Tait added to Great Britain ranks for World Championships campaign

ITALY-based Ashley Tait will bolster the Great Britain ranks at the 2010 World Championships after missing out on back-to-back victories over the Netherlands last weekend.

ON FORM: Great Britain, pictured in action against Poland, will arrive in Slovenia riding the crest of a wave after two wins over the Netherlands

Great Britain head coach Paul Thompson has named 23 players for the trip to Slovenia, where competition will begin on Saturday, adding Tait and Belfast Giants' Nathan Craze as an emergency goaltender to the squad that collected two wins over the Netherlands.

Tait is currently involved in the Italian League play-off final with Ritten Renon but will be free to compete in Ljubljana, while Swindon Wildcats winger Aaron Nell has been placed on stand-by.

Thompson's troops will be in buoyant mood after their respective 4-2 and 2-0 wins in Nottingham and Sheffield against a side in Division IA as they bid to take their place among ice hockey's elite.

David Longstaff, Tom Watkins, Greg Owen, Kyle Horne, Mark Thomas and Marc Levers are all forced to miss the World Championships through injury, whilst Shane Johnson (retirement), David Phillips and Jody Lehman (both club commitments) are also unavailable for the tournament.

Great Britain finished third in the Division IB World Championships last year in Torun, Poland, paying the price for a sluggish start that saw them open the tournament with back-to-back defeats to Ukraine and Italy.

Italy went on to take victory in the tournament and therefore earned promotion to the elite World Championship group where they will line-up next month against the likes of Olympic gold medallists Canada and defending world champions Russia.

Great Britain have not featured in the top league since 1994 but will be hoping for victory in Slovenia, where they will line up against Croatia, Hungary, Korea, Poland and the hosts.

Squad in Full

Netminders :

Stevie Lyle (Cardiff Devils)
Stephen Murphy (Belfast Giants)
Nathan Craze (Belfast Giants) - Travelling Emergency Goalie

Defencemen:

Russell Cowley (Coventry Blaze)
Steve Lee (Nottingham Panthers)
Danny Meyers (Nottingham Panthers)
Ben O'Connor (Edinburgh Capitals)
Kevin Phillips (Belfast Giants)
Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils)
Jonathan Weaver (Coventry Blaze)

Forwards :

Greg Chambers (Coventry Blaze)
David Clarke (Nottingham Panthers)
Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers)
Mark Garside (Edinburgh Capitals)
Jason Hewitt (Sheffield Steelers)
Phil Hill (Cardiff Devils)
Lee Mitchell (Hull Stingrays)
Matt Myers (Johnstown Chiefs, USA)
Craig Peacock (Belfast Giants)
Jonathan Phillips (Sheffield Steelers)
Colin Shields (Belfast Giants)
Ashley Tait (Ritten Renon, Italy)
Matt Towe (Cardiff Devils)

Standby Reserve

Aaron Nell (Swindon Wildcats)