World Championship Ice Hockey Can Create Stars of the Future
Written by author on March 11, 2014
World Championship Ice Hockey returns to the Ice Bowl at the end of this month, and can inspire a new generation of young people to take up the sport.
The Ice Bowl will play host to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Men’s Under 18s World Championship (Division II – Group A) between 24-30 March, which features Great Britain, Croatia, Korea, Lithuania, Netherlands and Romania. The Council will again co-manage the event in partnership with Ice Hockey UK.
Great Britain will feature two players with strong local connections. Jordan Crowe played a season with the Solway Sharks before moving to Canada where he is based at the Ontario Hockey Academy. Josh Grieveson is also in North America, where he has a scholarship at Northwood High School in New York State. Josh learned to play ice hockey at the Ice Bowl, winning national honours from the remarkably young age of nine, which earned him his scholarship aged just 13.
The Ice Bowl will host a Learn to Play day during the Championship when 100 local school children will get the opportunity to go on the ice and be shown how to play ice hockey by players from the Great Britain Under 18s team. The Learn to Play day will be supported by coaches from Solway Sharks Junior Ice Hockey Club, to promote the opportunities that are available locally for young children to start out on a pathway to becoming a Solway Sharks and Great Britain player in the future.
Councillor Colin Smyth, the Council’s Events Champion said, “The Council has an admirable history and track record of ice hockey development, and hosting these World Championships can inspire a new generation of young people to take up the sport. It’s fast and exciting and the Ice Bowl has the facilities and coaches in place to create the stars of the game’s future, here in Dumfries.”
Andy French, the General Secretary of Ice Hockey UK said, “The Council has embraced Ice Hockey UK’s Learn to Play Programme and the Solway Sharks are doing a superb job at enabling young people in the area to participate in, and excel at ice hockey. I’m delighted at the family friendly promotions the Council is undertaking to attract family audiences to the World Championships, which can only inspire GB to do well on the ice, and leave long-lasting legacies off it.”
Dumfries and Galloway Council is celebrating the world championship with a number of family friendly promotions. The first ten young people aged 12 or under to arrive for Great Britain’s matches will receive free, unique championship t-shirts and there will be free face painting available. All Under 16’s accompanied by an adult can enjoy free entry to all the matches.
There are special promotional prices for youth and community groups that wish to attend the World Championship.
For further information contact Ian.barr@dumgal.gov.uk
