Ice Hockey: World Championship: Britain's vain struggle

Germany. . . . .4

Great Britain. .0

A BRAVE display by the Sheffield netminder, Martin McCay, and some flashes of Tony Hand's best form were not enough to prevent Great Britain going down to a superior German side in their World Championship group match here yesterday, writes Simon Crosse from Bolzano, Italy.

The Germans dominated from the face-off and Britain took nearly 10 minutes to register their first shot on goal. McCay kept them in the game in the early stages with some good pad saves, but he was let down by his defence when Greg Evtushevski scored from close in.

Two more goals in the second period, both on power plays, gave Germany a 3-0 lead. Rick Fera then had an excellent opportunity to open Britain's account but he shot weakly at Klaus Merk. Britain then had a goal by Doug McEwan contentiously ruled out for a high stick.

Another goal in the third period killed off any chance of a British fightback, but for the first time in this tournament Hand began to play his usual game and laid off some good passes, including one to Rick Brebant, whose shot forced a good save out of Merk.