Talented Dumfries youngster Lewis Houston will be flying the flag for Great Britain next week, as he represents Great Britain in an Under-16s International Ice Hockey competition at Dumfries.
The tournament, featuring Team GB, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, will take place at Dumfries Ice Bowl from 28 to 30 December. The Dumfries venue is no stranger to world class ice hockey, having played host to three world championship events in the last 5 years.
Lewis, who plays Ice Hockey with local Solway Sharks Juniors under-16s and under-20s teams, represented GB under-16s last year in Spain, and is relishing the prospect of some top-level competition on his home ice. He said, “It’s a real honour to be picked to play for GB again, and even better that I can do it in Dumfries at my local rink. This is where I first learned to skate, and play hockey, and being in familiar surroundings will mean I am not nervous when it comes to GB games. I’ve had loads of support from all my coaches, both on the ice and at the gym, to prepare for GB trials and camps, and for the tournament – they have been working me hard and I am grateful to them all for their belief in me. I can’t wait for the competition to get started, and to get on the ice for the first game. I will give the team everything I have got and hopefully we can come away with a good result. It is always a great experience competing at international level and I will make the most of it.”
Solway Sharks and GBU18s Head Coach Martin Grubb said, “Representing your country is a huge honour and playing for Great Britain is the highest level these under-16s players can reach. Lewis has done a fantastic job securing his place in the team for a second year running. He is a player who always gives 100%, and has been on a great run of form in recent league and cup games, and his game is suited to international hockey. I’m sure he will have a very successful tournament, and do himself, his coaches, the club and his parents proud.”
Tickets for the tournament are on sale from www.ticketweb.co.uk or the Midsteeple Dumfries, or from Dumfries Ice Bowl on the day, and are priced at £10 per adult and £5 per child for the three-day tournament.
