Three South Australians off to under-18 ice hockey world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria

THEODORE Fabijan struggled to stay on his feet and could barely see the puck the first time he played ice hockey — now he is taking on the world’s best.

THEODORE Fabijan struggled to stay on his feet and could barely see the puck the first time he played ice hockey.

Intrigued by his first glimpse of the sport as an eight year old watching a National Hockey League DVD, the Onkaparinga Hills resident pestered his parents for six months before finally taking to the rink.

“I really wanted to play but at first I had no idea what I was doing out there,” Fabijan, 16, says.

“The helmets were too big for me so I had to put a beanie under my helmet but then the beanie would slip down so I couldn’t see anything.”

Eight years on, the Adelaide Blackhawks left wing is getting ready to take on some of the world’s best young players.

Along with fellow Croweaters Remy McGuiness and Zach Boyle, Fabijan left for eastern Europe last week in preparation for the under-18 ice hockey world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“I never expected to go this far with my hockey,” the Prescott College student says.

“It was a dream but I never actually saw myself doing it.

“I’d imagine everyone over there will be quite big and I’m expecting a real hard fight.

“I’m just going out there to play as hard as I can.”

The trio was selected for Australia late last year after impressing for SA at the national championships.

They will spend this week training in the Czech Republic before taking on the likes of New Zealand, Israel, Turkey and the host nation in division three of the tournament.

For McGuiness, 16, it will cap a rapid rise in the sport he only began playing in 2008.

“I found ice hockey pretty difficult at first,” the Adelaide Redwings forward says.

“But it’s such a fast sport and I’m competitive.

“It’s a physical sport but it’s not as physical as it looks in the movies.”

Boyle, 17, was part of the Australian side that was relegated from division two at the championships in Belgrade, Serbia last year.

The Edwardstown resident is confident the side can put in an improved performance this time around.

“It’s totally different over there to the hockey I’ve played before,” the Blackhawks forward says.

“It’s a lot faster and more physical.

“But I definitely think we can (win), we’re a good quality team with no weak links.

“I just want to get as many points as I can and help the team bring home the gold.”