By Tara Murray
James Sullivan has always been at home on skates.
The Melton resident at just nine will represent Australia under-11 side at the Oceania Championships in New Zealand in ice hockey in July.
He is also pulling on the skates to represent Victorian in inline hockey championships in September and October.
James said he was really excited to play for Australia.
“I’m getting to play on a team with some of my friends as well,” he said. “Im hoping we win in the championship but we are going to have lot of fun.”
James said scoring goals was his favourite thing about the two sports, along with celebrating with his teammates, getting to play on teams with his friends and playing against lots of different players.
James’ dad Cj Sullivan has been involved in both inline and ice hockey for a long time, which led his son to get into it.
“He started development when he was five,” Cj said of James. He’s been playing competitive the last two years.
“He’s nine now. The talent is there for him to put it all together. I’m very happy and very proud.
Cj said it was a massive achievement for him to make the Australian team.
He said growing up he didn’t have that option, with a lot of travel and costs involved to play hockey.
“It’s something that he can build on. There’s a lot of people in the community who have been part of it since they were eight years old and now they’re kids and playing.”
Cj, who has also done coaching and being an official, said he hopes to see more rinks along with opportunities for both sports in Melbourne.
James prefers ice hockey out of the two sports and is rollerblading non-stop when he’s at home.
He has high dreams for what he wants to achieve.
“I’d like to be able to play hockey in Canada and maybe try to get good enough to play in the NHL [National Hockey League]. I’d love to play for the Dallas Stars,”he said.
As for why people should play either sport, James says both sports are fun and fast.
“Ice hockey and inline hockey are both a lot of fun and you can make lots of friends,” he said. “You can travel and play hockey in nearly every country in the world.”
With significant costs to buy equipment and travel, a fundraising page has been set up for James.
To donate: asf.org.au/campaigns/james-sullivan/oceania-championships-vic-national-championships
