22 year old forward Lee Mitchell has been called up to Paul Thompson's provisional 30 man Great Britain side for the upcoming World Championships.The Stingrays forward, who has recorded a Elite League best 30 points in 53 games this season and is just three points from a career best, has been on the cusp of the squad for a number of years now after playing for GB at U18 and U20 level.
In fact Mitchell, who has been assistant captain for the Stingrays this season and received a call up to the inaugural EIHL All Star game, only missed out in last season's squads for the Euro Challenge and World Championships due to a knee operation which scuppered his chances of selection.
He has successfully returned from that knee injury this season and after a good start to the season he was named as reserve for GB's Olympic qualifiers in Poland, however the 30 man squad will be cut down to 23 before the tournament in April and Mitchell will need to continue his good form to finally make the full squad.
Great Britain will face hosts Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Holland and Romania between April 11 and 17, with the winner progressing to the World Group next year to face the likes of Canada, Russia, USA and Finland.
Former Stingrays defenceman, and product of the Kingston Junior Development system, Dave Phillips, was also selected to the squad after recording seven goals and 21 assists in 59 games with the Belfast Giants this season after moving there from Hull last summer.
Photo courtesy Arthur Foster
