Ice Hockey World Championship: Great Britain relegated after 5-3 defeat by Austria

Great Britain were relegated along with Italy

Great Britain have been relegated from the Ice Hockey World Championship's elite division after they were beaten 5-3 by Austria on Monday.

GB had led 3-1 thanks to goals from Matthew Myers, Robert Dowd and Cade Neilson.

However, Austria fought back to secure their survival and send GB down in their final game in Finland.

Captain Jonathan Phillips made his 111th appearance to become GB's most-capped player in history.

Meanwhile, defenceman Mark Richardson received his 100th cap, becoming only the fifth player to reach the landmark.

GB head coach Pete Russell said: "I think we did enough to win the game. I thought we were in control most of the time.

"On any other day in this tournament we could have won three games. It's never been like that this before.

"It's tough for the boys and I think overall that's one of the best tournaments we played as a team.

"I know there were a lot of pieces missing but these boys put unbelievable performances in and stuck together as a team."