England under-16s

Hornets heading to Holland

Romford’s Glenn Billing, Sonny and Charlie Phillips travel with England Under-16s to Tilburg in Holland this weekend to play in the 37th annual Chris Verwijst International Tournament.

They skated to a 13-1 win over Sheffield Under-18s in a warm-up match last Friday, with Billing netting a hat-trick and Sonny Phillips remaining unbeaten during his spell in net.

Twin brother Charlie has been appointed assistant captain of the England team, who are joined in the competition by Austria, Hungary and the Netherlands plus very strong club teams from Moscow Penguins (Russia), Mannheim Jung Adler (Germany), Edge Prep (USA) and hosts Tilburg Trappers. England were due to play a final warm-up game yesterday (Thursday) against the favourites Moscow Penguins, who dominated the Under-15 Riga Cup last season.

They have been drawn in a group with Mannheim, Edge Prep and Tilburg and face the Germans in the opening tournament game today (Friday, 8am).

Billing said: “There is a great spirit in the England dressing room and we’re looking forward to taking on some of Europe’s best players this weekend.”

Romford’s Ethan Boolkah flies out to Prague in the Czech Republic with the England under-14 squad next week.

Defenceman Boolkah helped the team finish third at the Winter U15 Cup in Hungary during the Christmas holidays.