First of all, I’m looking forward to the better weather, says Stuart Jackson

Preparations for the upcoming championship are going very well

Stuart, how are the preparations for the upcoming World Championship going?

Preparations for the upcoming championship are going very well. So far, all sessions have been fast-paced and high in intensity. It’s been the highest standard we’ve seen in the junior GB program. All of the boys are buzzing to get out there and show that we can compete.

What do you expect from the tournament in Hradec Králové?

Expectations for this team are always high. We no longer want to be the team that shows up and is seen as an easy game. We want to demonstrate not only the growth of this team but of BHUK as a whole since the last junior tournament.

What are your team goals?

From the first day of team selection and training camps, our head coach Luke Browne has instilled our goals into us. Firstly, to compete with all nations in every period of every game. Secondly, to do everything possible to come away with a win. And finally—what I personally think is the most important—we don’t want to give any team an easy game. We want to force them to make tough plays for the full 45 minutes and give them nothing for free.

It’s always an honor to captain your country

The Ice Hockey World Championship is over. Were you watching and drawing inspiration from it?

Yes, I watcher whole tournament and drawing inspiration—especially from Team Denmark, who are underdogs against the top nations but never give up.

Apart from ball hockey, what are you most looking forward to in the Czech Republic?

First of all, I’m looking forward to the better weather! It’s also a chance to explore a new city that we haven’t been to before. I’m planning to organize some team activities during the week so we can bond and have some downtime away from the rink.

You’re the captain of the U23 team. I assume it’s an honor for you—how do you feel about it?

It’s always an honor to captain your country, and I’ve been lucky enough to do that at most age groups over the years. It’s especially meaningful as this is my final year of juniors—my first U16 championship was back in 2014. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to lead by example both on and off the court and to support my teammates in every way I can.

Stuart Jackson has extensive experience with the national team. Photo source: Stuart Jackson's personal archive.