"We announced the Harbin Team at a recent training camp," said Head Coach, Matt Bradbury. "The dynamics of the selected team is unrecognisable from Torino. Back then we even had a problem persuading players that WUGs was a high calibre event. The Torino team had a few players with Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) experience and a few with English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPIHL) experience. The remainder were English National Ice Hockey League (ENIHL) and BUIHA club players. This time around we have a wealth of EIHL players, EPIHL players and top-end ENIHL players. We are also pleased to announce confirmation that netminders Stephen Fone (Coventry Blaze) and Geoff Woolhouse (Nottingham Panthers) are being released from their clubs to represent Team GBR".

In what is arguably one of the most important recent developments in GB ice hockey, the Team GBR management have been instrumental in attaining 31 (16 Men's and 15 Women's) Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) awards, a government initiative created to support talented athletes during education in England. TASS provides awards to the value of £3,500 through funding support such as coaching, strength and conditioning training, medical insurance, physiotherapy and mentoring. Matt Bradbury, TASS Coordinator for Ice Hockey UK, explains, "This is an excellent opportunity for us to nurture talented players and provide them with the support needed to assist them in realising their dreams of becoming British ice sports athletes. We demand one hundred per cent commitment from the athletes and value the support given to them by their academic institutions and respective clubs".