Scottish Ice Hockey (SIH) is delighted to confirm details about another exciting junior development event.
For this 2022 series, Scotland’s U11 and U13 will play teams from the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) on Friday/Saturday 3rd/4th June at Dumfries Ice Bowl.
The U11s will face two of the EIHA’s Power of Ten teams, while the U13s will play England teams from the North and South regions.
SIH head coach Steven Lynch said: “We’re delighted to agree this latest junior development link-up with the EIHA.
“Their decision to establish their own Junior Showcase event provided us with an opportunity to look at how we should move Scottish Ice Hockey’s junior development programme forward.
“We’ve worked hard with the EIHA’s Gary Apsley to establish a revised format for our U11s and U13s that will give the best players in the UK the chance to play meaningful games against each other.
“I’d like to thank Gary for his efforts in piecing this event together and to Dumfries Ice Bowl management for once again providing SIH with invaluable support.”
The EIHA Power of Ten programme is a development day that bridges the gap between club, Showcase and England, preparing players for England’s U13 team.
The Power programme was recently extended to include an U12 event such is the demand.
England’s national team programme has been on hold since the pandemic and is being relaunched under Andy Daintith.
The recent announcement of U15 and U17 teams playing in Scotland, a new U23 team playing Denmark and now these younger teams are competing are the small steps required to move our collective programmes forward.
EIHA director for elite player pathways Gary Apsley added: “I am looking forward to re-establishing close working relations with members of SIH to create and deliver opportunities that will see standards and performance improved from where they are now.
“We are excited to be sending our teams to Dumfries for this event in June.”
Admission is free, so come along and give the kids your support – it’s sure to be a great event!
(Image permission: David Strover)
