Ice teens bound for Canada in hockey scholarship study

Liam Danskin (left), of Thornton, Fynn Page (centre) of Kirkcaldy and Reece Kelly ( right) of Kinghorn. All are going to Ontario Hockey Academy, Canada.

The teenage trio are off to Canada next month, having been awarded scholarships to study at an academy in Ontario.

They’ll have an opportunity to complete their education over the next two or three years and gain top-level tuition and instruction in a nation where hockey is one of the biggest sports.

That could help them enormously towards laying the foundations for a life in the game which they have loved since they were very young.

Reece Kelly, of Kinghorn, and Liam Danskin, from Thornton, both 15, were selected by Canadian representatives at a national event in Sheffield.

Fynn Page (13), of Kirkcaldy, attended the same event but was already in the programme, having impressed the hosts on a previous visit to the academy.

All three have played within the youth/junior development system in Fife and coincidentally, all three are defencemen.

Among them, they have a sprinkling of experience playing for Scotland and at various age levels.

And, needless to say, the lads and their families are all thrilled that the game’s elite has placed such faith in them.

While the boys know they’ll have to deliver academically, they are looking forward greatly to the experience, knowing they’ll be attending a top-grade facility.

Ex-Balwearie High pupil Reece has been playing hockey since he was three and mum Caroline said: “He’s really looking forward to it. It’s his dream, but it will be hard work.” She added Reece had hoped for some years to visit a nation with a large hockey following, so it was ideal to “take the opportunity while it’s there”.

Former Auchmuty High student Liam’s mother Claire added: “If there are going to be opportunities, they’ll be in Canada. It’s certainly a massive opportunity for him to get experience of how they play out there.”

Jill Page, mum of ex-Kirkcaldy High School pupil Fynn, said it was something her son had always wanted to do and the family wanted very much to support him in the venture.

“It’s an amazing facility and the people there are extremely friendly,” she said. “We really liked it and it’s technically all under one roof.”