HE MAY not have got on the ice yet but Swindon Wildcats player/coach Stevie Lyle has been happy with his contribution for Great Britain following their strong start to the World Championships.

Netminder Lyle has so far had to watch from the bench at the competition in Eindhoven, playing back-up to Ben Bowns in GB’s victories over Estonia and Croatia as well as defeating Korea 3-2 this evening.

Veteran Lyle only made it into Pete Russell’s squad after regular number one Stephen Murphy failed to recover from injury. Although he does not expect to be called on regularly, his 12th World Championship campaign has still been a good experience.

“I knew coming here, I would most probably just be playing one game and that would be it,” said 35-year-old Lyle.

“Ben Bowns has had a good season with the Cardiff Devils and is continuing it in the tournament.

“I knew I was just going to be a safety net for the team in case things didn’t work out with him or he picked up an injury.

“It has been good and I have had time to catch up on emails with players, and it has been nice to have a bit of free time.

“We beat Poland twice before the tournament and they are in the group higher, so I think expectations kind of rose then.

“Pete has been good and the players seem to have adapted to his system, hence why we have been winning and I think now the mood is good.”

Having been on the Cats’ books for the past two seasons, Lyle will take over as boss ahead of the 2015-16 campaign following Ryan Aldridge’s departure.

He has been using his time in the national camp to bolster his coaching credentials for his return to the Link Centre.

Lyle said: “As a coach, you need the players to listen and adapt to the situations, and we have so far.

“I pick up things coaching-wise off a lot of people.

“There are a number of coaches out here - there is Tommy Watkins, Paul Thompson and it is just forming the right team and getting them to play how you think you can win each game.”