Gale through to the final

Press release from team GB

Ice hockey player Katherine Gale starred for Team GB on da three of the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck as she recorded the secon highest score in the ice hockey skills challenge event to qualify for th knockout finals which take place on Thursday. 

In the quarter final she wil face Agnese Tartaglione of Italy.Gale, who amassed 31 points in the six challenges, which include shooting accuracy, agility, passing and skating skills, said: “It went reall well today and I’m really happy with qualifying in second place. My favourit skill challenge is definitely the passing one but I found the speed lap tough so I will work on that in training before the final. I’m going to keep working at all the skills and go for the final. I’m aiming to do my best in the final, focus on getting good scores, and if I get a medal, that would be amazing.
The Italian girl in the quarter final will be hard, but to win gold I’ve got to beat them all, so I’m ready for it. The whole Youth Olympic experience has been incredible, it’s amazing just to be here – a once in a lifetime experience.”
In the men’s ice hockey skills competition Team GB’s Lewis Hook (Peterborough) finished twelfth and therefore does not progress to the quarter finals. Hook said: “I’m devastated but it’s a really hard competition and I’m pleased with my performance overall, but I hoped for better than 12th.  I did well in the slating but a couple of the drills – passing and shooting – let me down today. The rest of the Games have been really good and I’m really pleased for Katherine, coming second was good for her and for Team GB. I’ll now support my teammates and especially Katherine. I’ve got a GCSE test the day I get back from Innsbruck so no stopping for me.”