AAU - Hockey

JAKE IS CHASING THE AMERICAN DREAM

2013-06-28

Jake Holding, left, with his dad and skate hockey coach Gary

Written by: Tom McCooey tom.mccooey@jpress.co.uk Jake Holding, left, with his dad and skate hockey coach Gary A WIGAN youngster is flying to Los Angeles with Great Britain’s junior inline puck hockey team. Jake Holding, who has only just turned 10, is set to don the national strip for the Inline Puck Hockey junior ...

Written by: Tom McCooey tom.mccooey@jpress.co.uk

Jake Holding, left, with his dad and skate hockey coach Gary

A WIGAN youngster is flying to Los Angeles with Great Britain’s junior inline puck hockey team.

Jake Holding, who has only just turned 10, is set to don the national strip for the Inline Puck Hockey junior world championships and AAU Junior Olympic Games for Inline Hockey.

Teams face off for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympic Games for Inline Hockey from June 28 and the FIRS (Federation Internationale de Roller Sports) Junior World Championships.

Holding’s under 10s team start their campaign on July 11 and until then he will link-up with his team mates for training in Rotherham before flying to America.

The Abram CE Primary School pupil, who lives in Abram, has been playing hockey for five years and was introduced to the sport by his dad Gary, who was a goalkeeper.

“I’m really excited, this is a really great opportunity,” said Holding.

“This is my first ever time doing it and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The British Inline Puck Hockey Association, BIPHA, has been in existence for 16 years and interest in the sport is steadily growing.

Unlike roller hockey, Inline puck hockey, as the name suggests, is played with a puck and players wear inline skates instead of roller skates.

Jake trains at Wigan Holding Rink, Eckersley Mill, and has also played for the Glossop Devils and Preston Phoenix.

His goal, first and foremost will be to help Great Britain win the tournaments but he has high hopes for a future in the sport he excels in.

“I would like to get to the NHL or AHL but I want to play for Great Britain through to the seniors first,” he said.

Originally posted at: Wigan Today