“When I was younger I was very fortunate to gain an opportunity to practice, play and develop alongside current professionals within the game and this is something I feel is essential for our participants to have access to on a weekly basis. We are really looking forward to working with a consistent group of junior hockey players from the local and surrounding areas on a regular basis and provide the exposure their talent and commitment rightfully deserve.” “This opportunity to host an innovative way of developing young players in the best ice facility in the UK couldn’t be missed and for me personally it’s great to tap into my experience and understanding to give back to the grassroots of the game, which is an area I have openly expressed I feel strongly about improving. “We were keen to bridge that gap by bringing a similar development opportunity on a weekly basis and support existing process, so players will now be able to join us to improve and then return to their clubs in better physical, mental and playing shape. Nottingham is now my home and with the fantastic relationship we have developed with Martin Ingham (National Ice Centre’s CEO) and the National Ice Centre over the past number of years, our off-season clinics have gone from strength to strength. This comes at a substantial cost in many ways. “Not every player who commits to suiting up in ice hockey equipment on a weekly basis is in pursuit to taking their talents as far as they possibly can, which is quite normal across amateur sports. Currently here in the UK we see so many of our young talented players move away from home at a young age in pursuit of high-end tuition and more ice time. Our junior clubs have limited ice time to spread across all members and they are designed to cater for everyone, which is why it is such great environment to be a part of. “This is no fault of the junior clubs and coaches. “The reason why I have been keen to commit to a programme like this is that the current system for developing our aspiring junior hockey players just isn’t quite cutting it,” said Clarke. Betteridge is also a product of the Clarke and Co Academy. The National Ice Centre, via the Nottingham junior ice hockey system, has created dozens of players who have gone on to play the sport at the top level, most recently Robert Lachowicz and Ollie Betteridge, who have both gone on to represent the Panthers and Great Britain. His number 5 shirt was retired by the Panthers when he finished playing in April 2018. He had a glittering career as a player for club and country and is synonymous with Nottingham and the National Ice Centre since arriving in the city in 2003. The academy will enable players to come to Nottingham on a weekly basis and gain high-end on-ice development, overseen by leading coaches and players to develop in three essential areas skating, skills and compete levels.Ĭlarke has been running his hockey school, Clarke and Co, since 2008 and has clinics across the country, including Nottingham, Gillingham, Leeds, Peterborough and Widnes.
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