The Women’s World Championship Ice Hockey tournament has started at Dumfries Ice Bowl.
In their first match, Great Britain triumphed 8-1 against a New Zealand team that were on the back foot from the first period onwards. GB played with real pace, skill and the bit between their teeth throughout the comprehensive victory.
The Great Britain Women’s team are competing against top seeds Kazakhstan and four other nations to try and earn promotion from the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Division 2A.
Earlier on Monday Poland got their tournament off to a dazzling start with a fine 10-3 win over Croatia. In the day’s third match Kazakhstan proved too strong for Korea, winning 2-0.
Eve Muirhead, the Olympic medal winning Curling skip, who is acting as an Ambassador for the World Championship said;
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my time at the Ice Bowl, and seeing the skill and effort all the national teams are putting into this tournament. I frequently visit Canada due to my curling career, and try to find time to take in ice hockey matches when I’m there. It’s a brilliant sport and it’s great to hear how well developed it is in Dumfries and Galloway, and the well supported coaching programmes available for children.”
Councillor Colin Smyth, the Council’s Events Champion said;
“The Council’s sustained investment in ice hockey is paying off with the attraction of this, our fourth World Championship in two years, to the Ice Bowl. There is a wonderful atmosphere of friendly, good natured competition at the World Championship, and a really pleasing contrast in playing styles between the countries. I hope local people can come along to the Ice Bowl this Easter Weekend to support this event.”
Andy French, General Secretary of Ice Hockey UK said;
“It has been a fantastic start to the tournament. We had the schoolchildren in during the Monday afternoon and they created a lot of atmosphere and then, of course, there was great support for GB in the evening game. IHUK have a superb relationship with Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Ice Bowl is a terrific venue for the tournament. The new dressing room facilities are excellent and I am sure there are some exciting twists and turns to come on the ice this week.”
The event has secured up to £19,000 in funding from EventScotland, the events team at national tourism body VisitScotland.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events said;
“Scotland is the perfect stage for events and we have seen once again the sustained excitement for Ice Hockey in Dumfries. Following successful World Championships at the Ice Bowl over the past few years we look forward to seeing the impact of the Women’s tournament, which has started incredibly well for Great Britain.”
Great Britain play Korea on Tuesday evening, Croatia on Thursday, Poland on Saturday and Kazakhstan on Sunday, all face-off times at 8pm. The World Championship finishes on Easter Sunday.
Image of GB v NZ match attached
