Young Joshua looks set to Storm to the top

ICE HOCKEY JOSHUA Milnes, a 10-year-old pupil at Thorn Primary School, has been selected to represent the North of England in ice hockey and has even been made assistant captain for the team just 18 months after taking up the sport.

Joshua first developed a love for ice hockey after watching the Blackburn Hawks play.

For several years, he had a season ticket and sponsored players before deciding he wanted to try his skills on the ice.

He began his journey by taking skating lessons to get to the required standard. He then enrolled on the ‘Learn to Play’ programme at Blackburn Ice Arena in April 2016.

After just a few weeks he was invited to train with the team and officially signed with the Blackburn Junior Hawks Under 11s in October of the same year.

He played his first game away in Grimsby and during his second ever game he scored his first goal and was awarded the ‘Most Valuable Player’.

At the end of the game, he was approached by the coach of the Under 13s team who asked him to start training with them as well. Joshua turned 9 in December 2016 which then made him eligible to play for the Under 13s. His first game took place in January 2017 and he continued to play for both teams for the remainder of the season.

In September 2017, Joshua signed to play for Manchester Storm Academy and was again invited to play for the Under 11s and the Under 13s.

It was his new coach, Nick Crawley, a former Manchester Storm player, that put Joshua’s name forward to trial for the Northern Conference (a team made up to represent the North of England).

Based on this recommendation, Joshua was invited to trial just a year after entering the sport. Just before Christmas 2017, Joshua was informed that he had made the team.

He has since taken part in three tournaments with this elite team of players, playing against teams from Scotland, Midlands, South East and South West.

At the most recent tournament, Northern finished second and it was at this tournament that Joshua was given the prestigious role of assistant captain.

The move to Manchester Storm, under Head Coach Nick Crawley, was a very positive one for several reasons.

This season both the Under 11s and the Under 13s team have been coached to be the champions of the North league.

The Under 11s, who have been crowned winners of division 1, also finished third in the National Championship earning themselves a bronze medal.

In the recent presentation event, Joshua was awarded the ‘Gary Weightman – Rookie of the Year award’ for his contribution to his team.

Nick said: “Josh has been a great addition to the team. His attitude, work rate and nature all help him grow as a player and more importantly, build new friends and contribute as a teammate.

“I’m really pleased with how he has progressed this year and I’m also incredibly proud that he’s been made Assistant Captain of the Northern Conference team.

“I can see him growing as a hockey player.”

One of the next challenges is the final Conference tournament in June where the Northern team will strive to become Conference champions.