The Elite League does not care about teenage British talent.
There are teams like Manchester Storm, who seem prepared to give younger Brits a chance.
They are the exception, and my statement stands for the majority.
There is nothing to be gained by Elite League teams investing in young talent. The EIHL is a win-now league, with a high import limit and a vast turnover of players year on year.
Even the talented Liam Kirk was only given ice-time as a teenager by Sheffield Steelers when their hand was forced by a lack of available players.
Fortunately for him, Kirk was able to make the most of the crumbs given to him at the professional level in the UK.
Alex Graham finds himself in a similar situation to his former teammate.
Bouncing between the NIHL and EIHL, with neither team nor league really having his development as a primary concern.
The Steelers enjoy the fact he can be called upon on a whim and be relied upon to play for minimal minutes.
The Steeldogs are understandably happy to ice a dominant player at the NIHL level.
Neither do I blame Sheffield, any EIHL team or the NIHL for this situation. It’s a making of its own device.
Unless there was a sea change in the way British hockey operates, it shall remain the same.
All of this is why Jack Hopkins has to move overseas for the sake of his development.
It’s no hyperbole to suggest that he is at a critical stage in his hockey career.
Where Hopkins opts to play next will have a colossal bearing on what he may achieve in the sport.
The 17-year-old has proved the last two years that he needs to be playing against the best quality of his peers to improve.
Limited minutes in nine outings for the Nottingham Panthers aren’t cutting the mustard and Hopkins isn’t being put into a situation to succeed.
He’s not a grinder or overly physical player so playing him on the fourth line is a waste of time when his talent leads him to benefit from a top-six role.
After a slow start, Hopkins is now tearing up the NIHL.
With thirty points in twenty games, Hopkins is the only teenager ranked in the top twenty points producers.
With thanks to https://nihlstats.wordpress.com/, I can tell you that through eighteen games (the website is yet to be updated) Hopkins had produced 22 of his twenty-nine points at ES play. That ranked him second in scoring on the Telford Tigers during 5v5 play and third in team scoring overall.
He is not a player simply feasting on special teams.
During the height of the pandemic, Hopkins opted to head to Germany.
Amongst his peers in the German U17 league, the centreman recorded nine points (6-3-9) in eight games.
An impressive achievement considering he was playing in a different country with new teammates, a new league and a differing style of play.
At the most recent U20 World Championships with Great Britain, Hopkins showed us what he could do against players up to three years older than him.
The 17-year-old not only showed up the attributes which make him an offensive powerhouse but also the other side of his game.
Relentless pursuit of the puck through all three zones, defensive awareness and a willingness to battle for every loose puck.
Hopkins finished third in tournament scoring and face-off win percentage, at over 65%. He also won the second most battles in the dot.
Hopkins played at times like he had eyes in the back of his head, such is his hockey IQ.
Many players may have dumped the puck in under pressure in the neutral zone. Not Hopkins. He shows composure, strength and skating ability to create himself some room. It ultimately leads directly to a goal for himself.
On the power play, he puts the puck directly onto the stick of Alex Graham for a goal.
A piece of individual skill creates a scoring chance.
You saw it above, but Jack Hopkins decision-making here is exemplary. Ignoring the pass with a teammate covered, opting instead to shoot and beat the goaltender clean with a wrist shot.
Courtesy of GB Hockey Future, Jack Hopkins highlights from the Nottingham Lions 2021 NIHL North Cup & Three Rivers Cup.
The obvious option would be for Jack Hopkins to make himself available for the 2022 CHL Import Draft.
Canadian Hockey League teams are certainly now more open to the prospect of selecting a British player after the success of Liam Kirk.
Alex Graham was selected in the last draft and would currently be playing with Niagara Ice Dogs but for circumstances beyond his control.
His skill, passing and scoring abilities would surely make him an appealing option to many CHL teams seeking out high-end offensive players.
In return, Hopkins would benefit from playing competitively in one of the top junior leagues in the world.
Even the factor of receiving ice-time every day, let alone working with skills coaches, would be hugely impactful.
When you consider how much of a fight it is for young players to get ice-time in the UK, the value of ice-time cannot be understated or undervalued.
Junior hockey in the UK can lead to talented players becoming individual in their style of play. That’s not to say it’s always a bad thing because that leads to creativity.
What players forgo somewhat in their development are learning traits such as positional play, split-second decision making, learning when to attack or take the safe option and adapting to a faster pace of play overall.
The North American brand of junior hockey is so different and as Liam Kirk can attest, it can take time to adapt.
However, the benefits are tremendous.
Especially when playing the position of Centre, of which the attributes required and expectations are greatly heightened.
The term ‘playing a 200-foot game’ might be a cliché in the sport but it’s something that young players will certainly benefit from.
There are other options aside from the CHL for Jack Hopkins, in North America and Europe but in my mind, the CHL sticks out.
I truthfully believe the talented young forward has to take a bold next step and leave these shores for pastures new.
For the sake of his career and to unlock the immense amount of talent that I, and many others, believe he has to offer.
If you have enjoyed this article and would like to support my work please consider donating https://ko-fi.com/markukleaf or PayPal.me/markukleaf
Alternatively, if you feel inclined to support me longer term please consider becoming a patron https://www.patreon.com/markukleaf
Thank you for considering the above, reading this article and for your continued support.
UK Hockey Blog 