Awards a very n-ice boost for talented Daley
LIFE is just puck-er for a North East ice hockey prospect earning rave reveiws north of the border, writes TONY HODGSON.
Twelve-year-old William Daley, from Kingston Park, Newcastle, has earned praise from top names in the sport for his performances for Dumfries-based Solway Sharks’ junior set-up.
Forward Daley took up ice hockey just before his fourth birthday at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
He spent two seasons at the Hillheads club, participating in weekly training sessions and cross-ice tournaments throughout the North of England.
Following those initial two years with the Tyneside club, Daley joined Billingham Junior Stars, where he spent a little under four seasons, contesting cross-ice fixtures as well as full tournaments in the North of England and Scotland.
He then decided to ply his trade with the Sharks under the watchful eye of experienced head coach Martin Grubb, the current Great Britain Under-20s’ coach.
Such has been Daley’s progress this season he was a prize guy at the Sharks’ annual awards night.
The youngster received the Under-12 Coaches’ Merit Award and was also named under-12 most improved player and under-14 best young player.
He also received an award for playing for Scotland.
The under-12 awards were presented by Bari McKenzie who has recently iced for Fife Flyers and is a former Solway Sharks player.
He said of Daley: “This kid lives in the north east of England and with huge commitment from himself and his parents travels up to Dumfries every week.
“There has not been an under-12 team this season at Dumfries but William been playing for the under14s.
“From what I have heard he is a really good kid who is always willing to learn.
“He has had a good season and I think he could become a good asset for the Solway set-up.”
Fellow player Craig Jackson, who handed out the under-14 best player award, added:” William epitomises the word coachable.
“He has the heart of a champion and is an all-round pleasure to have at our club.”
“He is a great skater and it is there for everyone to see.
“He continues to strive to improve both on and off the ice, sometimes putting too much pressure on himself trying to achieve these goals.”
Daley has travelled to Slovakia on two occasions with the Great Britain ball hockey team and once with a Scotland junior ice hockey squad.
In June he was due to return to Slovakia with a Scotland Junior
Select team and then attend a preseason training camp in Dumfries but both were cancelled due to Covid 19.
Off the ice Daley has also done his family proud, raising cash for the Smiles and Hope Foundation by donating his ponytail to the Little PrincessTrust.
The Trust makes wigs for patients who have lost their hair due to cancer and other medical conditions and it provided Daley’s sister Caitlin with a wig during her leukemia treatment.
The youngster also raised £555 through donations which he gave to Smile and Hope, a charity which sends families living with cancer for breaks to Crete.