Pullen the strings (From Swindon Advertiser)

Pullen the strings

8:20am Thursday 8th December 2011 in Ice Hockey By Emma Dunn

SWINDON ice hockey youngster Rachel Pullen has helped Great Britain Under 18’s secure a spot at the World Championships.

The talented 17-year-old from Stratton was called up to the Great Britain side just a fortnight prior to the world qualifiers in Italy.

And netminder Pullen not only helped her British colleagues book a place at the World Championships in Norway but also walked away with the ‘best player’ award.

“I got put through two weeks before we went. The team had literally had one training session together and then we went out to Italy so we beat all the odds, said Pullen, who is a former Kingsdown School pupil. “We played against teams that had been together for two or three years.”

“It was really tough. We won three games and we lost two. We surprised everybody, even our coaches said we made history.

“This is the first time we have even made it into a qualifier.”

The 20-strong team played against France, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Italy and China.

“When the final ended we had a closing ceremony and I made best Great Britain player.

“A coach from your country gets to pick who they think got you through to the championships,” she said.

Rachel, who trains at The Link Centre three times a week, was 11-years-old when she started skating.

“I did figure skating and I always wanted to play hockey but my mum said it wasn’t a girls sport.

“Then I found a note on the pinboard at the rink that said ‘girls wanted to play hockey’.

“I made England in my first year and it has all gone from there.

“Playing for Great Britain has always been my ambition.

“I loved playing hockey as soon as I first started. It’s so much fun and I get such a buzz out of it. I like playing as a team, it’s more fun than an individual sport.

“I have always wanted to play for Great Britain under 18s to start myself off.

“It is a great step up into a senior team and I have already been asked to play with them.

“In the distant future I hope to play for Great Britain.

“There are so many people just a few years older than me that are still there. This is my opportunity to get somewhere with Great Britain.”