Great Britain has lost the opportunity to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics once again after a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Italy.
Held in Cortina, the hosts took the first period with pace and power that overwhelmed the Great Britain team, taking a 3-0 lead.
Italy, standing at rank 18 extended the score gap in the second period before goals from Ashley Tait and David Clarke scored and shortened the gap to two.
However, the squadra azzurra strove to retake their lead before the final period, and when defenceman Alexander Gellert made it 5-2 the game was all but over, and Italy took home the decisive game.
Home fans wildly celebrated Gellert’s goal, who was in turn thrilled by the experience of representing his own country.
Gellert’s goal was greeted by a huge roar from his home fans and he was thrilled by the experience of representing his country on home ice.
“I feel really lucky to be able to play here with this great support from the fans,” he said.
“Thanks to the GB fans as well – they really got some electricity into the building.”
As Italy looks forward to travelling to Norway for the Olympic qualifiers, Team GB would return home having never qualified for the multinational competition since 1948.