Highlanders plot a return to the big leagues
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MORAY Firth Highlanders hope to field an under-20 team in next season’s Scottish League system.
Inspired by the resurgence in the sport in the region, the club is hoping to add to the under-16 side it already fields in the national setup.
Club head coach James McIlwraith attributes the refurbishment of Inverness Ice Centre as one of the reasons behind the growth of the sport, giving rise to a potential expansion.
McIlwraith was also hugely impressed after the Highlanders travelled to Belfast to play the Youth Giants. He witnessed first hand the setup at the Northern Irish club, who play in the Elite League at the 7500-capacity SSE Arena and have one of the best infrastructures in the UK.
The Highlanders currently only field a team in the under-16 division, but there are plans afoot to capitalise on recent interest and bring an under-20s team into operation.
McIlwraith said: “We had a 20s team a few years back but a lot of them went off to university. We’re pushing towards that level again.
“Some of those players are playing in Aberdeen and Harry Ferguson is with the Edinburgh Capitals (in the Scottish National League).
“We’re looking to progress the juniors, which gives us to build a base back up.”
A £720,000 revamp of Inverness Ice Rink has been credited by McIlwraith as one of the main reasons behind the sport’s growth.
He added: “We’ve now got a far better facility in Inverness – there’s plexi-glass all the way round and you can get more people into spectate. It’s more hockey friendly than it was previously.
“It’s got more folk using the ice rink, which makes a big difference, not just to hockey but other ice sports too. It’s been very positive.”
The trip to Belfast, while disappointing on the ice as the Highlanders went down 20-0, proved beneficial off it.
The under-16 squad got to experience a big-game atmosphere, watching the Giants Elite League side beat Manchester Storm 5-2, before taking to the large rink themselves.
It was a gruelling trip – players, coaches and parents travelled from Inverness to Stranraer to get the ferry, arriving back in the Highlands early on Monday morning.
They also bumped into this weekend’s opponents North Ayrshire Predators, who come to the Ice Centre tomorrow.
McIlwraith added: “It’s the first time I’ve been to Belfast in years and it’s something else.
“The kids were a wee bit overawed and the Belfast goalkeeper was outstanding.
“But we’ve got North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire coming up, so hopefully we can get a couple of wins and move up a couple of places.”
The Highlanders train on Sundays at 4.45pm at the Ice Centre.
