Belfast's Craig Peacock nets Dutch double in Nottingham

CRAIG Peacock's double helped Great Britain win the opening encounter of their two-match international ice hockey series with the Netherlands in Nottingham.

The hosts seized a seventh minute lead when Belfast Giant Peacock fired home a powerplay goal and he then doubled the advantage just four minutes later.

Belfast team-mate Colin Shields added a third late in the opening period as the reeling Dutch were outshot 17-2.

Great Britain continued to dominate in the second period but Casey Van Schagen reduced the deficit.

There were anxious moments when Stanislav Nazarov beat Stevie Lyle to close the advantage to just one goal.

But Matt Myers hit an empty net with only 18 seconds remaining to secure a morale boosting win at the start of Great Britain's build-up to this month's World Championships against Croatia, Hungary, Korea, Poland and hosts Slovenia.