Bay’s England starlets doing very n-ice-ly!
JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY
WHITLEY Bay Ice Hockey Club’s junior talent is continuing to show its England class, writes TONY HODGSON.
Grassroots Sport reported last week that forward Thomas Fraser along with Wallsend forward Joseph Walls who plays for Billingham Stars - had been selected for a national under-15 training camp in Bratislava.
Now three more Whitley starlets - netminder Thomas Brown and forwards Anthony Wetherell and Holly Johnson - have also received the call to head to Slovakia on Sunday.
England squads from various age groups will undergo training sessions and play matches during the camp.
Brown and Wetherell came through a trial at Ice Sheffield on Friday to book their places, Johnson also successful in a trial.
The call-up for Brown, 17, is remarkable as he has only played for Whitley’s under-20 side and the enior Warriors’ team for seven months after moving from Canada.
The youngster took up the sport aged just six and his early development was overseen by coach Mike Rosati, coach at top Canadian franchise Las Vegas Golden Knights.
In Canada he played for Innisfil Winter Hawks, the Stayner Siskis and Lake Ontario Kings’ summer team.
Since arriving on Tyneside he has been coached by Bay’s Adam Reynolds - and such has been his rapid progress he is now ranked No 1 goalkeeper in England for his age group.
Brown said: “I was delighted when I was told I had been called up but also relieved.
“The trials are tough and you never know how you have done. The last few months have been difficult, what with settling into a new home and getting accustomed to the way hockey is played here compared to in Canada.
“Adam has been tremendous in helping to develop my game and I have a lot to thank him for.”
Brown’s mum Sandra said: “This is fantastic news for Thomas.
“He has worked so hard for this since he was a little boy.
“Thomas is so determined to do well in the sport and he is ecstatic at his call-up.”
For 18-year-old forward Wetherell it will be, like for Brown, a first England experience.
The youngster took up the game aged just five and has been with Whitley since he was ten.
Wetherell, from West Denton, said: “I was very pleased when I heard I had been called up.
“There is no bigger honour than representing your country and the fact this will be my first time in England colours makes it even more special.
“The trial was pretty tough - it involved a physical test and then an on-ice session.
“Thomas and I found out the following afternoon when we were preparing to play for the under-20s that we had been chosen so that gave us a massive boost.”
Defenceman Johnson, 15 next month, has already represented England at under-14 and under-15 level.
This time she has been selected for the girls’ under-17 squad.
Her dad Colin said: “It is fantastic achievement for Holly as she is more than two years younger than the other girls in the squad.
“Holly has fantastic talent and attitude and she fully deserves her call-up. We are all so very proud of her.”
The teenager is following in the footsteps of her elder sister Emily, who represented GB at a Four Nations Women’s tournament in Grenada last autumn.