Breaking the ice

"IT was like love at first glide, a thrilling moment that I can never forget," recalled Bryan Lim of the first time he went onto the ice.
Lim was out watching a movie with his family, which ended just in time for him to come across a latenight ice hockey tryout at Sunway Pyramid Ice. Being an active child, his parents encouraged him to give it a try, not expecting the chance encounter to spark his serious interest in the game. Seven years later, now at the eligible age of 16, Lim is the youngest player in the Malaysian ice hockey team.
"From that day forth, I've been actively involved in all the leagues and scrimmage sessions with the rest of the boys. Not only did I begin to understand and love the game of hockey, I also enjoyed the teamwork and friendships that we formed," Lim said with a gleam in his eyes.
He built his way up from there, playing and contributing to the Malaysia Ice Hockey Federation (MIHF) by volunteering as a junior coach to the younger kids, and taking on various roles in other ice hockey-related events. Most of his peers eventually dropped out of ice hockey as they grew older, but not Lim. His hard work and dedication paid off when he was selected to play on the national ice hockey team this year as its forward. He played his first ever international tournament in Kuwait last April.
Your track record is pretty remarkable for your age. What other countries have you played in?
I have travelled to play in Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand but those were only at club level. I would say that Kuwait was my first official participation as part of the national team.
How do you juggle between your studies and ice hockey?
My main priority is of course my education. I will usually finish my school work and studies during the day, and by night, I give all my concentration to ice hockey practice.
That sounds really tiring. Do you usually feel burned out by the next day?
It sounds tiring but it's perfectly balanced for me. I usually look forward to each practice because when I am on the ice, the sense of freedom I feel is a great stress reliever. That gives me the motivation to complete all my school work as soon as I can, so that I can enjoy my time on the ice.
What are your plans after completing your secondary education?
I want to enrol into a course overseas, which would allow me to pursue my ambition. I wish to play in one of the top pro-leagues in North America. However, my ultimate dream would be to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Are your parents supportive of this decision?
Yes they are! In fact, they are helping me to look for the best institution overseas that could help me pursue my ambition. My mum's only condition is that I have to put my education first and ensure that I get good grades. That, I think I can live with for the sake of ice hockey.
What do you think about the future of ice hockey in Malaysia?
It certainly is developing and I believe that in time, Malaysia would be up to par with winter countries such as Canada and Sweden. Great things take time, and I look forward to that day.