TELFORD, UK – Tigers netminder Thomas Murdy has been called up to Great Britain senior squad, ahead of next month’s World Championships in Holland.
The 23-year-old is one of two players from the English Premier League champions to be selected for the 31-man national squad.
Tigers netminder Thomas Murdy
Tigers team-mate Jonathan Weaver, a former GB captain, will also be part of the set-up, as well as Swindon’s veteran netminder, Stevie Lyle.
Murdy, whose last international appearance came at the under-20s World Championships in 2010, said the call-up came out of the blue.
“I am really happy to be selected, but it was just totally unexpected,” he said.
“I didn’t believe it at first and thought someone was pulling my leg. It’s such a big honour, and nice to be recognised for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years.”
The 31-man squad will be whittled down to 23 over the next two weeks, as preparations continue for the tournament in Eindhoven.
Great Britain will play Poland in back-to-back games ahead of that competition, and Murdy is determined to stake his claim for a seat on the plane to Holland.
He said: “Now I’ve been called up and my name is in the mix, I want to keep it there. I’ll be working hard to do that.
“There will be a few nerves, as it’s a brand-new experience, but I want to prove that calling me up was the right decision.
“I don’t want to go in there and not perform well. I’ll work hard and see what happens.”
Great Britain Head Coach Peter Russell, who has taken charge of the national team alongside Tigers Coach Tom Watkins, said: “Over the last three or so months we have watched a lot of hockey across the leagues and been in contact with lots of different hockey people in the UK, mainland Europe and USA.
“We have the final 31 and it’s the right players and people. They all deserve their place and it’s an exciting group to look at.
“The competition for the final 23 hots up now and that can only be good for every player, as well as each team at this important stage of the season.
“People say it’s a tough job, yes it is, but it’s a great problem as a coach to have good players to select from.
“As the clock ticks down I get more excited each day till April and Eindhoven.”
GB play back-to-back international games against Poland at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham on Thursday 9th April and at the Coventry Skydome a night later.
They then travel to Eindhoven for the World Championship (Division 1B) where they face hosts Netherlands, along with Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania and Korea, from 13th to 19th April.
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