Great Britain's 4-3 overtime win against France at the 2019 IIHF World Championship ensured the Brits an appearance at next year's tournament.
Playing in its first world championship since 1994, one win was all Great Britain needed to avoid relegation and it came against winless France in both teams' final game in Slovakia.
The game started to look rather bleak in the second period when France scored three goals in the first eight minutes including two in six seconds. Robert Dowd and Mike Hammond put Great Britain on the board to bring them within one by the end of the frame. British netminder Ben Bowns said the first goal changed the momentum.
"There was an energy about us, an energy about the fans and the whole arena. You could sense it," Bowns told reporters after the game.
Robert Farmer evened out the score halfway through the third period to send the game to overtime. Ben Davies didn't waste any time finishing the game as he bested French goaltender Florian Hardy just two minutes into the extra time. The win cements Great Britain in seventh place in Group A, which keeps them in the top tier of international hockey and sends France down.
Great Britain hasn't played in back-to-back world championships since the 1950 and 1951 tournaments. The players were clearly excited about the accomplishment and understand the humor in their one-win accomplishment, they chanted "we're s—, and we know we are" on the ice after the victory.
Great Britain 🇬🇧 literally sang "we're s***, and we know we are" after avoiding relegation with a 4-3 overtime win over France 🇫🇷 at the #IIHFWorlds 🤭😂 pic.twitter.com/3gHndMkduJ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 20, 2019
Jokes aside, this team has plenty to be proud of. Great Britain was relegated to Division IB, the third tier of the IIHF in 2013 and made it back to the first tier in just five years.
Don't forget: Great Britain was in Division IB just two years ago.
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 20, 2019
In 2014, they came fourth behind Poland, Croatia and Lithuania in Division IB. A lot of that core group was here today.
Colin Shields included, who just completed his final game. #IIHFWorlds
"We made British history," Bowns said. "It's an unbelievable feeling I can't really describe right now."