Bowns praised after GB debut

NETMINDER Ben Bowns made his full international debut for the GB ice hockey team — but couldn’t prevent the national side from tumbling out of the Winter Olympics qualifying tournament.
By Paul Rickett
Published 14th Feb 2013, 13:02 BST
Updated 7th Jan 2017, 10:19 BST

But team chief Tony Hand was full of praise for the Swinton youngster, saying: “He’s a talent of the future and I am he will keep progressing.”

Bowns, as expected, was called up for Sunday’s third and final game in Riga, Latvia, when the GB side crashed 6-0 to Kazakhstan.

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They had been chasing a place in the finals, to be held next year in Sochi in Russia. The last time the team qualified was in 1948 in St. Moritz.

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The GB side battled valiantly in their opening 6-2 defeat by Lativa and almost produced a stunning fightback against France before losing 4-2, which was enough to kill off their hopes.

Hand, the former Sheffield Steeler, decided to give 22-year-old Bowns his chance in the finale and he responded by making a string of saves to prevent an even heavier defeat.

Said Hand: “Ben is a terrific talent and he really deserved that start."

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