Bradley has hopes set on Turkey tour

BRADLEY Crouch has been selected as part of the U20 national Ice Hockey Squad for the 2014 IIHF U18 world championship, which will take place in Turkey from 12 to 18 January 2014.

Bradley, a pupil at George Campbell, started ice hockey two years ago. While skating at the ice rink with a friend, he was encouraged to join the ice hockey team.

“I grew up rollerblading so it was sort of a natural progression. I have played field hockey before, but ice hockey is very different, and is not a very big sport in KZN,” he said.

Bradley was part of a team of U20 KZN boys who participated in an inter-provincial tournament in Cape Town in July where the squad was chosen.

He is the first player from KZN to be chosen for the team for more than 10 years.

“I’m very excited and also very nervous and I hope to do well in the world champs,” he said.

Bradley aims to go to Canada for a year next year to get training in the sport and come back to South Africa to go to the inter-provincials to try out for the senior ice hockey team.

As ice hockey is not a familiar sport in South Africa and is also a non-profit organisation, the South African Ice Hockey Association relies totally on parents, donations and sponsorships to fund such championships. The costs of the tours are extremely expensive and it is the responsibility of each player to pay their own expenses.

The total cost for the team to play in Turkey next year is around R450 000, with each player needing to raise R20 000.

If anyone can help raise funds for Bradley to take part, contributions must be made to the KwaZulu-Natal Ice Hockey Association, with the reference being Bradley’s name.

The banking details are: Name of account: KZNIHA; Bank: Nedbank; Account no: 2006104527; Branch: Brand Road; Branch code: 174305; Ref: Crouch