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.)
THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Taproom Trivia from 6:30 p.m. at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. To register your team visit 
THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY OPEN MIC NIGHT from 7-10 p.m. Come see some great amateur talent, every Thursday as our stage hosts the best local musicians. Musicians, register at info@straydogbrewing.ca or just show up. NO COVER. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way.
TRIVIA NIGHT AT TAPROOM 260 hosted by Outside the Box Trivia from 8-11 p.m.. Bring your A-game, your dream team, and maybe a lucky charm or two. Starts at 8PM, let’s see who’s the real quiz whiz! Taproom 260 is located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
