Oxford resident Colin Shea, 11, has already won hockey championships at a local, state and national level during his young hockey career.
Now, he gets to set his sights on international glory as he was selected to be part of a 17-member hockey team that will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to compete in the World Selects Invitational from April 27 through May 6.
Shea said he was excited to get the opportunity to play against elite international competition.
‘We are looking forward to the opportunity to go over to Europe and (experience) the different cultures and compete against kids his same age,? Shea’s father Mike added.
‘We felt that it was such a good opportunity for him just to go to Europe and play against kids…from all these big hockey countries,? Mike said.
Shea will be competing against some of the top Select teams from Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Lavita and the Czech Republic.
Mitch Larnerd, coach of the West Coast Selects, noted some of the top European winter clubs will also be sending teams.
Colin was invited to attend the West Coast Selects tryout at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Detroit on Jan. 1, which brought together 68 elite 11 and 12-year-olds from the western portion of the United States.
The West Coast tryout region included the United States west of Ohio, and the Canadian cities of Windsor, Sarnia and London.
‘When we went to the tryout, we didn’t have any preconceived notion we would be going at the end of April,? Mike said. ‘It was more of lets see how you look against other kids from North America.?
Mike added he wasn’t shocked when Colin got the call that he had made the cut.
According to Mike, the selection committee consisted of Detroit Red Wings goalie coach Jim Bedard, United States Hockey League scout Matt Barth, Selects Hockey co-founder and associate head scout Travis Howe and Larnerd.
Larnerd called Colin ‘a dynamic little player.?
‘Number one, he is one of the hardest working kids on the ice,? Larnerd said. ‘I really liked the way he sees the game and the vision and the puck control and the plays that he makes. He is a very intelligent player, and you add that with his speed and quickness, he is able to make things happen.?
According to Larnerd, players will go through a three-day minicamp, during which they visit cultural sites and do some sight-seeing. After that, it’s time to play some good old hockey games.
‘It’s really a miniature Olympics for the kids (with) the 2000 birth year,? Larnerd said. ‘You are getting a majority of the top (children born in) 2000 in the world competing at this tournament.?
‘To be able to go over and play against 12-16 elite European teams is something these kids haven’t experienced yet,? Larnerd noted.
Besides the great hockey Colin gets to play, Selects is also one of the top developmental hockey programs in the world.
According to www.selectshockey.com, 80 alumni have been selected in the National Hockey League draft, 16 of which came in the first round. Selects also has 139 NCAA Division One commitments.
According to Larnard, Selects is a four-year program. ‘It is run like a college, junior professional team, where we are always looking to take the best team possible and have the best players.?
Due to the expense of attending the World Selects Invitational, which costs over $3,000 (including airfare), Colin is looking to raise some funds to help pay for the trip.
In addition to bottle drives and 50/50 raffles, Colin can raise money by getting corporate sponsors and advertisers for the club brochure/program.
‘It’s kind of like a brochure (you see)…if you went to a big tournament or anything,? Mike explained. ‘There is all the rosters, pictures of the team, bios of all the players, and it has lots of areas for advertisements.?
Mike added sponsors can either purchase a full-page ad, half-page, quarter-page, or an eighth-of-a-page ad. The money generated from those sales goes to Colin.
If you would like to help Colin reach his goal, e-mail Mike Shea at mrshea22@msn.com
Mike added sponsors can either purchase a full-page ad, half-page, quarter-page, or an eighth-of-a-page ad. The money generated from those sales goes to Colin.
If you would like to help Colin reach his goal, email Mike Shea at mrshea22@msn.com.