The schedule for the 2019 World Championship in Slovakia has been announced with Great Britain starting their first campaign in the top flight for 25 years against Germany.
GB are in Group A, which is based in Kosice, and games are taking place at the Steel Arena. Britain and Germany go head-to-head on Saturday 11th May, before GB face Canada on Sunday 12th May.
After a rest day, GB meet Denmark on Tuesday 14th May before facing USA on Wednesday 15th May.
Finland are GB’s opponents on Friday 17th May, while Pete Russell’s side meet hosts Slovakia on Saturday 18th May. Britain complete their Group A campaign against France on Monday 20th May.
USA and Canada were beaten semi-finalists at the 2018 World Championship, before America beat the Canadians 4-1 to secure the bronze medal.
Current world champions Sweden are joined in Group B by Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Norway, Latvia, Austria and Italy, with matches taking place in Bratislava.
The 16-team tournament will run from 10th to 26th May with teams playing each other once in the group stages for a total of seven group games.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals and the bottom team in each group being relegated to Division 1 Group A.
GB secured their place in the top flight by winning four of their five games in Division I Group A to claim the gold medal in Budapest last month.
Pete Russell's side needed a single point to secure promotion and ended up with a 2-2 draw against Hungary on the final day.
Great Britain schedule – Group A (face-off times: Slovakia local time)
Saturday 11th May: Germany v Great Britain - 4:15pm
Sunday 12th May: Great Britain v Canada - 8:15pm
Tuesday 14th May: Great Britain v Denmark - 4:15pm
Wednesday 15th May: USA v Great Britain - 4:15pm
Friday 17th May: Finland v Great Britain - 8:15pm
Saturday 18th May: Great Britain v Slovakia - 8:15pm
Monday 20th May: France v Great Britain - 4:15pm
