canadian-born dual national who spent the last two seasons in the Elite League with Coventry Blaze. Elite League teams routinely dress 14 imports a night, prompting an on-going debate about how British talent can flourish.
Two of the GB rookies at this year, 22-year-olds Bayley Harewood and Liam Steele, spent most of the season in the second-tier NIHL. At February’s European Nation’s Cup event in Edinburgh, a big chunk of the roster was drawn from the lower league. The potential is there, but the opportunity does not always follow.
Harewood, who had time working with national team coach Pete Russell in Cardiff, knows that the path to the top level is a tough one for British youngsters. “The World Championship was an amazing experience,” he said. “I’m grateful I got this opportunity.
“Not many people get it, so I took my opportunity with both hands, and I’m going to take what I got here home and build on to the next one.”
The next one will be in Division IA next season, with Britain battling to join a French team guaranteed promotion as host of the 2028 edition.
While the loss of the likes of Dowd, Bowns and Tetlow will take some filling, he believes Britain can return.
“I’m sure we’ll have a strong enough team to be back in this tournament, 100 percent,” he said. “We’ve got a few things to work on. We know the areas we need to be better in, and we’ll work on those.”