It’s no secret that for many young British players, the pathway to the UK’s top professional league has many obstacles.

When the EIHL chairman spouts in an interview that the quality of British players isn’t at a good enough level, young Brits are left under no illusion of their worth.

It’s little wonder that many teenage players opt for the Ontario Hockey League or Prep School route.
In the past few years, the number doing so seems to have increased.

The NCAA has also provided a viable option for young British players of late. Many will be competing for colleges in 2021-22 and are as follows.

Bradley Jenion – Trine University NCAA III

The 23-year-old hailing from Staffordshire played three years in Nottingham’s junior system before moving to Canada.
Two years in the Ontario Hockey Academy was followed by spells in the USPHL Premier, WSHL and NAHL.

A defenseman, Jenion committed to Trine in 2019, putting up seven goals and an assist through 27 games as a rookie.
The blueliner returned from his stints in North America to represent Great Britain at the U18 and U20 levels, playing in two tournaments.

Video Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2E7PZ6

Kyle Watson – Trine University NCAA III

Watson will be making his debut at the NCAA level after two successful seasons in the USPHL Premier Division.
The 21-year-old posted 143 points through 77 games as a member of the Hampton Road Whalers.

Before moving to America in 2016, the forward played junior for his hometown Sheffield teams. Those include the Rapiers, Scimitars, Greyhounds, Scorpions, and Steelhawks.

James Clarke – Suffolk University NCAA III

Born in a small village in Leicestershire, Clarke could not be further away from home now living in Boston, Massachusetts.
The 21-year-old spent little time in Nottingham’s junior system before heading to Canada to play at the U18 level in Ontario.

Clarke switched to America and the NA3HL for the past three seasons with Skyland Kings and Northeast Generals.
The forward finished 13th in league scoring this past campaign with 59 points in 37 games, and was the only European inside the top forty.

He will become the second player from the UK to represent Suffolk University after Greg Blais did so through 2002-06.

Rais Francis – Lebanon Valley College NCAA III

Rais Francis is yet another player on this list to come through Nottingham’s junior system and then head to the Ontario Hockey Academy.

After two years in Canada, the 20-year-old switched to America, playing U18 in New Hampshire before spending time in the NAHL, NCDC and EHL.

The left-handed forward even spent time in Norway during the pandemic, suiting up five times for Skien IHK U21.

Video Highlights: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8297211/5af3748564e0940f10076095

Lucas Brine – Arcadia University NCAA III

At 19 years of age, Brine is the youngest amongst this group but has also travelled the most.

The goaltender has played at eight different levels across North America since leaving Guildford for pastures new.

Brine most recently played for New Hampton School in the USHS Prep and enjoyed success.
Through eight games the netminder posted a .928 save percentage which would have ranked him second in the league if counting eight or more games played.

Matthew Headland – SUNY-Canton NCAA III

Headland is another native of Leicestershire but he’s been pursuing his hockey career in the USA since 2012.

The 23-year-old has progressed through the tried and tested routed of USPHL Premier/Elite and NAHL. His ability to rack up a plethora of points in the USPHL Elite Division helped Charlotte Rush win the championship in 2016-17.

As an NCAA rookie in 2019-20, Headland registered a respectable 15 points in 22 games including seven goals. The forward is expected to have a big season as a sophomore.

The next two players are dual nationals who will be teammates in 2021-22.

Tyler Cooper – St. Olaf College NCAA III

Born in Toronto, Tyler Cooper is yet to play organised hockey in Canada.

A product of the Guildford junior system, the forward played U16, U18 and USHS Prep with Shattuck St. Mary’s before moving onto the NAHL.

He’s twice been a leader so far in his brief career having worn an ‘A’ for the Northeast Generals and previously captained the Great Britain U20 national team through their D2A World Championships campaign in 2019.

The 20-year-old also represented GB U18 in 2017, only finishing second in scoring behind a certain Liam Kirk.

Ethan Hersant – St. Olaf College NCAA III

The 21-year-old was born in the Cayman Islands and holds UK and Canadian passports.

Hersant has never played hockey in the UK and has spent his junior career in various leagues based in Manitoba bar for 2018-19 in the Eastern Hockey League (USA).

Hersant is a diminutive playmaking forward who could well compliment Tyler Cooper.

There are currently no women from Great Britain committed to the NCAA for the upcoming season.

Emily Harris, Casey Traill, Shannon Douglas and Susanna Pearson were the representatives through 2020-21.

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