GB Elite Prospects Camps at Dumfries
The above Camps were the concept of GB U18 Coach Mark Beggs and SIH National Development Coach Martin Grubb, the reasoning was that there was a huge gap for our younger players to equip them to stepping up into the GB Programme to U18 Level, in terms of what was expected of them for this transition from Club and Conference Ice Hockey.
Both England and Scotland have made a huge impact with the transition of players from Club Hockey to Conference Hockey and hopefully this is the next step on the ladder for players to attain a place in the GB Programme and ultimately go on to be selected for GB U18 and beyond.
The programme has now held it’s third successful camp where a nucleus of around 40 players from all over the UK have attended and we are now at a stage that we can look to formulate a 3 to 5 year plan and apply for funding through IHUK.
Everyone asks why Dumfries – from the experience of SIH with the co-operation of their National Development Programme over the last few years and the partnership formed with Dumfries & Galloway Council and their willingness to assist in not only utilising the Ice Bowl, DG1 Leisure facility, they have provided key staff, Martin Grubb, Ice Hockey Development officer, Katie Ferguson, Ice Sports Officer to assist in taking the Camps forward, IHUK had no hesitation of agreeing to a 3 year partnership agreement. This co-operation by Dumfries & Galloway Council is unprecedented in my 30 odd years of experience of being involved in British Ice Hockey and is the reason IHUK has formed another partnership with the Council to host the IIHF World Women’s Championship Qualifiers in October/November of this year.
The selection process is not random; every player that is invited to the Camps has been thoroughly assessed at EIHA Conference Tournament in Hull over the last two Conferences by Mark Beggs, Martin Grubb and other Coaches. The majority of players that are attending have been invited from the results of their assessment; however some players have been invited by recommendation of their Club Coach.
The Camps are not just about developing players to attain the best that they can be, both on and off ice, they are open to Coaches who wish to come along and see first hand what IHUK Elite Prospect Camps are about and possibly become involved in this new and exciting development of our sport, in the first instance we would invite Conference Head Coaches from England and Scotland to put their
names forward to attend either for one day or both days of the following Camps: - Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th November, Saturday 2nd/Sunday 3rd February or Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th April.
Coaches that wish to attend would be self financing and any that wish to stay on the Saturday evening, we have managed to secure discounted rates at the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries and if you wish to book, please call the Hotel on 01387 254111 and quote GB Prospects at time of booking. The hotel is 10 minutes from the Ice Bowl and opposite DG1 Leisure Centre and near to the town centre and more information can be found at www.cairndalehotel.co.uk.
Prior to booking hotel and receive more information please contact Martin Grubb to register your interest Martin.Grubb@dumgal.gov.uk
Jim Anderson
Interim Vice Chairman IHUK