Nineteen year old makes history.
Young apprentice Cole Shudra scored a hat trick which made him the youngest person to do this in Elite League history.
A lot has been made of the fact that Liam Kirk, apprentice
at Sheffield Steelers hockey club has been touted by the NHL now he has turned
eighteen but the 21st of this
month was a historic day for their second apprentice Cole Shudra – son of Ron
Shudra of Edmonton oilers fame – against Edinburgh Capitals he became, at age
nineteen years and 162 days, the youngest player to score a hat trick for
Sheffield Steelers and the youngest player to score a hat trick in the EIHL.
The 19-year-old son of Sheffield hockey legend Ron has
played mainly on defence this season.
But injuries have seen the one-time Sheffield
Rapiers kid drafted on the forward line and he responded with two middle period
goals, one which levelled the game when Steelers had gone behind, and a late
solo effort strike.
Shudra stepped up a level from the second tier of UK hockey
at the start of last season when Steelers offered him and Liam Kirk the chance
to train full time with them.
Since then he has has represented his country at junior
level consistently.
I asked Cole a few questions on his new career.
RN: How old were you when you
first started playing hockey properly ie for a team?
CS:
I was around 5 when I started playing for the under 8s and under 10s in the
Sheffield junior club.
RN: I suppose you watched
Steelers as a youngster, any special memories?
CS: I remember my dad
and the team winning many trophies and titles and being able to see that at a
young age was very special and made me want to do the same.
RN: Your Dad must have been a
big influence on you what really sticks as to what he’s told you?
CS:
He’s definitely been my biggest influence, and he just always says to keep my
head down and work hard no matter what happens and no matter what anybody says,
he’s definitely given me the most guidance in my career and always knows what
to say and when to say it.
RN:Have you any plans to play
either abroad or with other teams or is it too early yet?
I
would love to have the opportunity to maybe play somewhere in Europe, but for
now I’m enjoying Sheffield and I love the team, the club and the fans here it’s
a great environment to be In to develop.
Which team do you most enjoy
playing against?
CS:
Easy, Nottingham Panthers
RN: Which rink do you most
enjoy playing in aside from Sheffield?
CS:
Most enjoy playing in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena.
Who has given you most
inspiration as a player?
CS:
I haven’t played many years professionally but I would have to say Jonathan
Phillips, as he’s always giving advice and as a captain he’s always leading on
and off the ice and that’s what I’d aspire to be like.
If you had to name a player
you modelled yourself on who would it be?
CS:
I’ve always been a fan of the way Patrice Bergeron plays, solid defensively,
and just makes smart plays everywhere on the ice.
And lastly your favourite
player is?
CS:
Right now probably Auston Matthews, just exciting to watch every game with the Maple leafs.
Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview Cole