JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY CLUB APPEALS FOR NEW PLAYERS

Telford's junior ice hockey club is looking for young athletes to follow in the skates of Telford Tigers stars like Daniel MacKriel and Luke Brittle.

The club has launched a recruitment drive to encourage more youngsters to take up the exciting sport, with training fees currently waived for new sign-ups. At the moment boys and girls aged from as young as five are training to play ice hockey in Telford - but the club needs more.

Aaron Hale, club recruitment officer, said: "Telford has a long history of producing players of the highest quality - people like Saffron Allen who has just been selected for the GB women's team, English Premier League stars like Gary Clarke and Rick Plant, or Tom Carlon, who had one of his sticks put into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

"We need more children to take up the sport of ice hockey to ensure we continue to develop potential stars of the future."

Seventeen-year-old Luke Brittle is a prime example of Telford's junior section. The youngest of four ice hockey playing brothers, he has regularly been selected for the Midlands, England and GB youth teams and is now in his first season as a fully-fledged Telford Tiger.

Luke said: "Ice hockey is fast, physical and fun. To be successful you have to work hard in training and be dedicated, but the buzz of being part of a team is amazing.

"The sport has allowed me to make friends throughout the UK and overseas. I've been lucky enough to compete in tournaments in Europe and North America. I would recommend playing ice hockey to any young person."

Telford Tigers player-coach Tom Watkins is head coach of the Telford junior section. He is available to visit schools and youth groups to talk about ice hockey and life as a professional sportsman. Contact schools@telfordtigers.co.uk to request a visit.

Anyone with children interested in trying ice hockey can contact Aaron Hale on 07977 016 643 or email aaron.hale@telfordvenom.co.uk for more information, or ask Telford Ice Rink about beginners' ice hockey lessons.