Young Oxford City Stars prospect Jake Florey takes his first steps on the international stage when he represents England Under 13s in a tournament in Canada.

Florey, 13, flies out next week to join fellow England squad players before their first game against a team from Quebec St Hyacinthe on Friday.

Teams from Canada and USA are also taking part in the knock-out tournament, with the winners of the England game then playing on Tuesday and the losers on Sunday.

The final will be played on Sunday, February 24.

Jake has worked very hard to reach this standard.

He trains on the ice midweek with senior Stars players Nick Oliver, who has been his coach for the last two years, and captain Darren Elliott.

Jake also has sessions on his inline skates with the successful Oxford Blues skater hockey club.

In addition, he travels to Sheffield for England ice training at the end of the week, and then is either playing inline skater hockey or for Oxford City Stars juniors most weekends Jake said: "I have been playing for two years, but got into it by playing and inline skating which I have played for four years.

"I went abroad when I played for Blues' minnows team we qualified to play in Germany.

"I am looking forward to going to Canada. I want to play with better players so I can learn and become better myself.

"I would like to play for the senior Oxford City Stars team and, if I become better, to play professionally for a premier or elite team.

Darryl Morvan, Stars' head coach, said: "We are all very pleased for Jake that he has been selected to represent his country.

"It is the ultimate honour for any athlete at any age, and a testimony to the hard work he has put in to make the squad in front of other players from better-known clubs."