Brooks gets first GB call up ahead of world championships

Brooks gained his British citizenship in November, and has been included in a 28-strong pool ahead of the competition.

The vastly experienced Candian-born forward will join GB’s training camp to prepare for two warm-up games against Poland in Nottingham on April1 14/15.

The squad will then be cut to 23 players to travel to Belfast for the championships which run from the 23rd to the 29th.

GB will take on Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Japan in Division 1B action.

Brooks is Fife’s sole representative in the squad which is drawn heavily from the EIHL – and the first player from the club to receive senior honours for many years.

The 38-year old’s career has taken him across north America, where he played on a two-way contract with several NHL teams, Scandinavia and Europe, before arriving in the UK at the start of the 2015-16 season when he iced for Braehead Clan.

This season saw him move from west to east to join Fife where he has been one of their stand-out players and on-ice leaders.

Pete Russell, GB head coach, said: “We are delighted with our final 28 players.

“This was the toughest group to select but the coaches feel we have picked the right balance and the right group. There was so much competition across the board.

“From the Norway games we felt some guys really put themselves into the picture and that was a positive outcome.

“We have a good balance of offence and defence. I think it’s the strongest team we have selected in the two years we have been involved as coaches.

“We have been challenged to win a gold medal by the association and to do it on home soil.

“It’s going to be a wonderful experience and we need everyone behind the whole group. Let’s all pull together, be positive and believe this is our year.”

The squad also includes Stephen Murphy, who began his netminding career with Fife Flyers in 2000. He now plays with Belfast Giants.