U-20s ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:

Great Britain Under-20s began their World Championship Division One (Group A) campaign with a brave 6-1 defeat to top-seeds Latvia in Belarus.

After killing off an early penalty with Josh Batch sitting for tripping, GB fell behind when Elvijs Biezais netted for Latvia at 13:18.

Moments later, GB missed a powerplay opportunity of their own, and then had to kill their second penalty of the night, with Ciaran Long in the box for hooking.

GB, who are lowest ranked country in the six-team tournament, were out-shot 20-6 in the first session but more than held their own, with Ben Bowns by far the busier of the two netminders.

Peter Russell’s side had to kill a penalty at the start of the second period with Joey Lewis penalised for hooking at 31:58.

With GB back to full strength, two goals in 15 seconds then swung the game firmly in Latvia’s advantage – first Zemgus Girgensons at 35:27, followed by Kristians Straupe at 35:42.

GB’s Sam Weller took a two-minute minor for kneeing at 36:00 and, just as that penalty was killed, Latvia netted their fourth thanks to Girgensons’ second at 38:03.

Great Britain ended the period on the powerplay, but Latvia netted short-handed at 39:34 with Biezais scoring his second of the match.

Latvia out-shot GB 19-4 in the second session, and this time had the goals to show for the dominance.

Russell’s youngsters had another powerplay opportunity at the start of the third period and netted their first goal as a result through Tom Squires at 42:31, assisted by Long and Ben Davies.

GB failed to convert another powerplay moments later and then killed two straight penalties with Davies penalised for hooking and Lewis for tripping.

Latvia continued to pile on the pressure in the third session and scored their sixth at 54:02 through Juris Upitis.

GB killed off a late tripping penalty to Jack Watkins but that was the end of the scoring.

Latvia are the tournament favourites to win promotion to the top flight of the Under-20 tournament and GB can hold their heads up high after this performance.

Bowns faced 48 shots over the three periods and put in an outstanding performance in between the pipes.