CORTINA, ITALY – Great Britain started their pre-Olympic qualifying campaign on Thursday evening when they took on the Netherlands at the Stadio Olimpico in Cortina.
The ultimate prize being a spot in Pyeongchang, South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Great Britain edged a step nearer after an entertaining 6-5 win over the Netherlands, who currently sit 24th in the world rankings, a place below Great Britain.
A fast and frantic start saw both teams share chances early on, but it was the Netherlands who would strike first on the powerplay courtesy of Ronald Wurm who tapped home a fortuitous rebound at the back post at 2:57.
Great Britain record their first win in Cortina over the Dutch
The Dutch celebrations were short lived when Great Britain drew level just 38 seconds later after Steelers defenceman Ben O’Connor hit Russ Cowley with a defence splitting stretch pass, the Coventry forward skated in and fired the puck five hole past Martijn Oosterwijk to make it 1-1.
Great Britain found themselves in penalty trouble early on with Swindlehurst, O’Connor and Myers all sitting out minor penalties within a five minute spell.
Netherlands almost took advantage at 08:56 when former AHL defenceman Mike Dalhuisen fired narrowly wide with a bullet of a slapshot.
Great Britain pressed and came close when Braehead Clan forward Ben Davies found himself all alone in the slot but couldn’t quite get a handle on a Mark Richardson pass at 11:58.
At 17:13 Great Britain edged ahead when Davey Phillips fired a shot from the point through traffic beating Oosterwijk low to take a 2-1 lead.
The Dutch started the second period strongly and had GB on the back foot when Mitch Bruijsten came agonisingly close when he backhanded over just 15 seconds into the period.
Great Britain added a third against the run of play when David Clarke tipped a Ben O’Connor point shot, the rebound fell nicely for Matt Myers who jabbed the puck home five hole past Oosterwijk at 28:23 to make it 3-1.
GB were looking strong but suddenly a minute of madness against the run of play saw the Dutch score two goals in quick succession from Kevin Bruijsten and Maarten Brekelemans to level the game 3-3 at 34:01, both goals a result of defensive errors.
It took just two minutes for Great Britain to bounce back and they soon regained the lead when Russ Cowley re-directed a pass from fellow Coventry Blaze teammate Ashley Tait at 36:01 to make it 4-3.
Ben O’Connor pivotal again for Great Britain (Image courtesy of IceHockeyMedia)”
Despite further chances from Captain Jonathan Phillips and Nottingham Panthers stalwart David Clarke, Great Britain went into the second period intermission with a 4-2 lead.
Spurred on by a vocal travelling support, Great Britain started the third period strongly and had a chance just eight seconds in when Craig Peacock showed some great speed cutting down the right wing on the powerplay and seeing his effort saved by Oosterwijk.
The Dutch restored parity at 43:22 after strong boardplay from 27-year-old Esjberg D-man Mike Dalhuisen found Mitch Bruijsten all alone in the slot to fire low past Ben Bowns to level the game at 4-4.
Great Britain were on the back foot once again when referee Marcus Brill assessed Cardiff Devils defenceman Mark Richardson a hooking minor penalty at 46:50.
On the ensuing powerplay the Dutch came close with efforts from Ronald Wurm and Marcel Kars testing the excellent Ben Bowns.
Great Britain edged ahead at 49:17 with Matt Myers providing the perfect screen in front Colin Shields fired a sublime wrist shot top shelf blocker side past an unsighted Martijn Oosterwijk.
GB’s lead was less than two minutes old when Dutch captain Diederick Hagemeijer levelled with a neat one-timer effort high past Bowns to make it 5-5 with 08:52 left in the game.
With just 04:12 remaining Mark Richardson gave GB a lifeline when he picked up his own rebound and fired low past Martijn Oosterwijk for the go-ahead-goal.
Despite a nervy ending Great Britain saw the game out, ensuring they picked up a vital two points in the opening game against the Netherlands.
Great Britain next face Serbia on Saturday evening, before playing group favourites Italy 24-hours-later on the Sunday.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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