When
Tim Billingsley first started playing hockey as a youth
with the Cumberland Minor Hockey Association, he had no
idea where the sport would take him, or the opportunities
it would provide him.
After
being drafted by the St. Michael's Majors in 2006, Billingsley
spent five years in the OHL � four with the Majors and one
with the Niagara Ice Dogs.
 |
| Orléans
native Tim Billingsley is a member of Team Great Britain
at the World Hockey Championships taking place in Slovakia
from May 10-26. SCOTT WIGGINS PHOTOGRAPHY |
After
graduating from the OHL in 2011, he played half a season
with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in Texas before moving
back to Ottawa to study at Carleton University while playing
for the Ravens hockey team.
In 2015,
Billingsley signed a professional contract with the Brampton
Beat of the ECHL. He spent two years in Brampton before
opportunity came knocking in the most unlikely of places.
An old teammate from his OHL days invited Billingsley to
join him in England where he was playing for the Nottingham
Panthers. in the British Eliten Hockey League.
When Great
Britain earned a promotion to the first tier of this year's
World Hockey Championships in Slovakia, Billingsley decided
to use his dual citizenship and try out for the national
team. He
attended a mini-camp in January and a final selection camp
last month before being named to the 23-man roster.
"It's
an amazing opportunity and I'm really looking forward to
it,� Billingsley told the Orléans Star during a break in
training camp. "It's not every day you get to play at this
level.�
When Great
Britain takes to the ice to play Germany in their opening
game on Saturday, May 11, it will be their first appearance
in the top flight of the World Hockey Championship in more
than 25 years. They got there by winning the Division 2
championship in 2017 and the Division 1 championship last
year.
Billingsley
is one of only four players on the roster with dual Canadian-British
citizenship, the rest are all homegrown British players.
No one connected with the team is under any illusion they
will win the World Championships or even make it to the
medal round. Their goal is to not finish last in their group
which would mean relegation to Division 1 next year.
In order
to avoid relegation they have to avoid finishing last in
their group which includes Canada, Finland, Slovakia, the
United States, Germany and France. The weakest team of the
bunch, other than Great Britain, is France. The two countries
will face off against each other in the final game of the
round robin on May 20 with a spot in next year's World Championships
on the line.
"That
will be the game with the most on the line,� says Billingsley.
"We just got up to the top level, no one wants to go back
down.�
To follow
the World Hockey Championships online visit www.iihf.com.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
SAVED BY THE BELL 90s DANCE PARTY at St. Peter High School on Charlemagne Blvd. featuring DJ Mace, DJ Kam and DJ Bounce from 7 p.m. to midnight. Must be 19+. ID required at the door. This is a fundraising event hosted by the St. Peter High School Parents Council. For advance tickets visit 
CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with 85 local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds.
90s HITS MUSICAL BINGO 7:30 p.m. at the Orléans Brewing Co. 4380 Innes Rd., next to McDonalds. Hosted by Shine.
OYSTER NIGHT every Wednesday from 6-9 pm at the Orléans Brewing Co. Two types of oysters served with lemon, Tobasco, horseradish, salt and mignonette. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd., next to McDonalds.
ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.
