A YOUNG ice hockey player from Barry has been awarded a scholarship to an academy in Canada, designed to identify the next big stars of the sport.

Bayley Harewood, 14, is set to join the Canadian International Ice Hockey Academy next month, after being scouted whilst playing for Cardiff Devils and England youth sides.

The Academy, which acts as a talent pool to top sides in the National Hockey League (NHL), is set to take on Bayley for the next four years during which he will receive schooling and coaching at one of the world's top institutions for budding ice hockey players.

Bayley's dream is to star in the NHL, the world's premier ice hockey league, and become just the third Welshman to ever appear in the competition and the first since Jack Evans in 1963.

He was first invited to join the Academy around 18 months previously, but Bayley's parents - Dina and Craig - felt he was too young at the time. With Bayley's performances continuing to improve however and interest in his ability increasing all the time, they decided to travel to Canada to see what it was all about.

"It really blew us away," said Mr Harewood.

"Everything is under one roof. He'll go on the ice first thing in the morning, go to school, back on the ice and then study before bed.

"As well as giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and get recognised by the top clubs, they teach them valuable life skills, and the facilities there are first class.

"Every weekend they travel the country playing matches, so he'll be going from 13 games this year to over 60."

Bayley, who plays centre, started playing ice hockey when he was seven years old, after joining his cousin to play for the Junior Devils - the youth wing of the Cardiff Devils ice hockey side. Since then he has gone on to represent the South West and England (in the absence of a Welsh international side) at multiple age groups - and has now received a trial call-up to represent Great Britain under-16s.

"We could see he was getting better and better every week and he started getting invited to all these different things," said Mr Harewood.

"He won MVP (most valuable player) for the whole country in his age group, so whilst we weren't necessarily expecting the call-up, it was always in the back of our minds I suppose."

Bayley is now looking for sponsors to help fund his journey in Canada, and has already got the owner of Bar Cocoa and SW Flooring, Scott Walters, on board.

"I used to box when I was a kid and it was always so hard to get sponsors," said Mr Walters.

"Any young kid I see who we can help then we'll see what we can do. I've known the family for a long time and I just wanted to do my bit to help out."

If you are interested in sponsoring Bayley, please contact Craig and Dina Harewood on: 07811165979 or 07815804246. Alternatively, e-mail: craigharewood7@gmail.com.