Minnesota camp for Sting youngster Charlie

New Sting coach Matt Darlow said: “Charlie is a young guy who is coming up through the ranks and will be training with NIHL1 Sutton Sting this season.

“He is a product of the Sutton Sting junior system and is one of its highest achievers so far with his progression to NIHL1 level only a matter of time.

“Charlie is a tenacious player who has the work ethic, skill and speed to do a great job over in Minnesota on camp and I’m sure scouts will come knocking at his door while he is over there.

“I can see there is a lot of potential in Charlie’s game and over the coming season I am looking to help him integrate more and more into the senior team in training so that his progression continues. “He has a bright future in the game and I’m sure the optimism of the Sutton Sting organisation will be mirrored by the staff in Minnesota when they see that the British kid called Charlie Saunders can certainly play hockey.”

Two Sutton Community Academy year seven students also went to France as part of the Sutton Sting ice hockey team.

Lizzie Saunders and Danny Radford travelled to Meudon, near Paris, as part of the U13 team.

This was Danny’s first international tournament but Lizzie’s fourth and they played against teams from Germany, Holland, Belgium, Slovakia and France.

The team won three of their matches, drew one and lost two. Although they didn’t win on this occasion, the trip was a fantastic experience and has given them the determination to do better next time.

Lizzie has also taken part in the U16 School of Excellence in Hull, selected to attend the five day camp as part of the England selection process in the hope she will be chosen to represent England against Finland later in the year.