ICE HOCKEY: Great Britain call-ups for Austin

Austin Mitchell-King, Under 18s Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Academy player from Dunchurch, has successfully gained an Under 17s Midlands Conference place - despite being a first year player in this age range - following a series of trials at Nottingham Ice Centre during the autumn.

He will take part in a tournament in Prague in April and then the annual Inter-Conference weekend tournament at Ice Sheffield in May.

Last July Austin trialled for this season’s Great Britain Under 16s but was not selected for the team which played a tournament in Dumfries in December.

However, he was called back to attend a further trial and training in March, and has now been named as a reserve to the Great Britain team who will take part in a tournament at Melnik in the Czech Republic in April.

The final training camp two weeks ago, before travelling to Melnik, enabled Austin to gain useful experience, so that he can be called in to travel if required.

Austin has also successfully qualified as a Level 1 Referee this season, so has extended his ability beyond that of a player.

Meanwhile he has just received a call-up to the Under 18s Team GB BIPHA (inline roller hockey).

This team travels to China in late August to compete in an international Under 18s Junior Men’s tournament.

It mean Austin can celebrate call-ups to two Great Britain teams and Midlands Conference in one season!