The IIHF Council has announced that Austria and France will replace Belarus and Russia at this year’s World Championship in Finland.
The 16-team tournament takes place in Tampere and Helsinki from 13th to 29th May.
It means Austria will join Great Britain in Group B in Tampere, alongside Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
The games will be played at the newly-built 13,500-seater Tampere Deck Arena.
France will slot into Group A in Helsinki with Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Switzerland.
GB last met Austria at the 2012 World Championship Division I Group A in Slovenia, with Colin Shields (2) and Corey Neilson scoring in a 7-3 defeat.
The IIHF said in a statement: “Aside from the replacement of these teams, the game schedule remains the same and the last-ranked team of Group A and the last-ranked team of Group B will be relegated.”
Click here for detailed information on the IIHF website.
Great Britain revised World Championship schedule
Saturday 14th May 2022 – Czech Republic v Great Britain 16:20 (14:20 UK time)
Sunday 15th May 2022 – Norway v Great Britain 12:20 (10:20 UK time)
Tuesday 17th May 2022 – Sweden v Great Britain 20:20 (18:20 UK time)
Thursday 19th May 2022 – Great Britain v USA 16:20 (14:20 UK time)
Friday 20th May 2022 – Great Britain v Finland 16:20 (14:20 UK time)
Sunday 22nd May 2022 – Great Britain v Latvia 16:20 (14:20 UK time)
Monday 23rd May 2022 – Austria v Great Britain 20:20 (18:20 UK time)