He’s been out of sight but not out of mind, as regards the Great Britain program.

Kieran Chung is a defenceman who has been making huge strides in his career in North America.

His roots are firmly set in Nottingham, however.

“I watched the Nottingham Panthers growing up, born and raised fan.”

That fandom led to his journey into playing the sport.

“My parents asked me if I wanted to put some skates on and the rest is history.”

Chung has always been a defenceman because “when I was younger I could skate backwards.”
The self-effacing young man laughed as he answered this question and struck me as a person who doesn’t take life too seriously. An excellent trait to have in such a competitive sport, where opportunities can be limited.

Speaking of which, Chung opted to head to North America at an early age, citing familiar reasons for doing so.

“Exposure and development.”
“In England it’s tough to get ice time, moving over there [USA], the ice-time is more available.”
“Learning the game, being able to make plays at a different level and just getting to play [more] is great.”

The Nottingham native spent two seasons in the EHL from 2021-23. It’s a league of which little is known in comparison to others in North America.

“I can’t say I’ve played in another league like it. I’d say it’s very fast, physical and you have to use the boards well.”
“It can be a high-scoring league but honestly it’s dependant on the team. Some teams are very defensively proficient and are difficult to score against.”

Chung enjoyed much offensive success in his second season with the Connecticut RoughRiders, finishing third in team scoring. He enjoyed his time with the club and has fond memories.

“Yeah, it was good!”
“Playing with all the guys there was great and I made a lot of new friends. To play a big part in the team during that second season was huge.”

Chung signed in the BCHL for this current campaign but recently left the Powell River Kings.
“I wasn’t getting the ice time and playing is huge for me so I decided to leave. I enjoyed my time there so I can’t complain and the organisation was great.”

“It’s [BCHL] competitive and every game is non-stop. You can’t take a shift off. It’s up there for the closest to the pro level I’ve come to. Every player is skilled, it’s just a great league.”

Representing Great Britain in this tournament has come at a good time for the defenceman. It represents an opportunity for his family to come watch and support him.

He’s struck me as a very assured blue-liner who most certainly plays a brand of North American hockey that I’m familiar with.

There haven’t been too many issues from switching to playing internationally, however.

“There are some changes, the system is different, but in terms of my play I can only control what I can control.”
On the step up from U18 to U20 level: “It’s comfortable, it’s fast obviously but it’s a small rink so about making sure you use the surroundings well. The speed is no issue, concentrate on finding teammates and working as a team.”

Helping Chung settle into his role has been a familiar face in Jacob White-Sey.

“We go back a while and played together at U18s. He’s a great kid, sees the ice well and skates well. I can’t ask for much more in a partner.”

The senior team is a draw for many of these players, especially the older ones about to step out of the junior arena and Chung is no different.

“If I ever receive the opportunity [to be selected to the senior team] that would be amazing. Every player wants to play for their nation at the top level and it would be an honour to play for the [GB] men’s team.”

The Winnipeg Jets is the club that the 19-year-old roots for, an unusual choice, but his taste in NHL idols is slightly more predictable.
“With the NHL gravitating to having offensive and puck-moving defenceman, like Cale Makar, Quinn Huges and Rasmus Dahlin, I look at their game and try to incorporate that style of play.”

What are the immediate plans for Chung moving forward?

“I plan to finish out the season and then go to college somewhere, play out my year and get a degree. If I can play NCAA, I will. Get a degree, and then hopefully after that, play hockey for a living. Play professionally somewhere, maybe travel, possibly in Europe. Getting paid to play hockey anywhere would be great. That’s the goal.”

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