Ice Tech UK, the country’s leading supplier of new ice hockey rinks and the market leader for the refurbishment of existing ice rinks, have signed an agreement with Ice Hockey UK as a major kit sponsor of Great Britain at the World Championship in Slovakia.
The event, taking place in May, sees GB join 15 of the world’s elite teams in the top flight with Pete Russell’s side drawn in Group A.
They will come up against Germany, Canada, Denmark, USA, France, Finland and hosts Slovakia in Kosice from 11th to 20th May, with the top four teams in each group going through to the knockout stages.
Mark Nelson, senior partner of Ice Tech UK, said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to support GB at this very prestigious event.
“The continued growth of ice hockey in the UK has a significant impact upon the development of new and existing ice arenas, which is the core of our business.
“Affiliating ourselves with the country’s elite athletes through support of GB is an expression of our commitment to ice hockey development.
“In order for grass-roots sports to grow and prosper, it is important that our younger generation have role models and idols that they can aspire to one day become.
“GB’s success and growth on a world stage will undoubtedly result in an increased uptake in the sport at grass-roots level.”
IHUK general secretary, Andy French, added: “We are excited to link-up with Ice Tech UK and are very proud to be associated with them.
“We have had a great relationship with them for a number of years and it is fantastic to have them supporting us at the World Championship.”
The sponsorship deal agreed with GB is the largest in the company’s 11-year history and its first on a global platform.
Ice Tech UK have previous sponsorship agreements across the ice sports spectrum in figure skating, ice hockey, curling and synchronised skating at national and regional levels. They also sponsored Ice Hockey UK’s 100-year celebration event.
The dates of the 2019 World Championship co-incides with the opening of another new ice hockey facility in Cambridge – The Cambridge Ice Arena.
Ice Tech UK are the ice specialist on this project and the construction of the development is managed by Cool Venues, another company that Mr Nelson is affiliated to.