YOUNG Aaron Connolly, a member of the Gillingham-based Invicta Dynamos ice hockey team, has been selected for the England Under-15 squad to compete at the World Championships in Germany in March.

Connolly, 14, has represented England at under-13 and under-14 level, but has never competed in a World Championships before.

He started playing ice hockey at the age of seven after watching an Invicta match and has risen through the ranks to play centre or left-wing for the under-16s.

He said: “I am excited about representing my country in the World Championships. There will be a lot of tough teams there, like Canada, Finland and the Czech Republic but it will be a challenge to play against the best.”

The England team warned up for the finals at a tournament in Italy, where they finished second in a five-team tournament against local under-18 teams.

Connolly, from Northfleet, added: “It was a good experience. Competing for England and the South East regional team I have played in countries like Canada, Belgium, Italy. It’s a good way of seeing the world.”