Bon voyage and best of luck to Newcastle Northstars Bert Malloy, Mat Lindsay, Rob Haselhurst, Richie Tesarik and goaltender Charlie Smart who today are off to the Czech Republic for a training camp ahead of the 2018 IIHF World Championships.

The five, plus former Northstar Beau Taylor, were selected to represent Australia in the Division II Group A ice hockey world championship, which will be held in Tilburg, Netherlands between April 23 and 29.

The 2018 tournament with be Lindsay's third.

After winning silver with Australia in the 2017 tournament Lindsay said he, along with the rest of the team, wanted to go the extra step this year.

"We'll see what Netherland brings but we're confident," he said.

"The home team is generally the toughest team. They've come down the from the division above. We always expect that team to be strong.

"We expect more of the same from last year. Every team is quick, every team is strong. I believe our team is just as strong.

"Most of us have been together for three years at least so we have a really good, strong locker room and gel together well on the ice. I'm very confident we'll be able to compete.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the new guys this year, like Matt Armstrong. We definitely have a really strong team. I'm looking forward to training camp."

The Australian team, known as the Mighty Roos, will return to the Czech Republic where the 2017 tournament was held for 10 day training camp.

Players were due to fly to the Czech Republic on Thursday, April 12.

"It's a different spot from where we were last year," Lindsay said.

"Joey Rezek and Richie Tesarik, being a natives of that land, will help us out with the language."

Australia will face Belgium, China, Iceland, Serbia and host country Netherlands in the tournament.

This year, the ice hockey tournament has been scheduled for later in April.

This will mean many players on team Australia, known as the Mighty Roos, will miss the opening two weeks of the 2018 Australian Ice Hockey League Season, which will kick off on April 21.

"We're definitely bummed about that," Lindsay said.

"But we have all the faith in the world with the guys we have, especially with the imports arriving in time this year.

"We're looking forward to tracking it overseas and wish the team all the best but we wish we could be here for the start of the season."

Lindsay said he was looking forward to catching up with Taylor, who played his first IIHF tournament wearing Australia's green and gold last year.

"He's been a brother of mine for 15 years," he said.

"I'm really excited to put the green and gold on with him again with him this year. We've missed him for a few years in Newcastle, we'd love to have him back this year but he has a lot going on in his life at the moment, starting up a business. But, really excited to see him and play with him again."

Game schedule

Game 1
Monday, April 23
Australia vs. Iceland

Game 4
Tuesday, April 24
Australia vs. Belgium

Game 7
Wednesday, April 24
China vs. Australia

Game 12
Saturday, April 28
Serbia vs. Australia

Game 14
Sunday, April 29
Netherlands vs. Australia

Important links

Australian Mens Ice Hockey Team Facebook page

2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II Group A official website page

LISTEN to Northstars captain Bert Malloy talk about the world championship on the AIHL podcast

Team list

(Link to team list on IIHF website)

Matt Armstrong
Jack Carpenter
Billy Cliff
Wehebe Darge
Brian Funes
Per Daniel Goransson
Rob Haselhurst
Anthony Kimlin - G
Mat Lindsay
Bert Malloy
Michael McMahon
Kai Miettinen
Tommy Powell
Joey Rezek
Charlie Smart - G
Beau Taylor
Richard Tesarik
Cam Todd
Kieren Webster
Lliam Webster
Chris Wong
Jamie Woodman
Coach Brad Vigon
Assistant Coach Matti Luoma
Team Leader Steve Ransome
Team Manager Ian Webster
Equipment Manager Petr Cirkl
Doctor Daniel George
Physiotherapist Ashleigh Trupiani
Chiropractor Rod Weiland