A WEST FIFE teenager is dreaming of global gold after being selected to represent Great Britain in the sport of ball hockey.

Jordan Troup, from Abbeyview in Dunfermline, has been selected for the women’s under-21 squad that will travel to Liberec, Czechia, in July for the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) World Juniors.

Ball hockey is an off-ice variant of ice hockey, following the same rules, but using different equipment, a ball instead of a puck, and is played on foot on a non-ice surface.

It is popular with ice hockey players, like Jordan, who plays as a defenceman for Murrayfield Juniors Ice Hockey Club, in Edinburgh, and for the all-girls Whitley Bay Beacons, during the summer months.

Jordan, who first became interested in ice hockey, and subsequently took up the sport, after watching players train whilst she was undertaking figure skating lessons, secured her spot on the GB side after a trial process - despite missing the last of them after suffering a concussion injury.

“There was four trials, but I couldn’t make the last one because I had my concussion,” she told Press Sport.

“I remember my mum emailing the head coach of GB, saying we can’t come to this trial because I’ve experienced a concussion.

“Even the fact I got picked for simply going to three trials means a whole bunch to me. As much as I hate to say it, it also gave me an ego boost, a wee bit – not that I’m completely cocky, it was more like, ‘oh my God, I’m actually good enough!

“I’m still in disbelief. I didn’t really expect it, especially that I get to play for my country. It’s a lot to handle, but in a good way.

“I started playing to try and advance my ice hockey, but, now that I’ve been asked to play for GB, it’s just a great achievement for me.

“I’m proud of myself.”

When asked about her hopes for the competition, Jordan said: “What I want to do with the team is try and aim for gold, but, even if we just go over and play games, I feel like that will be enough on its own.

“Obviously, if we do get gold, then that’s just another thing ticked off the check list.”

Jordan, who has also started refereeing in ice hockey, said of her journey into the sport: “When I saw a few of the boys training, because I’d just finished a figure skating session, I thought that it looked cool. It automatically took my fancy, even just watching people train.

“I used to be a figure skater for a few years, so after figure skating, ever since I laid my eyes on hockey, it felt like a natural love to me, to be honest.”

Proud mum, Michelle, added: “For her to make the squad as a junior is absolutely incredible, because she’s going to be going up against women that are 21 in the World Championships, so it really is an incredible achievement.”