Mernda’s Dylan Brooks is skating to success

Dylan Brookes (Marco De Luca),

Dylan Brooks is strapping on his skates and getting ready to represent Victoria at hockey

The 10-year-old from Mernda has been chosen to represent Victoria at ice hockey and in-line hockey at the upcoming national championships

Dylan has been skating since he was three years old, and took up ice hockey at five, following in the footsteps of his mum and grandfather.

He began in-line hockey almost three months ago. Mum Ruth said Dylan was passionate about the sport.

“He gets himself up at 5.30am every Saturday to go to training at Oakleigh,” she said.

“He trains Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon and Sunday at Oakleigh for ice hockey and then Monday and Tuesday at Sunshine.

“Since the new ice rink opened in Reservoir [on July 1] there is only one day that we haven’t been.”

Mrs Brooks said Dylan wanted to pursue a career in America’s National Hockey League, either as a player or coach.

“If he shows determination, we could send him to Canada or America. He would be placed with a family and would go to a hockey academy,” she said. “If you want to play ice hockey, you have to go overseas.”

Dylan will represent Victoria in the under 13 championships at the O’Brien Group Area in Docklands in August, before heading to South Australia in September as part of the under 11 in-line hockey team.