Ice Hockey hero Ross Clarke has had years of hard work on the ice rewarded by earning a place in England’s under 14s squad.

The Wisbech Grammar School pupil started playing ice hockey with the Peterborough Junior Phantoms in 2011 and in 2012 was selected to play for the South East U11 team, playing in his first national tournament,

For the last two years Ross has represented the South East U13 team, and his slick moves on the ice in a tournament in May 2015 secured him a prestigious invite to a trial for the England squad.

After many gruelling training sessions and challenge matches with the national squad over the past few months, Ross participated in the final squad training match in Sheffield on January 22.

Ross’ ultimate selection for the squad depended crucially on his performance in his trial match, and after an agonising week-long wait, Ross received his letter from the English Ice Hockey Association to congratulate him for being selected for the 2016 England National Team.

Ross will take part in a training camp in February before travelling to Zell am See in Austria at the end of March where he will take part in the Zell am See 25th World Tournament - the largest junior ice hockey tournament in Europe, with teams competing from Europe and North America.

Chris Staley, Headmaster at Wisbech Grammar School, said: “It will be an amazing experience for Ross. We are so proud that he will represent his country and we wish him every success in Zell am See.”