Knoxfield teenager Michael McDowell will put on the green and gold colours as he represents Australia in the 2007 World Youth Ice Hockey Championships in Romania.By Tania Martin
MICHAEL McDowell is one step closer to realising his dream as a professional ice hockey player.
The Knoxfield teenager has been chosen as part of the Australian ice hockey team, which will compete in the World Youth Championships in Romania later this month.
McDowell, 17, started ice skating when he was just three years old and it wasn’t long before he was hooked on ice hockey.
Following in his father and uncle’s footsteps, McDowell, picked up a hockey stick and started playing the sport when he was seven.
He said watching his uncle play gave him the passion to pick up his first hockey stick and give the sport a try.
McDowell has helped lead his domestic team the Black Hawks to three straight State titles.
But it is the National Youth Team try-outs that have kept him busy over the last few months.
McDowell was selected to try out for the squad after a scout saw him playing in a national tournament in Sydney last year.
He then travelled to Bendigo with 40 other hopefuls and underwent two hours of on-ice training and one hour of endurance training as part of the selection process.
McDowell then had a nervous wait over the Christmas period while the selectors chose the side that would represent Australia at the championships in Romania.
He is extremely excited about competing in the championships and has four training sessions on the ice a week, which means getting up at 4.30am most mornings.
McDowell also runs six nights a week and does some weight training.
He said ice hockey is a challenge and he loves the sport because it is such a fast paced sport.
“You never know what’s going to happen next because it’s always changing,” he said.
“It is also challenging — it’s hard enough ice skating but ice hockey is even more challenging and it’s fun.”
McDowell will leave the comfort of his home in a couple of weeks to head to Vancouver, Canada, where he will take part in a two-week training camp before heading to Romania for the world championships.
“I can’t wait and I am extremely excited to get the opportunity to play more experienced European players and to get the experience to represent my country,” he said.
McDowell said the championships would be a stepping stone in his dream to become a professional ice hockey player.
He dreams of one day playing in Europe, but admits it’s a long shot because it is such a hard sport to break into.
“It’s just a dream,” he said.
