A 10 year old ice hockey player from Stone is continuing to turn heads both in the UK and overseas, with his latest selection set to take him to an international tournament in Latvia this spring.
Oliver Williams has been playing ice and roller hockey for around four years and already competes across multiple age groups and leagues, balancing an intense training schedule with school life back home in Stone.
He currently plays ice hockey for Solihull Junior Barons at under 12s and under 14s level, alongside roller hockey for Newport Knight Juniors, and also competes in the BIPa League with Manchester Devils. Away from club hockey, Oliver has been part of several UK travel teams, including Desert Rats, Flamingos and Screaming Goats, taking him to tournaments in the US, Spain and France.
His progress has recently taken another step forward, with confirmation that he has been selected to travel with the British Selects to compete at the Riga Hockey Cup in Latvia in April. He has also been invited to attend trials for England Ice Hockey’s Power of 11 programme, a specialist development pathway for high potential under 12 players.
Oliver’s dad, Andrew Williams, said his son’s love of the sport began early.
“Oliver has always had a passion for the outdoors and for sport. I suppose his link with hockey came from me, as I have played both roller and ice hockey on and off at a recreational level since I was young,” he said.
“We took Oliver to watch his first ice hockey game when he was around five years old, and he instantly fell in love with it and wanted to play.”
Andrew now coaches one of Oliver’s roller hockey teams and supports coaching at Solihull, giving the family a shared connection to the sport.
Over the last four years, Oliver has built an impressive list of achievements. He was named best forward for his age group at a tournament in Spain, has been part of a team that won Nationals, and is currently one of the top points scorers in his league. This season, Solihull’s under 12 A team remains unbeaten and is on course for Nationals qualification.
Away from the rink, education remains a priority. Oliver balances frequent travel with schoolwork, often completing homework at after school club before heading off to training. His school has been supportive, particularly when international tournaments or national training sessions require time away from the classroom.
Andrew said, “To play hockey he must also work hard at school. Oliver understands the balance and will always get his homework done. He even integrates hockey into his school projects, which really helps motivate him.”
Oliver has also been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, and his family say hockey has played a positive role in helping him focus and build confidence. He attends weekly dyslexia support sessions, while the fast paced nature of hockey provides an outlet that suits him well.
“Hockey means the world to me because it’s fast, fun, and makes me happy,” Oliver said. “I’ve made loads of friends playing in this country and abroad. I love both playing and watching hockey.”
His short term ambition is to win the league with Solihull this season and secure a place in the junior national setup, with a long term goal of playing professionally.
As Oliver moves further along the development pathway, the financial demands of junior ice hockey continue to rise. Equipment, training fees, camps and overseas tournaments now amount to more than £8,500 a year, not including family travel costs.
The Williams family say they are proud to have funded Oliver’s journey so far, but are now open to hearing from local businesses who may be interested in offering sponsorship or support to help him continue developing his potential as he prepares for Latvia and the Power of 11 trials.
Could you business help support Oliver’s future?
