Great Britain stalwart Ian Turner has retired from his role as Team Manager of Great Britain Under-20s.
Ian has been involved in the programme for two decades, working as manager for over 150 games which included 13 medals, three of them gold.
His first management role was with GB Women in 2003, and he also managed the men’s under-18s and took GB university teams to the FISU World Student Games on three occasions.
He managed GB Men at the World Championship in 2012 and 2013, as well as two Olympic Qualifiers, including being part of the off-ice team when Great Britain won in Japan in November 2012.
Turner has overseen hundreds of players at GB tournaments in the past 20 years and is a popular figure in British ice hockey.
A special presentation took place ahead of Saturday’s game between Great Britain and Poland at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, where Ian was presented with a watch by Ice Hockey UK General Secretary Andy French.
“There have been some tough and demanding places that I have taken teams to play, but I have enjoyed it all,” he said.
“It gives me great pride and a lovely feeling when I help out at various domestic tournaments and see players who I took abroad to a World Championship as youngsters now established as senior players.
“They are now men and women playing at the very top level of the sport. I have played a small part at the start of their journey, but they are still generous enough to say hello and have a chat.
“For someone who can’t even skate, I have had a terrific journey and made many friends. I will, however, not be disappearing altogether I will still be around helping behind the scenes at various future domestic tournaments.”
Ice Hockey UK General Secretary, Andy French, said: “On behalf of IHUK, I’d like to thank Ian for his time as manager in the GB Programme.
“Ian has been one of the most hardest-working people in the GB set-up. His attention to detail made him a top-class operator, and his skillset has been perfect for the job.
“Many people don’t realize that Ian also plays a big role when GB host tournaments on home ice, looking after teams and ensuring the smooth running of the whole operation. I am sure he will continue to assist us when we host tournaments as we continue to use his experience behind the scenes.”
