Great Britain won their opening game in Group B of Division One at ice hockey's World Championships, beating Croatia.

GB made a 26-hour bus journey to hosts Slovenia after the Icelandic volcanic eruption cancelled their flight, arriving two hours before face-off.

They won the game 4-1 thanks to goals from Jonathan Phillips, Ben O'Connor, Greg Chambers and Robert Dowd.

Coach Paul Thompson said "What a group of guys. I don't think I could be more proud than I am right now."

GB got off to a flying start when the Sheffield Steelers pairing of Phillips and Robert Dowd combined for the former to score the opening goal in the fifth minute.

The boys just did their job, put their gear on and played their hearts out under the most difficult of circumstances GB head coach Paul Thompson

The Croatians were back in it minutes later as Dominik Kanaet equalised on a five-on-three powerplay, and the scores were level at the end of the first period.

A stunning middle period saw O'Connor and Chambers score two crucial goals, which gave the British side some breathing space going into the final session.

Far from take the foot off the gas, GB netted a fourth, as Dowd scored in the closing stages to wrap up a comfortable victory.

"Twenty-six hours on a bus, not a word of moaning or groaning, the boys just did their job, put their gear on and played their hearts out under the most difficult of circumstances, beating a very good and prepared Croatian side," added Thompson.

"We will all be glad to get to the hotel after the last two days of travel, get a good night's sleep and then get back to our normal routine tomorrow.

"We are all delighted and to be honest a little relieved that this game is now over."

GB's second game in the competition is against Korea on Sunday (1200 BST).

They are competing in Division One of the tournament, which equates to world ice hockey's second tier.

The top nations, including Canada and the United States, take part in the main World Championship event in Germany next month.

Should Britain win their group, they would earn the right to join those leading nations in the top division of next year's World Championships in Slovakia.

But GB are considered underdogs in Group B, with hosts Slovenia and Hungary the favourites.

Britain won a bronze medal in the same group at last year's event.

Visit the BBC Coventry & Warwickshire website to hear full match commentary on every GB game in the tournament, with Geoff Foster and Andy Buxton.

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