May 17 represents the final hurdle for Dylan Nicol, Josh Perry, Sumara McLaughlin, and Steele Jackwitz – four young hockey hopefuls from Urunga Hockey Club pursuing a place in the North Coast PSSA team.
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These 4 athletes make up half of the 8 player Coffs Coast contingent heading to Grafton for the final trials.
With butterflies in their stomachs these aspiring athletes will take to the Grafton Hockey Association fields on Wednesday as part of the Mid North Coast team.
“Whoever’s helping in the development of junior hockey on the Coffs Coast should be congratulated for their efforts” said Ben Hill from Lawrence Public School; boys coach and team selector.
“In recent years the actual need for trials hasn’t been as high as this year, and that’s due to the talent which is coming out of the Hockey Coffs Coast Association.”
For this year’s trials, the 8 talented Coffs Coast athletes include 6 players from the local Under 13’s competition and 2 from the Under 10’s.
“Having 2 players from the Under 10’s competition making it to the next stage of the trials is quite an achievement” said Phil Jackwitz; Regional Coaching Coordinator for the Coffs Coast.
“To have an Under 10’s competition where players are sharpening their skills to the level that they can match it with players 11 and 12 years old is great for local hockey pride. A year mightn’t sound like much but when we’re talking about 9 and 10 year olds competing with 11 and 12 year olds, it most certainly is”.
This year’s hopefuls will represent the Mid North Coast against the best from Far North Coast, Northern Rivers, and Lower North Coast in a short round robin tournament with the North Coast PSSA team announced after the last games.
