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.

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.

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.

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."