The roster for the 2015 Team GB U20 tournament was announced this week and it included five of the current Swindon Wildcats squad. Netminder Jordan Hedley, D-Man duo Callum Buglass & Harvey Stead and forwards Michael Stratford and Toms Rutkis. Owen Griffiths has also made the team as a reserve if any of the forwards should become unavailable between now and the tournament in December.
To have all these guys called up for the GB U20 side it shows what a good job the Wildcats have done with young British players over the last few seasons. The British game is full of people’s opinions on the international side but ultimately the future of our game relies on this team of individuals. They are the brightest prospects in the game in the UK at U20 level, and these guys need the chances at club level to progress their careers in higher leagues.
Jordan Hedley has come in from MK this season and when called upon has been a rock in between the pipes. Having spent time being mentored by Stevie Lyle, Jordan has grown as a player already during his time in Swindon. He’s arguably the brightest netminding prospect in the EPL and to get called up by GB shows that head coach Tom Watkins backs Jordan as well.
Callum Buglass is probably Swindon’s brightest prospect this season and his efforts have been well and truly rewarded. His game has really developed over the summer and Callum is playing well above his age and is a player who will go a long way in the game. The same can be said for Harvey Stead who joined the Cats from Bracknell, his game is developing by the match and playing for GB with his line-mate in Buglass will be a boost for both the players and the team.
Michael Stratford and Toms Rutkis are the two shining stars from the Swindon based Okanagan Hockey Academy. They’re taking the chances they get with the Cats this season and again to their credit they’re getting noticed by Tom Watkins. They both skate their hearts out and have a tremendous amount of skill, which they bring to the Cats on a weekly basis and can now bring to the international level when the team fly out to France in mid December.
Usually Swindon suffer with the loss of the GB players heading off to the U20 tournament but, this time round although the departing members will be a loss, with the players just missing one game the Wildcats should be able to cope for the one evening – due to the depth of personnel they have this year. It’s testament to the club itself that these players have received the call. Swindon is one of the best places for young players to come and play ice hockey. This week’s call ups only back up that theory.
Best of luck to the five guys going out, we’ll miss you for sure but we’ll be backing you all the way after the tremendous promotion and gold medal in Estonia a year ago.
Swindon Wildcats fan and On The Prowl blogger Ben Callaghan discusses the world of ice hockey every week, only on Total Sport… Follow him on Twitter at @bcallaghan89