Brandon Whistle faces a race against time to be fit for his Great Britain debut.
The centerback for the Sheffield Steelers was included in the projected 22-man roster, which also included Cam Critchlow and Sean Norris, when head coach Pete Russell of Great Britain announced his selection for the men’s Olympic Qualifiers in Cardiff next month.
The 26-year-old centre has been wrestling with injury for some time, however.
He’d love to play for his country though, and hopes to be in the GB side to face Romania, China and Serbia at the Vindico Arena from Thursday 8 to Sunday, February 11.
The group winners will progress to Final Qualifying in August – the final stage before the Winter Olympics in Italy.
Asked by The Star if Whistle would be fit Russell replied: “We don’t know actually.
“We thought he was going to be, they (Sheffield) seemed to think he would be so we will wait and see.
“We were led to believe that they had spoken to him and he would be available to be selected.”
Russell said he had plenty of options to fill the squad for the tournament.
“I really like the look of our squad and I am pleased to add Cam, Sean and Brandon, who were close to be selected for last year’s World Championship.
“We’re off to another exciting year, and it’s wonderful to be hosting a tournament on home ice in the UK once more.”
Whistle, whose play has much improved recently, has had a difficult season due to injuries. He missed several games in September and then starting in late December.
He has missed 16 games in all as Sheffield advances toward their first league championship since 2016.
Thus far, the forward has recorded six goals and six assists.
Sam Jones and Robert Dowd, two Steelers, are on GB’s roster:
Defence: David Clements (Coventry Blaze), Nathanael Halbert (HC Innsbruck), Sam Jones (Sheffield Steelers), Evan Mosey (Cardiff Devils), Ben O’Connor (Guildford Flames), David Phillips (Belfast Giants), Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils), Sam Ruopp (Lausitzer Fuchse).
Forwards: Ollie Betteridge (Nottingham Panthers), Cam Critchlow (Manchester Storm), Johnny Curran (Coventry Blaze), Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers), Liam Kirk (HC Litvinov), Robert Lachowicz (Glasgow Clan), Ben Lake (Belfast Giants), Cade Neilson (University of Alaska-Fairbanks), Sean Norris (Belfast Giants), Brett Perlini (Mec Halle 04), Josh Waller (Cardiff Devils), Brandon Whistle (Sheffield Steelers).
