Peter Russell (ice hockey)

Peter Russell (born 20 June 1974) is a British ice hockey coach and former goaltender. He is currently the head coach of EHC Freiburg of the DEL2 and the Great Britain men's national ice hockey team. He the most successful coach in GB history at both senior and junior level, with 11 medals including six gold medals.

Peter Russell
Born	20 June 1974 Ayr, Scotland
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Ayr Raiders Medway Bears Dumfries Vikings Blackburn Hawks Slough Jets Paisley Pirates Castlereagh Knights Nottingham Panthers
National team	Great Britain
Playing career	1990–1998

Professional career

Playing career

Russell made his debut with the Ayr Raiders during 1990 in the British Hockey League. In 1992 Pete moved to the British Division 1, the country's then-second tier league, playing for the Medway Bears, Dumfries Vikings, Blackburn Hawks, Slough Jets and the Paisley Pirates. In 1996, Russell played for the Castlereagh Knights followed by a second spell with the Paisley Pirates again. He then played one game for the Nottingham Panthers in the British Ice Hockey Superleague before retiring at the age of 24.

Coaching career

On 22 April 2015, Russell was announced as the head coach of the Milton Keynes Lightning for the 2015–16 season replacing the previous long-term coach Nick Poole. He led them to memorable playoff and cup double in the 2016-17 season, before leading them in their inaugural season in the Elite League. In February 2018, the Lightning announced that Russell would leave the team at the end of the season.[1]

On 8 April 2018, Russell was announced as head coach of the Glasgow Clan, replacing John Tripp.[2]

Between 2003 and 2015, he led GB's junior sides to seven medals at World Championship tournaments, including four gold medals. Since taking over Great Britain Men in 2014-15, Russell led GB to two successive silver medals at the World Championship Division I Group B in his first two seasons in charge of the national team. In 2017, he won gold on home ice and promotion to the second tier.[3] In 2018, he led GB to a memorable gold in Hungary in the World Championship Division I Group A to secure a top-flight World Championship place for 2019.[4]

In May 2019, it was announced that Russell had left the Glasgow Clan, and would be joining EHC Freiburg in the DEL2, taking over from Jan Melichar.[5]

Honours and awards

• 2005/06 – IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 2 Gold with Team GB
• 2006/07 – IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 1 Bronze with Team GB
• 2008/09 – IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 2 Silver with Team GB
• 2009/10 – IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 2 Gold with Team GB
• 2009/10 – EPIHL Playoff Champions with Slough Jets
• 2009/10 – EPIHL Coach of the Season
• 2010/11 – IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 1 Bronze with Team GB
• 2010/11 – EPIHL Cup winners with the Slough Jets
• 2014/15 - IIHF Under 20s World Championships Division 1B Gold with Team GB
• 2014/15 - IIHF World Championship Division 1B Silver with Team GB
• 2015/16 - IIHF World Championship Division 1B Silver with Team GB
• 2016/17 - EPIHL Playoff Champions with Milton Keynes Lightning
• 2016/17 - IIHF World Championship Division 1B Gold with Team GB
• 2017/18 - IIHF World Championship Division 1A Gold with Team GB
• 2019/20 - DEL2 Coach of the Year with EHC Freiburg

References

1. Lightning to part company with coach Pete Russell at the end of the season
2. Elite League ice hockey: GB head coach Peter Russell takes charge of Braehead Clan
3. Team GB seal gold medal in Belfast with win over Japan
4. Great Britain return to elite level after victory over Hungary
5. "Peter Russell wird neuer Trainer des EHC Freiburg" (in German). 13 May 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com