Sophie Herbert.
ICE HOCKEYICE hockey starlet Sophie Herbert has been selected for the first British camp for athletes who are prospective Winter Olympians.
Sophie, 17, of Ryde, learned from Ice Hockey UK that she had been selected with three others from the GB team to attend next week’s British Olympic Association (BOA) 2018 Winter Sports Camp at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, on Monday.
The camp is for talented athletes who could represent Britain at the 2018 games.
She has only just returned from a week-long International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) women’s development camp, in Finland. She was one of only three Britons to be chosen to attend the camp, for the almost 300 of the world’s best players.
She was mentored by Olympic medallist and former Team Canada captain Danielle Govette during the intensive camp, where the players went through on-ice and off-ice training, with games and drills, as well as classroom learning.
It was not all hard graft though, as the players got to experience a real Scandinavian sauna and a trip to Helsinki.
Sophie, who plays in defence, kept a diary during her trip.
She said: "Before we knew it, it was the last day, the last practice and the last game, and no-one wanted it to end.
"Training went like lightning, we gathered for lunch before our last ever games within the camp. The game was one of the best we played all week.
"I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life."
And the positives from Finland continued on her return when the former Ryde High School student was contacted by USA player Jamie Hagerman, who is coaching at a US college next winter and asked if she would like to join her and develop her game further. The Wightlink-sponsored athlete, who is also part of the government’s TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme), is now investigating more about the American college system.
Sophie said: "It has been a very exciting month for me."