A YOUNGSTER from Hoyland is making his way in the rough-and-tumble of professional ice hockey.

Alex Oldale, 20, is on the books at Elite League side Manchester Storm where he is the understudy goaltender.

With 54 regular season matches and cup competitions to play in, it involves a heck of a lot of travelling and dedication.

But it is something Oldale continues to relish.

He has now completed his second full season as a pro with Storm and has made 13 appearances in a league which is largely filled with players from hockey-mad nations like Canada, USA and Finland.

He has also played for Great Britain’s under 18s and 20s.

He said: “Over the course of two years as a professional I’ve had opportunities to show what I can do.

“I played against the Sheffield Steelers and have travelled all over.

“There can be brutal weekends with two games and travelling but I am soaking it all up.

“There is a high level of imports in the Elite League so chances can be limited.

“My short-term goal is to keep progressing and be recognised by the Great Britain senior team.

“Over the next two years I want to be pushing for the number one spot with Great Britain and constantly keep putting 100 per cent in on the ice and off it.”

Alex’s journey in ice hockey started out in Sheffield before earning a move to Blackburn.

His form there alerted Manchester, one of the top ten teams in the country alongside the likes of the Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants, who signed him up on pro forms.

He continued to impress and has signed a longer-term deal with the Altrincham-based side.

“I have played for GB under 18s in Estonia and under 20s in Scotland,” Alex added.

“I fell in love with hockey as a youngster.

“Blackburn was my first taste of senior hockey. It was fast and a harder pace.”

Alex has also enjoyed taking on ambassadorial duties within the sport and has talked to children of all ages about the sport and his own career.

“That is something I have enjoyed and would like to do more in the future.”

Alex, who attended both Kirk Balk and Barnsley College, is honoured to be recognised with a Young Champions nomination.

He added: “I am very proud - no matter where I go in the world and where hockey takes me, I’ll always be from Barnsley.

“When I told my family about the nomination, they felt very proud too.”