Head coach Tony Hand revealed the state of disappointment among the Great Britain squad after they were relegated to Division One Group B of the Ice Hockey World Championships.
Needing a regulation time win against Korea to remain in Division One Group A, Britain fell 4-1 on the final day of the six-team tournament in Budapest to confirm their relegation.
Britain actually took the lead with little less than five minutes gone through Robert Dowd before Matthew Myers and David Clark both hit the left-hand post in the first period.
However Korea equalised through Sanghoon Shin at the start of the second period before Jiman Yoon found space in the slot to give them the lead midway through.
Dowd hit the left-hand post again before Brock Radunske made it 3-1 and then Kisung Kim added a fourth for Korea just over three minutes into the third period.
Britain couldn’t find a way back into the game and lost their fifth game of the tournament with head coach Hand adamant the team will bounce back from the devastation.
“We are disappointed as a coaching staff and as a team. I had a chat with the boys and they are devastated in there,” said Hand.
“We were not good enough in the tournament, but we will bounce back I am sure. We are a proud nation, so I know we won’t stay down for long.
“We need to find a way to improve and we need to bring fresh players in. Our offense let us down this tournament.
“We should have been three or four ahead in the first period and then suddenly we find ourselves 3-1 down in the second.
“But we will come back and bounce back. These guys are very proud people.”
© Sportsbeat 2013
Photo credit Diane Davey