BRATISLAVA. It was a big sensation when the hockey players of Great Britain escaped in the elite category of the World Cup in 2019.
In the Steel Arena in Košice, they suffered several cruel losses, but in a key match with France, they turned the score from 0: 3 to the final 4: 3 after extra time.
Liam Kirk, a 19-year-old striker who was already considered one of the greatest talents of British hockey in recent years, was also present at the time.
He had the status of a player drafted by the NHL team. In 2018, Arizona Coyotes reached him in the seventh round and out of a total of 189th place. As the first British ever.
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However, Kirk did not win the championship in Slovakia. He did not score in six matches and scored six negative points.
Two years later, everything is different. Not only is he the leader of his team, but he is one of the most pleasant surprises of the tournament in Riga.
The end of almost 60 years of waiting
The British have eight goals scored after four matches, and Kirk took care of up to half of them. He gradually scored against Russia, Slovakia and twice won even in an unexpected win over Belarus (4: 3).
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He showed an accurate shot, emphasis in front of the opponent’s goal and individual abilities.
In the table of shooters, he belongs to the shared first place with the Danish Nicklas Jensen. Interestingly, for example, no Canadian has scored more than once.
“Liam was excellent. His game has improved a lot, in the last three years or so. He has already played great in the EIHL Series and took it to the next world championship.
It’s great to see him skate, create events and finish them around the goal, “teammate Matthew Myers told IIHF Kirkov after the match with Belarus.
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For Great Britain, it was the first victory in the elite category of the World Cup in regular time since 1962. At that time, she defeated Finland 7: 5.
“The passion, desire and courage of the players to do the things that are necessary and necessary for victory is remarkable. It was a fantastic performance against a very strong opponent.
Everything that is currently happening is deserved and the credit belongs to each of these players, “said coach Adam Keefe after the winning duel.
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He praised the team chemistry
Even before the start of the championship, Kirk was in a positive mood.
“We are optimistic and we can win some matches. The chemistry in the team is great, we are all excited and we want to give our best.
We are realists, we realize that there are top teams in the tournament, but we have already achieved something that no one expected, “he told the British media.
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In the extremely tangled A-group, the British are currently in sixth place with a gain of four points. Five Belarusians have the same number.
The British have already managed to take the Danish point (2: 3 pp) and will try something similar against the Swedes, Czechs and Swiss in the remaining duels.
They can play relaxed, as he doesn’t fall out of the A-category this year.
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He wants to fight for a contract in the NHL
Kirk finished last season in the English team Sheffield Steelers. He scored ten goals in fourteen games and added the same number of assists.
However, it has much bolder ambitions in the near future.
“I want to go back to North America. That’s still my main goal. I’ll focus on showing off to the World Cup in good light and winning an NHL entry season next season. If that doesn’t work, I’ll look after the AHL or other options, “Kirk told the Yorkshire Post before the tournament began.
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Should his overseas plans fail and no other more attractive offers come, he has a guaranteed place in Sheffield for next season as well.
He has changed his style since the draft
Kirk may become the first player to play in the NHL, being born and raised in hockey in the UK.
He said that he had significantly improved since he was drafted.
“To be honest, my skills were minimal. I have never experienced and learned many of the basic things that North American children master.
However, I learned different styles of skating and how to work on ice with a puck and create space, “the NHL website quoted him as saying.
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He has already tried the Canadian OHL overseas, where he played 115 matches in the Peterborough Petes jersey with a balance of 47 goals and 51 assists.
According to his own words, his play overseas has completely changed to the local North American style. Kirk had to play more physically and move the puck faster.
His game at the Riga World Championships was also appreciated by fans on twitter of the International Hockey Federation. Kirk was chosen as the best player on the sixth day of the game.
Of the total number of 867 votes, he received 77.7 percent. He defeated Canadian Connor Brown, Russian goalkeeper Alexander Samonov and Kazakh Pavel Akolzin.
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