Ice Hockey: Skovira leaves troubled Phoenix

Miroslav Skovira has left the Elite League strugglers Manchester Phoenix to be closer to his father, who suffered a heart attack shortly before Christmas. The Slovakian forward is returning to his homeland to play for his old club HC Kosice.

The Phoenix coach, Rick Brebant, hopes to announce a replacement today. Skovira registered 22 points in 26 games for Manchester, who are second from bottom in the league.

Great Britain Under-20s made a good start to their World Championship Division Two Group B campaign by recording a 7-3 win over the hosts, Lithuania. Coached by Roger Hunt, they never went behind despite a fightback by the Lithuanians at the end of the third quarter.