Chafford lad's ice hockey honour (From Thurrock Gazette)

England colours for Ethan as Budapest beckons

10:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Sport

ICE HOCKEY: HARD work off the ice has paid dividends for Ethan Boolkah after he was selected for an English ice hockey team.

The youngster from Chafford Hundred will play for the under 14 team at the Winter Ice Tournament in Budapest next month.

And his selection followed a year spent training hard after the 12-year-old defender failed to get into the English team.

“Ethan went to trials for the under 13 team but did not get in,” said his mum Oki.

“They told him where he needed to improve, and it was mainly his fitness.

“So he has gone out running every day and went to the trials knowing he had done his best.

“The trials lasted a week and they were watching what he did on and off the ice. He did really well and we’re really proud of him.”

His dedication was rewarded when the Romford Raiders player, who goes to Westcliff High School for Boys, got the nod to compete in Hungary between Christmas and the New Year.

Ethan, whose nine-year-old brother Jaden also plays ice hockey, will also represent England at a tournament in the Czech Republic in the spring.

The youngster, who is Raiders’ U14 assistant captain, learned to skate when he was nine and graduated to playing ice hockey.

He also plays for the South-East region under 15 team and is currently training with his England team-mates twice a month in either Sheffield or Nottingham.