Milton Keynes and England junior netminder Jordan Hedley is set to take a milestone step in his career next month with the news that he has been selected to represent Team GB at the 2011 IIHF Hockey Development Camp at the Sports Institute of Finland.

Jordan, who has represented team England at U13, U14 and most recently U15 level and a stalwart of the South West Conference team every season since he was 10, has now been snapped up by the Team GB U18 organisation. His selection is an unprecedented move by the GB setup, with a view to laying the foundations of the future senior team by bringing in several key junior players that they feel are the future of British ice hockey.

Jordan has won plaudits globally since competing in the Junior World Championships in Canada two years ago, helping his side to an impressive semi-final slot beating NHL junior teams on their way, and was presented with the ‘Netminder of the Tournament’ award in Amiens, France, in February. But it was in Latvia that Jordan caught the eye of Team GB selectors when the GB U18’s competed in the World Championships.

Standing at 6ft 2ins at just 14 years old, it’s easy to see why Jordan catches the eye so easily, but it is his technical ability and shot stopping prowess that have won him the most praise.

Nick Poole, Director of Junior Development and MK Lightning Head Coach said Jordan’s selection for the IIHF training camp was no less than the youngster deserved.   "I’m thrilled for Jordan that he’s been given the opportunity to attend the IIHF development camp in Finland. It’s reward for all of his hard work and the ability he’s shown over the last few years. It has been a pleasure watching Jordan develop to this point, and it will be a fantastic experience for him to go and skate with some of the brightest young European talents.  He’s a player that I have incredibly high expectations for, and this should provide him with fresh motivation to continue to push himself to play at the highest level.  It’s incredibly satisfying to see a player who’s learned his craft in Milton Keynes progress as well as Jordan is, and I know that all the players, coaches and staff at both MK Lightning and MK Storm wish him the best of luck."

Jordan himself admits that his call-up to Team GB came out of the blue, but that he intends to make the most of the opportunity.  “Everyone around me in the MK set-up has been so positive and gone out of their way to assist my development. Nick Poole is always incredibly supportive, and Michael Farn and Ross Green of MK Lightning have been almost dragging me out of bed at 5.30am every weekday to take me through some pretty gruelling fitness routines at the David Lloyd gym, to help me to build my strength and speed. Planet Ice have donated ice time and  some of the guys from Lightning have come along to shoot on me, to keep my reflexes sharp.  Everyone involved in ice hockey in MK has been fantastic and hopefully I can reward them with helping Team GB to even more success”.

The selection by Team GB means Jordan will be exposed to the professionalism of international ice hockey at a far higher level than in previous years; he will continue training with MK Lightning twice a week and assisting Nick Poole with collation of netminder statistics on match nights.