More than seventy-five years have passed, but still there is no British Olympic triumph to match it. You might think that you’ve heard all about Britain’s great Olympic heroes but this tale is head and shoulders above what you think you know.

In 1936 Great Britain became not only the first team to ever defeat Canada in Olympic ice-hockey but they became the European, World and Olympic champions in the bargain. The Brits were rank outsiders for a medal and even though the team was cobbled together at the last moment they sensationally rose to the occasion as they managed to stay undefeated in their seven games and caused an upset which reverberated around the world and even reached the floor of the Canadian Parliament.