Ryan Aldridge has praised Leeds Knights captain Kieran Brown’s selection for the Great Britain team competing in the World Championships this month and believes his top scorer will demonstrate his full potential.
The team that will try to win gold at the Division 1A competition in Romania also includes Sheffield Steelers players Robert Dowd and Cole Shudra, who both competed at the Worlds last year.
Brown, who was born in Bradford, has excelled for the Knights at the NIHL National level throughout the past four seasons, but this is his first time being chosen for a senior GB World Championship squad.
Along with Logan Neilson and Joe Hazeldine, the 24-year-old is one of three players to receive their first call-up.
Aldridge thinks head coach Pete Russell’s decision to call up Brown is entirely justifiable after he has scored more than 100 points for the Knights for the fourth consecutive season.
Aldridgfe, whose squad is getting ready for the second weekend doubleheader of the playoffs when they play the Hull Seahawks, said, “It’s great to see him picked.”
“He’s been the most prolific goalscorer at this level for the last four years – what Kieran can do is no man’s business.
“So it’s great for him and we’re obviously very proud of him.
“It’s great recognition for the way that he has developed over the years as a player – 100 per cent.
“And I think for the league, the players that are dropping down now, the ice time that they are getting at our level – they are playing, they are playing on the puck. And that’s the difference, guys in the Elite League that are in the GB line-up are maybe not on the puck that much and I just think when it comes to that competition, I think players at this level might be able to bring something a bit different.”
GB will face hosts Romania, along with Italy, Japan, Poland and Ukraine, from April 27 to May 3.
GB squad – Netminders: Ben Bowns, Lucas Brine, Jackson Whistle. Defencemen: Josh Batch, David Clements, Nathanael Halbert, Joe Hazeldine, Ben O’Connor, Mark Richardson, Josh Tetlow. Forwards: Ollie Betteridge, Kieran Brown, Ben Davies, Robert Dowd, Sam Duggan, Liam Kirk, Robert Lachowicz, Ben Lake, Cade Neilson, Logan Neilson, Brett Perlini, Cole Shudra, Josh Waller.
