Meet the Team – Junior Men

With the World Junior B Championships just around the corner, and the junior men’s competition starting on Sunday, we thought it might be a good chance to get to meet the young men who’ll be donning the England jerseys out in Finland!

Perhaps not so young is their coach, who lists his age as “redacted”. Jim’s a senior software product manager in his day job, and he brings a similarly analytical approach to coaching. That said, he’s also got a good amount of experience on the ice too. He’s got two three European Championships and a European Juniors under his belt, not to mention a fair few national championship appearances. Hopefully some of that aged wisdom will impart on this young crew?

With a bit of experience himself is the team’s alternate, Ben Holcombe. By day he’s a marine biology student. By night… we’ll, we’re not sure, but when he’s in a curling rink, he’s pretty good. Ben skipped the junior rink at last year’s event and knows a thing or two about the game. Whilst he mightn’t be on the ice, his calm demeanour and holistic focus on the competition are sure to be an asset to the team. His pre-match meal might not be the most exciting (porridge with brown sugar), but it’s worked for him so far!

Off the ice, you’ll likely find Ben outdoors hiking, watching ice hokey, or, as it happens, nerding out about old cameras with the coach!

Their lead is, in fact, the youngest of them. Troy Caunce might only have been curling a few years (and he might also often forget the gravity of the events he’s playing in…) but he’s a steady lead if ever there was one. He’s cool under pressure and we know he’ll have draw-weight in his back pocket in Finland.

When he’s not tinkering with old cars in the garage, this machining apprentice takes a methodical approach to his game too – despite the fact he’s admitted that he’s most likely on the team to forget his kit and the game plan! Despite being shy and listing his karaoke song as “No. Just no.”, he’s always joking around on the ice, keeping spirits high!

Troy’s goofy partner in crime is the second and vice-skip, Ben Gillard. He would be up for the karaoke, though, listing Viva La Vida as his go-to. He’s a happy go-lucky kind of guy, Ben, who’s always keeping positive. But don’t let the cheery disposition of this childcare worker fool you – when he steps on to the ice, he means business.

Ben’s not shy to play the big shots and help the team get out of trouble. Similarly, he’s got the delicate shots at the ready too. And when it’s Matthew’s turn to throw, he’s got his eye in for calling the line! Whilst he doesn’t like a big meal before a game, we can be sure there might be a few Twirl bars stowed away for half-time!

At third is probably the most experience member of the team, Callum McLain. Despite hailing from over the border, the team have welcomed him in, and it might (though it will pain the coach to admit it…) be paying off! An apprentice agricultural engineer, Callum spends every spare hour he has on the ice, honing in his game, and it shows. He’s happy making the big shots and happier still sweeping like hell!

Despite his goofy nature and his desire to find new and creative ways to wind up the coach, he puts his all into the game. Though, asked what he’d do if he won the lottery, he did say he’d buy a bigger toolbox… no mention of curling? Perhaps not quite as devoted to the game as he could be?

Finally, throwing last stones and calling the game is Matthew. He’s been here once before too, two years ago. In those two years, Matthew’s put together a strong team and, much like Callum, spent every spare moment he’s had throwing stones and getting his eye in. For a skip of such a goofy team, he might seem quiet, but there’s ice in this young man’s veins…

Never shying away from a big shot or the high pressure draw, always happy to take it right to the wire, there’s nothing can faze this man. He knows what he needs to do, and he’s got the team to do it with. And whilst he might be a quiet and composed maths student, we know that, as he skips the rest of the team with calm and coolness, they’ll lead him out on shenanigans off the ice!

England’s certainly in safe hands with these youngsters, and we know they’ll do us all proud. They kick off their campaign on Sunday 8th December against Czechia at 0900 local time (0700 GMT), and you can follow their progress on the WCF website