Great Britain Under-18 Women’s Head Coach Angela Taylor says she wants her side to play without fear during their IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship Division II campaign in Istanbul.
GB marked Taylor’s first international game in charge with a 6-0 victory over Mexico yesterday in their opening game of the tournament.
Taylor – a former GB player – was appointed to the role in March and this is her first major tournament as Head Coach of the national side.
“With such a short amount of time, I felt my job was to build their confidence up and make them realise how fantastic they all are,” said Taylor.
“Fear and fun are actually the same emotional reaction in your body, but there’s two different things going on in your head.
“I am trying to get the fear out and use that nervous energy in a positive way – and they really took to that yesterday.”
GB return to action tomorrow when they face hosts Turkey in their second Group A game of the tournament.
“Turkey will be a tough game for us,” continued Taylor. “We need to be thinking of how we want to play.
“We certainly won’t underestimate them in the same way we didn’t underestimate Mexico.
“We have to stick to what we want to do and how we achieve what the girls decided their goal was for this tournament.”
Tomorrow’s game against Turkey faces-off at 20:00 (18:00 UK time) and will be shown live on YouTube. Click here to watch.
Great Britain U18 Women schedule and results
Monday 27th June: Mexico 0-6 Great Britain – Goals: Chamonix Jackson 2, Ruby Newlands 2, Alice Jones, Lydia Walsh
Wednesday 29th June: Great Britain v Turkey 20:00 (18:00 UK time)
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July: Second-round group games
Tuesday 5th July: Tournament placement games