Team
GB:
The
Northern
Stars
When Team GB made the trip to the World
Championships in Zagreb last month, it was clear that the Northern connection was
at full strength. Travelling to Croatia with former Vipers Jonathan Weaver and
Colin Shields, reserve netminder and one-time Warrior Thomas Murdy, ex-Jester
David Clarke and Durham-born Assistant Coach Tom Watkins, former Billingham
Bomber Robert Dowd completed Pete Russell’s squad following a return from
injury which had previously prevented the forward from competing at the 2018
Winter Olympic pre-qualifying tournament in Cortina back in February. With so
many of these individuals having an influence in games on the world stage,
here’s what the Northern Stars have to offer GB…
Robert Dowd
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Breaking through the ranks of Billingham’s junior setup to
feature at a senior level during the club’s 2003-04 campaign, Robert Dowd was
able to tally twelve points for the Bombers in the space of fourteen games
whilst simultaneously racking up goals for both the Under 16 and Under 19 sides
in the same season. Before long, Dowd received his call-up to Great Britain’s
Under 18 squad and, soon after, he found himself integrated in Sheffield
Scimitars EPL outfit which provided the Teessider with a pathway into the
line-up of Elite League franchise Sheffield Steelers. It was here that the
skilled forward began to slowly but surely make his mark, achieving forty four
points in his first full season with the club, having already gained some ice
time across nine games between 2006 and 2008. It was a switch to Belfast Giants
which saw Dowd have his most successful season to date, the forward lighting
the lamp on thirty seven occasions and tallying thirty five assists to become
the team’s leading goal scorer. Following a season in the Allsvenskan, Dowd
returned to the Steelers where he continues to be one of the side’s most
consistent players.
Though missing out on GB’s pre-qualifiers for the 2018
PyeongChang Winter Olympics through injury, Dowd more recently took to the ice
as alternate captain at the World Championships, crucially snatching a superb
overtime winner against Estonia to keep GB’s promotion hopes alive before
missing out against Lithuania due to illness.
Speaking to NIHL Northern Trio, Robert Dowd took time to
reflect on the World Championships: “They were good, fast-paced games where I
think our team really looked good. Getting off to a good start is key in these
tournaments. Winning that big first one was great for us. It was a great honour
for me to be given the A, a responsibility I don’t take likely but, playing
with a room of leaders, it’s a very easy job.” When asked about his overtime
winner in GB’s second game of the tournament and whether or not Estonia’s
comeback was a surprise to him, Dowd noted: “No, any team in this tournament is
dangerous. They have a couple of really good players who came up big. It was a
great feeling to grab such a big goal. It always feels good to score but
scoring for your country is extra special.” However, missing out against
Lithuania due to illness, Dowd was forced to watch the game from the stands and
admitted: “It was very nerve-wracking to start with but once we got a couple
and started playing better and better, I could actually sit back and enjoy the
game.”
David Clarke
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Born in Peterborough, Nottingham Panthers’ captain and GB
winger David Clarke is another who once graced the ice in the North East of
England. Playing for Newcastle Jesters, in the final season that the club would
be known as such, Clarke was one of the team’s most reliable players,
contributing in forty one games at the start of his ice hockey career. Clarke
then went on to play for Peterborough Pirates, Milton Keynes Kings and
Guildford Flames before embarking on a lengthy career with the Panthers which
so far spans twelve seasons. Taking on the role of both alternate captain and
captain at the club, Clarke took a season away from England to play in Italy’s
second Division with Alleghe before making his return to the EIHL.
Clarke’s invaluable leadership skills were noticeable once
again at the tournament as he fulfilled the role of alternate captain in the
absence of Robert Dowd and he certainly had an impact on his team’s success,
grabbing two assists in GB’s 6-1 victory over Romania. Making one hundred and
nine appearances in international fixtures for GB, including those in the Under
18 and Under 20 divisions, Clarke has accomplished thirty seven goals to become
a key component of Great Britain’s roster.
Jonathan Weaver
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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The Northern connection was further strengthened by the
presence of Sunderland-born defenceman Jonathan Weaver whose experience was shown
to be valued by Pete Russell, the Head Coach opting for the thirty nine year
old to take to GB’s blue line yet again. Starting out with the Durham Wasps in
the BHL from 1992 to 1996, Weaver then joined Newcastle Cobras and, though he
left the club in 1998 for Manchester Storm, the winger eventually returned to
the city to link up with the BNL’s
Newcastle Vipers, also making the transition into the Elite League with the
club. GB’s recent trip to Zagreb presented an opportunity for Weaver to achieve
his best points tally for Great Britain since the 2010-11 World Championships
in which he grabbed a goal and seven assists as team captain to finish the
tournament as GB’s highest points scorer. Once again demonstrating his strength
in defence, Weaver continues to excel as one of GB’s greatest assets, again
picking up a silver medal with the national team who continue in their battle
for promotion to Division 1A.
Colin Shields
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Likewise, ex-Newcastle Viper Colin Shields also exhibited his
excellence at the World Championships, scoring against hosts Croatia,
third-placed Lithuania and István Geréb’s Romania. Before playing ice hockey in
the North East for a single season, Glasgow-born Shields gained experience in
the USA, icing for seven teams across the NAHL, NCAA and the ECHL from 1998
until 2005. Following a season with the Belfast Giants, Shields made his return
to the East Coast Hockey League with Fresno Falcons before a switch to the Idaho
Steelheads saw the forward rack up twenty nine points in thirty three games
ahead of his move to the Vipers.
Taking into consideration the success of Team GB, Shields
took time to share his perspective mid-tournament: “I think we have all come
together with one goal in mind: winning the gold medal. We were so close last
year and I think everyone came back hungry and focused this year on the task.
We are playing as a team and for each other, you can see everyone playing their
role and for each other, not as individuals. The whole tournament has been
great, seeing some of the guys get milestone caps was great. We have so many
characters on the team, friends who have played on this team for fifteen years
or more. It’s special to share moments like that with them.”
Thomas Murdy
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Also travelling with the squad, reserve netminder Thomas
Murdy is another with strong links to the North East, having played in
Sunderland’s junior setup before making the switch to Whitley Bay. It was here
that the superb shot stopper was recognised for his ability to consequently
find himself selected for GB’s Under 18 team.
Swiftly making the transition to the Elite League with Coventry Blaze,
Murdy has also enjoyed loan spells with EPL outfit Swindon Wildcats before
signing for the team in 2012. First choice netminder at Telford Tigers for the last
three seasons, Murdy was recently released by the Shropshire side though he
continues to be one of Great Britain’s best between the pipes. This is
evidenced in Murdy’s presence at the World Championships, the netminder only
edged out of the starting line-up by the brilliant Ben Bowns and the more
experienced Stevie Lyle.
Having observed GB’s action at the World Championships from
the stands as a result, Murdy took time to present his take on the tournament: “I
think the World Championships have been great; the team have performed very
well and the game against Lithuania proved that. Each game we play has a great
atmosphere due to the travelling fans which is a great boost for us. Bownsy
[netminder Ben Bowns] has been great all tournament. He has been really solid
at the back, making the big saves at key times, like the save against Estonia
to keep the game tied at 3-3; that was a huge moment in the game for us. It’s
an honour to be able to represent your country in any way you can so to be
involved with the squad at this year’s World Championships is great. As for the
future, I will just continue to work hard and try to improve, and hopefully
make the final team for future championships.” Considering how far he has
developed his game since his departure from NIHL club Whitley Warriors, Murdy
revealed: “I am happy with how things have gone for me since moving away from
Whitley Bay but I was lucky and I have been given lots of opportunities to
progress so I am grateful for that. There are a lot of talented players who
come through the Whitley Bay junior system. It’s just a shame that players have
to move away from the North East now if they want to progress further in their
hockey careers; even more so now there is no professional hockey in the North
East.
Tom Watkins
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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The Northern link is further extended to GB’s bench where
Durham-born assistant coach Tom Watkins oversees play alongside Head Coach Pete
Russell. Having played for more than two decades, Watkins’ early playing career
can be traced back to the North East. Starting out with Sunderland Tomahawks in
the club’s Under 19 set up, Watkins then went on to feature for Newcastle
Warriors, Billingham Bombers and Durham City Wasps in his first season as a
senior in 1995; his greatest accomplishments were with the Teesside outfit
however, having scored twenty one points in thirty two games for the Bombers.
Since then, Watkins has split his career between Telford Tigers and Coventry
Blaze, more recently becoming Head Coach of Telford’s EPL side and Director of
Coaching of their NIHL feeder team.
Looking ahead to GB’s future, Watkins took the time to
provide some insight into the team’s strengths and the areas that the side must
improve on in order to accomplish promotion in the future: “I think looking
back now, a month post-tournament, it’s still frustrating but we have to take
the positives and keep building on them. I am pleased with the performance and
commitment from players, and the team spirit that is created in a relatively small
amount of time is excellent, but, and it’s a big but, it still hurts. To be in
the same scenario as the previous year is painful. It’s important we give
ourselves a chance to win and be in that position to give ourselves a chance of
success. For the time the team has together to prepare, I think we have grown
together over the last two seasons and we will hopefully improve from this
experience. Of course, there are always areas we can be better but, when you
look back at the key stats of the tournament, we were placed well in several
departments. The one area I feel we can better is around the opposition net.
One good opportunity and we have to bury that chance to change the game,
meaning that we capitalise at key times after periods of good pressure and territory
to carry the momentum further in our favour.”
Further to this, Watkins took time to consider the impact
that Northerners Robert Dowd and Jonathan Weaver have had on GB, both players going
from strength to strength since their departure from ice hockey clubs in the North
East: “I grew up with Jonathan and have been close friends with him since we
were young kids. I have played with him and against him for Durham and
Sunderland respectively. Weaves was always a special talent, a very smooth
skater, good poise and awareness, and was hungry; he still is. It’s great to
see him playing and enjoying his hockey. It’s different when guys play for a
living, different pressures and expectations, but the one thing with him that
is always apparent is how much he loves to play the game. That shows at
practice, always doing more, always trying to improve. He has had such a
successful career because he puts in the hard work on and off the ice. I can
say pretty much the same about Dowdy, he loves to play and compete. They are
both very hungry to be the best and help their team have success. Both had
excellent tournaments in Croatia and they are two of our most influential
players for sure.”
Last but not least, the Northern connection is also
bolstered by the presence of GB’s official photographer Colin Lawson, father of
Whitley Warriors’ Richie and Alex who have also starred with Newcastle Vipers across
all divisions over the years, from ENL2 to the Elite League. For more of
Colin’s photos of Team GB, please visit: http://www.icehockeymedia.co.uk/.
Thank you to Robert Dowd, Colin
Shields, Thomas Murdy and Tom Watkins for taking the time to share their views with NIHL Northern Trio.
