Top IIHF honour for former GB coach and player

Former Great Britain player and coach Tony Hand will be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

The 49-year-old will receive the Richard ‘Bibi’ Torriani Award – for an outstanding career by a player from a non-top hockey nation – as part of the 2017 inductees.

The Edinburgh-born former forward scored over 4,250 points in an illustrious 34-year playing career.

He became the first British-raised player to be drafted by an NHL side when he was picked up by Edmonton Oilers in 1986.

In a two-year stint as GB head coach, he led the national side to the final qualifying stages for the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014.

Hand said: “I am honoured to receive this award, it really is fantastic.

“I would like to thank my family, all the coaches I have worked with and all my former team-mates.

“I would also like to thank the IIHF committee for this nomination, it is something very special.

“This is something I will really cherish and I feel proud to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.”

Ice Hockey UK chairman, Richard Grieveson, said: “This is a special moment for Tony and one he fully deserves.

“He is a legend in UK ice hockey and has done so much for the sport in this country.

“This shows the respect Tony has worldwide and I would like to congratulate him on his award.”

The 2017 IIHF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place in Cologne Germany on 21st May, the final day of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

Click here to read Tony Hand’s inductee-bio on the IIHF website.