Foundation Focus Winter Round-up: November 2025–February 2026
The winter period has marked an important phase of progress for the UK Ice Hockey Foundation as we continue strengthening national leadership, expanding development capacity and building a connected system for long-term growth across British ice hockey.
People
Over recent months, the Foundation reinforced its national structure through a series of key appointments. Ferhat Tozunler joined as National Manager of Growth & Development, working closely with Ice Hockey UK and clubs across England Ice Hockey and Scottish Ice Hockey to support participation and membership growth through a strategic, data and community-driven approach.
Alongside him, Euan King was appointed National Manager of Goaltending Development and Co-National Manager of Hockey Development, bringing extensive elite and international experience to lead the design and delivery of a structured national goaltending programme while also co-leading wider player and coach development initiatives.
The Foundation also strengthened its regional delivery through the appointments of Colin Grubb as Regional Goaltending Development Coach (Scotland & Northern Ireland) and Davey Lawrence as Regional Goaltending Development Coach (England North & Midlands) – both delivering club visits across their regions while helping structure a consistent national goaltending pathway aligned with long-term athlete development principles.
In parallel, Chrissy Newman was appointed Regional Manager, Membership Growth & Development, working alongside Ferhat Tozunler to support clubs and partners in strengthening participation, volunteer engagement and sustainable membership growth across the Home Nations.
Development
Head of Hockey Development, Kevin McLaughlin, has been leading the Foundation’s national development strategy, shaping a connected framework that aligns participation growth with technical development priorities across the pathway. As part of this work, Foundation staff recently delivered structured club visits and goaltending development sessions in Lanarkshire and Aberdeen during a site visit to Scotland, supporting the rollout of a consistent national approach.
Across the country, the Foundation’s goaltending development staff continue delivering club visits in all regions, working directly with coaches and players to strengthen standards nationwide.
Clubs
Collaboration with clubs has remained central throughout the winter period. Ferhat Tozunler and Chrissy Newman began regional engagement in Scotland through an introduction and collaboration meeting with clubs, with club visits now beginning to roll out across regions alongside an ongoing national consultation process focused on Membership Growth & Development priorities and long-term sustainability for clubs.
Work is also ongoing to support clubs through guidance on funding opportunities and the development of a coordinated national introductory model alongside NHL Street Hockey and Elite League partners.
Try Hockey
At grassroots level, the NHL Street Hockey pilot launched successfully in Glasgow in partnership with Glasgow Clan Academy (Clan Academy, part of the Glasgow Clan Ice Futures Charity), combining school engagement with after-school delivery as part of efforts to test scalable entry points into the sport.
This activity will lead into developing a fully aligned national development pathway, from ‘try hockey’ entry programmes (such as NHL Street Hockey). through learn-to-skate and learn-to-play stages, into club hockey and ultimately performance-level player and goaltending development.
The Foundation looks forward to building on this momentum as we move into spring delivery across the UK.