Katie on the ice for Team GB
WIDNES ice hockey can boast another international player after women’s team player Katie Fairclough played for the Team GB Women’s U18 outfit in the annual four-side tournament in Sosnowiec in Poland at the weekend.
She joins an evergrowing list of players who have represented their country while playing for Widnes including current women’s senior international netminder Nicole Jackson, who played one season for the Wild NIHL team, and Sarah Hutchinson, who previously turned out for the Wild women’s team.
Wild woman Leen de Decker plays internationally for Belgium and Sophie Sinclair Reeks has also played for the Team GB U18 women’s team.
Wild NIHL players Matt Croyle and Mike Mawer have also played international hockey when they were selected for the GB Universities team.
This was the fourth time that the women’s U18 tournament has been held and teams look upon it as a good opportunity to try out new players and formations ahead of the World Championships in January.
The GB U18 team lost narrowly to Hungary 2-1 and Poland 3-2 before blanking Spain 3-0 in their final game but it was all good experience for the players, some of whom were with the team for the first time.
Katie said: “It was an amazing experience, overwhelming at first, but all the players, coaches and staff were really nice and helpful.
“It’s such a buzz playing at that level for your country.
“The games were really good, very fast and exciting.
“The last game against Spain it came together, we played really well and controlled the game. Our netminder Ella was brilliant and we came away with a 3-0 win – a great way to end the tournament.”
Amanda Williams from the Widnes Wild women’s team said: “We were all very proud to see Katie representing the Wild as a member of the GB U18 squad in Poland.
“Katie is very dedicated and, with the support of her parents, barely has a night off from training.” ● ●