By Hayley Wildes
For 14-year-old Jacob Laver, ice hockey runs in the family and because of that, it was the natural sport to take up and try to perfect.
The Berwick local and Beaconhills College Year 9 student started ice skating when he was nine and began playing ice hockey a year later. He says he took up skating because of his father, Brent Laver; 2016 Australia Ice Hockey League coach of the year and current coach with the Australian under-18 men’s national team.
Since taking up the sport, Jacob hasn’t looked back and after representing Victoria three times previously, in 2018 he will represent his state twice.
Incredibly, Jacob has been selected to the Victorian under-15 and under-18 teams. An achievement that will see him head to Newcastle from July 17-21 for the under-18 National Championships and then to Canberra from 1-5 August for the under-15 Championships.
Jacob’s passion for the sport is unquestioned, playing multiple games and doing up to five practices and gym sessions a week. When Jacob started playing the sport, he was a forward and he admitted he was ‘pretty trash’, but a switch to defence and intense training program has seen him take his game to the next level.
Jacob’s speed on the ice is what sets him apart from his rivals and when an opponent thinks they have a chance at getting past him, he more often than not shuts down their space and halts their momentum.
Last year, Jacob and his under-15 Victorian teammates came close to tasting the ultimate success and he is hoping the squad can go one better in 2018.
“We came second last year and I think we have a decent team this year. Each team has a pretty even chance.” Jacob said.
Whilst representing Victoria has seen Jacob travel all over the country, he has also experienced hockey internationally; playing in Canada for the Sylvan Lake Lakers during the 2017/18 Central Alberta Hockey League season.
From December 2017 to April 2018, Jacob and Brent were in Canada. Jacob said ice hockey is massive in Canada, much like Aussie Rules is in Victoria.
For some games, Jacob and his team were traveling up to six hours, but that was all part of the experience; one that Jacob loved and said he learnt a lot from.
He will be returning to Canada in September this year and hopes to receive a scholarship to attend a Canadian college and with that being the bigger picture, he is working hard to make his dream come true.
