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The Inferno
Devils U18's have 3 selected for SW17's
11th Dec 2012 | Posted by Geraint Walters
With the recent news regarding 3 Devils U18’s players making it into the South West Conference U17’s team, we caught up with the players to get their views on making the team and their future goals, we also caught up with their coach Jamie Elson to review the season to date and get his views on the call ups for the players mentioned below and his thoughts about the players.
The U18's have had a very strong start to life back in the U18 South "A" league this year. Following a fantastic 7-4 opening day win in Peterborough, a rink that has often been a tough hunting ground for the group, the team went six straight wins to head the league and enter a match up up with Guildford, a team boasting the same record. Even though the Devils outshot the Guildford team in their own rink they ended up on the wrong side of a 3-1 score to drop their first points of the year. The team has bounced back with two wins though to give them a record of 8 wins from 9 games going into this weekends home clash with Chelmsford, and keeping the fight for the league title very much alive.
The group of players in the U18s squad have really raised the bar to date this season. They have taken their off ice training to a whole new level, training at Cardiff Met twice a week, and really pushing themselves hard. On the ice they have been just as committed and have worked hard to give themselves a shot at winning some silverwear this year as a group. We are seeing several players turn into real future prospects at the club, and it's certainly an exciting time at this age group in the club.
As ever we are very happy to see individual players from the club gaining recognition on a regional and national level, and we are really pleased to see Callum, Owen and Jack get rewarded for their hard work and performances with the U18 squad and within the NIHL set up this year.
Callum Buglass
It's great, I've made south west every year except 1 which was 1st year u15s, GB was my main aim this season because I am a first year player, as I said it is my goal to make it this year because I want to take my game to the next level, I now still have my final trials for GB 18s on the 27th and 28th December so there's still work to do till then.
This year I have just started college and my course is over two years so after I finish that I am thinking of taking a year off and going over to Canada, to improve my game even more then see what happens from there.
Coaches view : Callum has been a regular face within the South West Conference set-up, and a constant performer for them. His displays at Conference weekend last year earned him an opportunity to trial for this year's GB U18's squad, of which he is currently down to the final round of trials. This year as a second year on the team he will be one of the defensive leaders for sure, playing in all situations and I know he will be excited to finish off his last Conference year on a high note. On the ice at club he has logged lots of ice time on D for the U18s really leading from the front, while he has broken into the NIHL1&2 set up's playing some regular shifts already and proving himself as a real senior prospect.
Jack Randall
I’ve made conference at U11 and U 13 and not made it for the last two years so am very pleased that I have made it this year and all the hard work is paying off. This is the final year for conference at junior level. I’ve made the England National team at U14, U15 and U16 and have been honoured to play with this team in Canada , Budapest, France, Latvia and Holland.
In the future, I would like to play for the Devils and represent GB at senior level.
Coaches view :Jack returns to the South West Conference set up after being over looked the last few years, and thoroughly deserves his call up. He is a real presence of a defenseman and one of the strongest junior players around the U18 leagues, and really turning into a senior prospect. Jack has been at the front of the strength and conditioning sessions at Cardiff Met with the U18 group, and really demonstrating his physical condition and desire to improve. He works tremendously hard on and off the ice, and the results have been for all to see. He is a real physical player on the ice, but also skates as well as any junior defenseman in the U18 league. He has put in a string of excellent performances for the U18s, and like Callum and Owen recently featured in Mark Cuddihy's NIHL1 team.
Owen Griffiths
I have been playing hockey since I was 6 years old. Since then I have been proud to play with England U13s, U14s, U15s and U16s. I have some short term goals, 1) Winning the A league with the U18s something I have never done before. 2) As a first year in the U18s be a first line player. I also have long term goals, 1) Take my hockey career to the highest standard possible. 2) Make the GB national team. I am honoured to have won the Hull tournament with the U11s and U13s also making the final in under 15s.
I’m happy to make the South West U17s because it gives me the chance to get a GB trial, and it means I can go to Hull and play in the tournament with other good players
Coaches view : Owen also made the U17s squad as a younger player, along with Callum, and will also be excited about returning to Conference for the final time looking to finish on a high. Two years ago when this year group was U15s Owen led the South West Team as the group's captain and put in several great performances leading them to the runner's up place. Owen is currently leading the U18s in scoring this season and is having his best year to date on point production and has been the most consistent performer in attack with 20 points in 9 games. I'm sure he will take this form over to the Conference weekend and show what he is about. He has also broken into the NIHL1 team, recently scoring his first senior goal at that level and continues to impress at whatever level he plays.
I wish all three the best of luck for Conference Weekend at the end of the season and know they will fly the flag for the Devils club. They will also show again that we are really developing some tremendous British talent at the club, and over the next couple of years we hope to see these another crop of junior players breaking into the Elite league ranks for G and Franny.
The U18's have had a very strong start to life back in the U18 South "A" league this year. Following a fantastic 7-4 opening day win in Peterborough, a rink that has often been a tough hunting ground for the group, the team went six straight wins to head the league and enter a match up up with Guildford, a team boasting the same record. Even though the Devils outshot the Guildford team in their own rink they ended up on the wrong side of a 3-1 score to drop their first points of the year. The team has bounced back with two wins though to give them a record of 8 wins from 9 games going into this weekends home clash with Chelmsford, and keeping the fight for the league title very much alive.
The group of players in the U18s squad have really raised the bar to date this season. They have taken their off ice training to a whole new level, training at Cardiff Met twice a week, and really pushing themselves hard. On the ice they have been just as committed and have worked hard to give themselves a shot at winning some silverwear this year as a group. We are seeing several players turn into real future prospects at the club, and it's certainly an exciting time at this age group in the club.
As ever we are very happy to see individual players from the club gaining recognition on a regional and national level, and we are really pleased to see Callum, Owen and Jack get rewarded for their hard work and performances with the U18 squad and within the NIHL set up this year.
Callum Buglass
It's great, I've made south west every year except 1 which was 1st year u15s, GB was my main aim this season because I am a first year player, as I said it is my goal to make it this year because I want to take my game to the next level, I now still have my final trials for GB 18s on the 27th and 28th December so there's still work to do till then.
This year I have just started college and my course is over two years so after I finish that I am thinking of taking a year off and going over to Canada, to improve my game even more then see what happens from there.
Coaches view : Callum has been a regular face within the South West Conference set-up, and a constant performer for them. His displays at Conference weekend last year earned him an opportunity to trial for this year's GB U18's squad, of which he is currently down to the final round of trials. This year as a second year on the team he will be one of the defensive leaders for sure, playing in all situations and I know he will be excited to finish off his last Conference year on a high note. On the ice at club he has logged lots of ice time on D for the U18s really leading from the front, while he has broken into the NIHL1&2 set up's playing some regular shifts already and proving himself as a real senior prospect.
Jack Randall
I’ve made conference at U11 and U 13 and not made it for the last two years so am very pleased that I have made it this year and all the hard work is paying off. This is the final year for conference at junior level. I’ve made the England National team at U14, U15 and U16 and have been honoured to play with this team in Canada , Budapest, France, Latvia and Holland.
In the future, I would like to play for the Devils and represent GB at senior level.
Coaches view :Jack returns to the South West Conference set up after being over looked the last few years, and thoroughly deserves his call up. He is a real presence of a defenseman and one of the strongest junior players around the U18 leagues, and really turning into a senior prospect. Jack has been at the front of the strength and conditioning sessions at Cardiff Met with the U18 group, and really demonstrating his physical condition and desire to improve. He works tremendously hard on and off the ice, and the results have been for all to see. He is a real physical player on the ice, but also skates as well as any junior defenseman in the U18 league. He has put in a string of excellent performances for the U18s, and like Callum and Owen recently featured in Mark Cuddihy's NIHL1 team.
Owen Griffiths
I have been playing hockey since I was 6 years old. Since then I have been proud to play with England U13s, U14s, U15s and U16s. I have some short term goals, 1) Winning the A league with the U18s something I have never done before. 2) As a first year in the U18s be a first line player. I also have long term goals, 1) Take my hockey career to the highest standard possible. 2) Make the GB national team. I am honoured to have won the Hull tournament with the U11s and U13s also making the final in under 15s.
I’m happy to make the South West U17s because it gives me the chance to get a GB trial, and it means I can go to Hull and play in the tournament with other good players
Coaches view : Owen also made the U17s squad as a younger player, along with Callum, and will also be excited about returning to Conference for the final time looking to finish on a high. Two years ago when this year group was U15s Owen led the South West Team as the group's captain and put in several great performances leading them to the runner's up place. Owen is currently leading the U18s in scoring this season and is having his best year to date on point production and has been the most consistent performer in attack with 20 points in 9 games. I'm sure he will take this form over to the Conference weekend and show what he is about. He has also broken into the NIHL1 team, recently scoring his first senior goal at that level and continues to impress at whatever level he plays.
I wish all three the best of luck for Conference Weekend at the end of the season and know they will fly the flag for the Devils club. They will also show again that we are really developing some tremendous British talent at the club, and over the next couple of years we hope to see these another crop of junior players breaking into the Elite league ranks for G and Franny.
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