Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Breezy with rainSport
| 
Submit Comments
Max Drackley
advertisement
Max's medal
8/ 5/2008
MANCHESTER Grammar School pupil Max Drackley has led a select English ice hockey squad to one of its best international performances.
The Northern Conference under-18s captain led a team from the North of England to a bronze medal at a tournament in Prague featuring eight elite ice hockey-playing nations.
The 16-year-old said: “Ice hockey is developing rapidly across Great Britain but still does not have the same profile as it does in Europe, so to finish third in Prague was very creditable.”
He took up the sport at the age of five following a family holiday to Colorado and is now one of the country’s top young talents, playing for Blackburn Hawks in the English National League.
He said: “My aim is to give my ice hockey career every opportunity and turn professional, hopefully getting spotted by scouts from North America. Ultimately I would love to captain Great Britain at the 2014 Winter Olympics, but that is a long way off and there is much work to be done.”
He trains three nights a week and plays for at Blackburn weekends, working hard to combine his sport with his academic studies.
He added: “Ice hockey has a reputation for being overly aggressive and though you do have to be tough, it certainly isn’t a game for thugs because it is far too technically demanding.
“You need to be strong, fit and have good hand to eye coordination, but above all you must be passionate about the sport. Ice hockey is not a particularly high profile sport, so only those who are genuinely dedicated will make it to the top.”
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Capital One BT Platinum Card | 3.0% |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Egg Card | 3.0% |
| Lloyds TSB Platinum MasterCard | 3.0% |
| Barclaycard Platinum 'As on TV' | 2.9% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Loans | 7.5% |
| Barclays | 7.9% |
| Moneyback Bank | 8.4% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.8% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.20% |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.00% |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account |
7.00% |
|
ARRAY(0x2b7c8bd7ed10) 6 Month Fixed Rate Savings Account |
6.60% |