THE WEIGHT of the challenge at hand isn't lost on Callum Buglass following his call-up to the Great Britain Under 20 squad.

The Welshman is among five members of the Swindon Wildcats roster who have been named in the squad for next month’s World Championship (Division 1B) in Megeve, France.

Netminder Jordan Hedley, defencemen Callum Buglass, Harvey Stead and forwards Toms Rutkis and Michael Stratford have been named in head coach Tommy Watkins’ selection.

Great Britain, who were promoted from Division 2A last year, will come up against hosts France and also Japan, Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine at the tournament, which runs from December 12-18, with the group winners being promoted to Division 1A.

Twelve of the squad who won the gold medal in Estonia last year have been named in the squad, including Buglass, who is ready for the step up in class.

“Whenever there is a chance to represent your country, you want to do it and from the start of the season, that was my main aim and luckily, I have done,” said Buglass.

“We know we are in a much tougher group this year after being promoted last year but we are still going to go out and try and win every game.

“Firstly, we want to secure our place in the group. We don’t want to be relegated back down to the group we were in last year.

“If we can challenge for medal,s then that is what we all want at the end of the day. We all play in a men’s league, which will help us because every game is a battle in the EPL and we will have to go there and battle as well.”

Buglass struck his first goal of his Wildcats career in Swindon’s 8-4 win over Bracknell Bees at the Link Centre in September and the 19-year-old says he has matured since his last appearance for the national side.

“I think I have become a little bit more confident with myself playing and I have a bit more belief in myself,” he added.

“Picking up the gold medal helps because it shows you can do what you set out to achieve if you work hard.

“It has been half a season and a summer since the last time we represented our country so the guys have been in the gym, have been working with each other for longer and will be stronger.

“It is always an anxious wait to get my first goal and I guess I have relaxed a bit now I no longer have the weight on my shoulders of getting my first goal.”

Ex-Swindon player Glenn Billing (Milton Keynes) is also included, as has Okanagan Academy’s Oliver Stone, while Swindon forward Owen Griffiths is also among the reserves.

Watkins said: “I am very pleased with my squad and we have a great mix of youth and experience. Make no mistake about it - this is a tough group with us coming up a division.”