Six locals named in squad

By Martin Grant

SIX local players have been lucky enough to have been chosen in the Irish Under-18 squad that will compete in the Ice Hockey World Championships in Mexico this March.
This week The Dundalk Democrat caught up with local man Jim Pepper, the General Manager of the team, to see how things are looking ahead of the competition.

"Last week we had a panel of 28 players for trial and this week we have cut it down to a team of 19 players. Head coach Sean Dooley and his assistant Steven Ewen have been looking at the team very closely over the last number of months and they have used a very stringent programme to select the team that we now have and I am very happy at the team that was picked".

Jim passed his wishes to the local players that failed to make the team but predicted that next year will be their year.

"I got to know the other lads that didn't make the team personally after 10 weeks working with them. I feel very sorry for them after putting in 10 weeks of hard work", he said.

"Three of the lads that where trying out - Sean Coleman, Conor Redmond and Padraig Tuite - didn't qualify to participate in the competition by age. It is sorry to see them go, but our loss is next year's gain and they have seen the higher standard of ice hockey and training that goes with it, so all they can do is improve".

Local youngster Mark Theater also trialed for the team but failed to secure his place, however Jim says he will bounce back next year.

"Young Mark was nearly there, but he is going to be another super player next year. I think those four players will make up next year's U-18 teams and we will need them because the majority of this year players go to U-21 level".

Six local players impressed the selectors enough to make the team including: Steven McEntee, Ryan Duffy, Jason McCrainor, Aidan Morris and Brendan Saunders.

McEntee, McCrainor and Morris return to the team for their second consecutive year following last year's success in Turkey where the team bagged a bronze medal.

This will be Duffy and Saunders' first outing in the Irish squad and both have played together as team mates for the past two years. Duffy will have a disadvantage as he is only returning to the ice after a year out with an injury he sustained during a match. Talented 16-year-old Rian Larkin also made the team for the second year. Unfortunately, Larkin wasn't in attendance for the trials as he is playing hockey in Canada, an experience that he is immensely enjoying. Larkin too sustained a recent injury while in Canada but is fit to play in March and he is expected to make his return to Dundalk in two weeks time.

Pepper also said that the sport of ice hockey isn't escaping the current economic difficulties. "The flights are very expensive and we are now actively seeking sponsorship, both north and south of the country.

"The fact is that we are a national team so we are looking for national sponsors.
It’s hard but hopefully some of the larger companies will come out and support us, but we will be carrying out the reliable bag packing, car washing and flag-day fundraisers and no donation is too small”.

Jim is well aware of the tough competition that the team faces upon arrival in Mexico and says that if the team win one game then it will be a great achievment.

“Our group is very tough. We are up against Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand and Israel. My dream is to beat the New Zealand All Blacks. If you look at the way the draw is put together we are looked as the weakest. The underdog tag suits us very well, as we all know the Irish like to be the underdogs. They perform better as the underdogs than being at the top. My realistic aim is to win one game but my dream is to come with gold”, he laughed.

“We are really going prepared. By the time we go to the tournament we will have 30 training sessions under our belt, considering we went last year with only three. We may not win anything, but we will be the most prepared and fittest team there”.

Team Ireland Under-18 staff: Jim Pepper (General Manager); Sean Dooley (Head Coach); Steven Ewen (Assistant Coach); Petr Castka (Fitness Coach) Aeidamar Sally, Catharine Pepper, Kelly Ewen, Peter Bohan, Irish Ice Hockey Executive (Organisational Staff).

Read in full in this weeks Dundalk Democrat

THE DUNDALK DEMOCRAT-NUMBER 1 FOR ICE HOCKEY NEWS WITH MARTIN GRANT