Tony Hand MBE to coach GB

Tony Hand MBE has been appointed as the new head coach of the Great Britain senior team to replace Paul Thompson.

Hand will lead GB at the 2012 World Championship (Division 1A) in Slovenia and also the tournaments in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The Edinburgh-born 44-year-old is currently coach of English Premier League side Manchester Phoenix and will work in a dual role for club and country.

Hand became the first British-raised player to be drafted by an NHL side when he was picked up by Edmonton Oilers in 1986. He has scored over 4,000 points and began his career with his home-town club Murrayfield Racers, before moving to Sheffield Steelers.

His first coaching role was in the British National League with Dundee Stars, and has also had spells with Edinburgh Capitals and Belfast Giants in the Elite League, before joining Manchester in 2007.

Hand is now in his fifth season in charge of Manchester and was named as EPL Coach of the Year last season as he led the Phoenix to the league title. He also had a spell as GB assistant coach at the 2008 World Championship.

Hand said: “I am proud to be appointed to the role of head coach and am very excited about the challenge. I am looking forward to working with some fantastic players and it will be a great honour and privilege to coach the national team.”

“I would like to thank the Ice Hockey UK board for appointing me, and also Manchester Phoenix’s managing director Neil Morris for allowing me to take up this job. I am following in some great footsteps in Paul Thompson, who did a fantastic job in his time as GB coach.”

Andy French, Ice Hockey UK’s general secretary, added: “We had a long list of high-calibre applicants and it was a very strong field of candidates. Tony stood out from all the rest. He is a legend in British ice hockey and is well-known throughout the ice hockey world”.

“I am sure Tony will be able to build on the fantastic work done by Paul Thompson and keep GB challenging for promotion to the top flight.”