By Jonathan Brown
JUNIOR ice hockey stars Kayden Blaney and Grace Adair celebrated success with Team Ireland at the recent SEDMHA tournament.
Kayden, aged 14 and from Shrigley, won gold with Team Ireland’s U-15s in Nova Scotia, Canada, as his team went undefeated throughout the entire tournament, while 11-year-old Annacloy native Grace won silver with the U-13 side, as the only girl on the team, winning Player of the Game in her team’s final.
The tournament, which took place at the end of March, attracts teams from across North America and Europe, with the Ireland U-15s defeating Bedford Mooseheads 15-1 in their final, while Grace’s U-13 team fell just short following a dramatic 5-4 overtime loss against the Sussex Rangers.
Both teenagers play for the Belfast Junior Giants and have been steadily progressing on the ice rink over the past few years.
Cedar Integrated Primary School pupil Grace took up ice hockey in April 2024 after attending a Belfast Giants ‘Learn to Play’ session at the SSE Arena.
She has already had approaches from the Manchester Storm Women to play on their U-12 team, and the Irish Ice Hockey Association to play for the Ireland ladies’ team when she turns 16.
Kayden first took to the ice at the age of six, inspired by his uncle, Father Brian Watters, who volunteers for the Belfast Giants adult team.
He joined the Junior Giants at the age of seven, and, after a brief hiatus from the sport, Kayden, who attends St Colman’s High and Sixth Form College in Ballynahinch, now plays for their U-14 team.
Both teenagers will represent the Junior Giants at this weekend’s Junior Scottish Cup at the Dundee Ice Arena, before heading off with Team Ireland again in June for a tournament in Coventry.
- Kayden’s parents Barry and Mairead would like to thank everyone who supported Kayden and enabled him to travel to the SEDMHA tournament, with sponsorship from The Dufferin Arms and D & N Clean-tastic Blinds of Killyleagh. They would also like to thank everyone who donated towards the raffle which raised funds for Kayden’s trip to Canada.
