A TEENAGE ice hockey player who was praised in The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards last year has been showing his skills with the region's top club.

Michael Allinson was only 14 when he was selected to go to Canada with the England under-16s last year and was one of many grassroots sports stars invited to the Local Heroes awards in November.

But now he has caught the eye of Newcastle KBS Vipers coach Alex Dampier and, despite being only 15, made his debut in a pre-season friendly away to Edinburgh Capitals following two practice sessions.

Not content with just getting on the ice with players who will be battling it out in the British National League when the season starts next month, he even made it on to the score sheet with an assist as Newcastle won 7-5.

Wearing the number 15 shirt, he set up fellow trialist Adam Carr for the first goal of the game.

Now the coach hopes the youngster, who normally plays among the under-19 and senior ranks of his home town club the Sunderland Chiefs, will continue to train with the Newcastle side.

Mr Dampier said: "He played very well. He's one of the kids who I think, although a bit young to make the transition now, he's a kid who we would love to keep training with us."

Michael is expected to be in the line-up when Edinburgh make the return pre-season journey to the Telewest Arena next Sunday.

He said: "It's better for me, because I have to push myself a bit harder to keep up."