The Sin Bin Ice Stars

Stay on your feet,

nice and fast across the ice,

and perform the programme.

Keep on the edge. No!

Back, back, back!

Making it as a champion skater doesn't come easy.

It takes years of practice...

Keep going, keep going!

..hard work...

One more, then I'll be a very happy coach.

..and dedication.

A few left, let's go, let's go!

Keep it moving!

But even then, only a few will become tomorrow's...

..Ice Stars.

This is the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

It's where future ice stars work hard to get to the top.

With two rinks,

it was built to honour Torvill and Dean,

the city's famous Olympic gold medal winners.

And there are plenty of others who want to follow in their footsteps.

Coming up:

The under-16s ice hockey team take on their fiercest rivals...

You've got 15 minutes, yeah?

That's one of the worst defeats that you guys'll have in your career.

..figure skater Kaira is in for a big surprise...

Keep your body straight.

..and ice dance duo Josh and Ellie put their partnership to the test.

No!

Joshua!

Good luck, chuck.

Go on, then.

Eight-year-old Kaira is part of the beginners synchro squad,

and she's been moving up fast through the skating award levels.

Forward run.

Forward chasse.

Forward run.

Outside to outside.

And then go again.

I would like to be a professional skater.

I like ice skating a lot.

But she's not the only one in her family who's into the ice.

Her brother Jack loves ice hockey,

and her sister Ashlei has just started to skate, too.

But recently, life off the ice for their family has been hard.

Last autumn, when the girls were on holiday with their mum Gillian,

she tragically had a brain haemorrhage

and later she passed away.

We've got all these pictures,

like here, here,

of our mum.

And this picture here,

Dad calls it a kissing picture,

and we kiss it every night.

Obviously, for us, the kids

were devastated by what happened to her.

She went 40 years too early.

This is my special teddy bear,

cos when my mum was in hospital,

erm, she went to the shop and she bought us these teddies.

They're really special because it was her last present she gave us.

And it's really, really special to me,

because mine's the last birthday in the actual family,

and she wasn't here, so it's really special.

So it's like a present to her.

Gill used to go skating with all the kids - Jack, Ashlei and Kaira.

She was the one that sort of enjoyed going on the ice,

and I don't want that legacy to stop.

I want them to carry on doing everything.

Kaira has just started learning the skills

to get her skating gold award.

I find it quite hard.

The better at skating you get, the higher awards you earn,

and Kaira's already earned her bronze and silver.

You get six weeks to practise,

and then you get tested.

And then if you don't pass it,

you get another few turns.

And then if you pass it then,

you can go on to the next level.

To get her gold, she'll need to show she can jump,

spin and turn,

all in a short routine.

You know, for Kaira to actually get through, you know,

up to a gold level,

her mum would be absolutely over the moon.

I've worked really hard to try and get my gold,

and I really hope I get it.

And if I got it, my dad will be really proud.

Ice dance couple Josh and Ellie

want to copy their idols Torvill and Dean,

by winning an Olympic gold medal one day.

I first started skating

when I was five and a half.

You just feel free,

and you feel like nothing's stopping you.

I started skating when I was about eight.

I know that if I train really hard,

that I'll be able to go to different countries,

and hopefully the Olympics.

We're aiming for 2022 Olympics.

We're working towards that now.

To help turn their Olympic dream into reality,

Ellie no longer lives full-time with her mum and dad.

Where shall I put these?

In this fridge.

-In the fridge?

-Mm-hm.

'I stay with my nan, because it's too far from Derby'

to go from Nottingham

at five, six o'clock starts.

That's why I camp at my nan's house.

I miss my mum and dad,

but I think you just have to get on with it, really,

and just push for it, cos one day you're going to have a success.

Ellie will be able to put her commitment to the test soon.

She and Josh will be heading to an ice dance competition

in Bracknell in the south of England.

It's a big deal for them,

as they'll be competing in the advance novice category

for the first time.

In our new routine,

we've got quite a lot of different moves

that we've not tried before.

Hopefully I won't drop Ellie in the lifts either.

But there'll be one thing missing from the competition in Bracknell -

their long term coach Sophie.

It's the first time...

..within the last four years

that they'll be taking part in a competition

and I'm not there with them.

Erm, so I'm a little bit worried about how things could go.

But they won't be alone.

Woody is taking them to the competition.

I completely trust that they are in safe hands.

I'm going to work on your elements, but we're also going to work on

all your little parts that link them in between as well.

Coach Sophie has asked Woody to look out for the one thing

Jellie definitely need extra help with.

They're struggling a little bit with their lifts at the minute,

partly due to Josh's strength,

and also they have the added difficulty that

they are similar in height,

which does make lifting a lot harder.

With all the focus on their lifts,

they've taken their eye off the ball with the rest of the routine.

So I know it all went a little bit wrong,

but I'm not too worried.

The main thing I wanted to see was the lifts and we got those out.

There are only a few practice sessions left.

Time's running out for the dancing duo to perfect

the routine in time for the Bracknell competition.

TANNOY ANNOUNCER ECHOES

Professional ice hockey is a high energy,

high speed,

full contact sport.

CROWD GASPS

And the Nottingham pro team sell out to crowds of 7,500 fans.

Ice hockey is the best thing in the world

and I love it.

And if you're into your hockey in Nottingham,

they're the team you dream of playing for.

When I'm older, I really want to play for the Nottingham pro team.

But all the top pros have to start somewhere.

You start off as a Squirt.

Next up, you're a Tiger.

And when you're old enough, you become a Cougar.

They're the under-16s team,

and kept in line by coach Paul.

Get yourself to the net!

One of the goal scorers for the Cougars, Rais,

also plays for the Midlands and England under-16s team.

Nothing to me is as good as hockey, so...

Obviously, I started to learn to skate here at the rink.

I just loved it ever since.

Yes, Morgi!

Keep going, keep going.

I probably train twice a week,

off-ice training, probably three,

four times a week as well.

'I'm quite a tall guy - I mean, I'm six foot four.'

And I've got quite big feet -

I mean, I'm size 13.

Backing up Rais is team-mate and Cougars defender Liam.

Got into ice hockey when I was about seven,

seven or eight.

I like getting the adrenaline pumping.

I love the fact that it's fast.

I guess you could say the hitting side of it, you know,

the bodying each other and stuff.

Some guys have said, "Oh, I think you need to calm down a bit,"

but I'm like, "No, no, no," cos that keeps me going.

For these lads, the next stop is Team GB.

I just want to get to as high as I can.

I mean, if I can get to a big league, get paid for it,

awesome.

And if they have got what it takes, they turn pro.

I mean that would be a dream of mine,

just to play professional hockey and have that as my job.

And that would be...I think that'd be really cool.

With international professionals earning up to £10 million a year,

it's no wonder these guys work hard.

It's 9pm, and when most of their mates are chilling out at home,

Rais and Liam are just starting training.

Step him up, step him up!

I think people forget sometimes that these young guys,

and they are only young, they've got school tomorrow,

and that's the dedication and the preparation

that will hopefully help them in the future.

My friends are always telling me that, "Oh, why do you play

"so much ice hockey, why don't you come out and see us?"

When, honestly, I don't have that much time at all,

and they don't get it.

I mean I've been asked to go to a few parties,

which I have gone and said yes to,

and then realised I've had training

and I've gone, "Sorry, but I can't come," and they'll be like,

"Oh, come, come, please, please,"

but, nah, sorry, hockey's more important at this stage in my life.

And the Cougars' next match is a massive one against local team

the Sutton Sting.

Right, boys. Just pay attention, guys.

If we're going to shoot, let's shoot to score, boys.

Let's go, guys.

If they win the match,

they could make the league play-offs.

Sutton, they're going to be no pushover.

It's all about mental focus, preparation, being confident,

but not arrogant and that's the key.

Recently, Kaira has been working hard towards

getting her gold award in skating.

So, Kaira, how are you getting on with your

gold dance sessions at ice skating?

It's a bit difficult.

Is that that nine part move that you've got to do?

Yeah.

I can do it, but it's just... I just need practice.

Yeah? That's fine.

Since their mum Gillian passed away in the autumn,

non-skater dad Tony has decided to get involved more.

I've set myself the challenge now that I've got to go

and learn how to skate.

Not I might have to, I've got to go and do it.

Kaira has no idea that whilst she's at school,

her dad's been sneaking off for secret skating lessons.

Hi, can I have one public skate, please?

It's to actually prove to the kids that

even though we have lost their mum,

that we can still carry on doing things,

and that we can venture into doing new things together as a family,

and we can all go out skating.

I just want to be able to do it to actually surprise the kids.

And, hopefully, they'll be happy about it.

That's it, as soon as you start to glide, pick the other foot up.

-That's better.

-They have not got a clue.

They haven't. They just think I've got no chance of doing it,

I've not got the guts to go on the ice.

I actually hide me skates in the car.

So I've got a nice little sort of hiding cubbyhole

under the parcel shelf in the boot.

Kaira will be taking her gold award soon,

and if she passes,

Tony wants to surprise her by skating out

on to the ice with her certificate.

OK, bend.

Keep your body straight.

That's it, don't swim,

and then bring them in, that's it.

There you go, now your feet are better now, they're coming together.

Get your shoulders straight...

With Kaira's gold award test getting close now,

Tony has his work cut out to be ready in time.

The Cougars have a season defining game coming up

with local rivals Sutton.

If they win it, they could make the league play-offs.

And for the Cougars' defensive rock, Liam,

it's all that's on his mind.

Sleep all right?

Yeah, not bad, you?

Ready for the game, kit packed?

Yeah.

I imagine it will be quite feisty in parts?

You've just got to keep some discipline,

you know, it's tough when you're your age.

I love skating fast and running into someone, you know,

taking them out - I love that, because it gets the team

going a bit.

You'd do anything for your team and people might

despise some of the things you do, but if it gets my team, you know,

pumped up and it makes their game better,

then I guess I'll do that.

While Liam's preparing himself mentally,

Rais is preparing himself physically.

His dad is a personal trainer

and regularly works out with Rais to keep him in top condition.

We're going for just a general jog,

just to keep his fitness up.

His off-ice training is really important for his speed,

stamina, endurance.

We do this, I think, two or three times a week.

I do it to get my stamina up,

and try get my fitness level up,

so I can be faster on the ice,

more agile and things like that.

For example, with the game,

if he's tired and he's got that extra burst,

that could make the difference between winning and losing.

We don't want to lose to Sutton.

Nice, well done, Rais.

We used to batter them in under-10s,

but now games are getting very close,

so they know exactly what plays we like to do,

or how we play.

So they know how to stop us.

Well done, that's it, nice.

That's it, that's it.

I know it's going to be a hard game.

Hold it. Pace yourself.

It's really hard. I mean, my dad's pushing me really hard,

but it's just what I need to do to get better.

I mean, I'm more than willing to do it.

Go for it! Go for it! Go for it! Go for it! Go for it!

With Liam and Rais doing all they can to win the Sutton game,

they meet team-mate Joe at the cafe to talk tactics.

Sutton ain't going to be easy.

They've got a few big guys.

I think we need to keep concentrated,

cos you know what they're like, they can slip

a couple of goals in and they can make upsets,

and sometimes it gets a bit rough.

But we need to stand up for our team-mates and stay strong.

We've just got to keep our heads on and stay disciplined.

It's just the penalties, bans that mess us up a bit.

Don't go and do anything stupid, cos at the end of the day,

we need to be winning all these games,

not, you know, losing them through penalties and suspensions and stuff.

The boys plan to play hard and stay cool,

which isn't always as easy as it sounds.

Before coach Sophie leaves,

she's arranged one last off-ice session

to give Jellie the best chance

of winning their competition in Bracknell.

Josh needs to be doing these harder lifts this year.

He really needs to improve his upper body strength,

so we've come along to a gym today to get some advice.

How are you doing?

-Hi, I'm Sophie.

-You all right?

-This is Ellie and Josh.

-Ellie, Josh, you all right?

-Hi.

-Yes, thanks.

I need to be stronger than I am now

so that I can do the harder lifts with Ellie,

so that we can get good marks when we go to competition.

-So, they're an ice dance couple.

-Right.

At the minute, we're working on some new, harder lifts.

I just wondered if we could show you those and get a bit of advice?

I'll have a look and we'll put a programme together, shall we?

All right, Josh, Ellie, do you want to jump in the ring

and show us the lift?

Right, guys, after watching you do them lifts,

I know where I want to go with you now.

We're going to look at doing strength and conditioning for you, Josh.

BOTH: Yeah.

I don't want to be too muscly.

I need to be strong,

but I don't want to make the muscles look big.

So it's time for Josh to step out of his comfort zone.

Really hard, very demanding work.

It's quite heavy on your shoulders, which you use a lot

with your ice skating, don't you?

And again.

When he channels his energy into something, he does give 100%.

He's not a particularly strong kid, at the minute,

which is what I intend to change.

We'll make him strong.

A few sessions at this and he'll be a different kid. I know he will.

Well done.

His overall strength and conditioning will improve

as a result of doing these classes,

and all of that combined will help them with their lifts.

It's all to get better for my ice skating,

so hopefully it'll work.

The day of the big ice hockey game has finally arrived.

Nottingham Cougars vs Sutton Sting.

And if the Cougars win today,

they could make the league play-offs.

All the boys have got to do is work hard, play the roles they've got,

listen to the coaches, support their team-mates

and put the puck in the back of the net.

It's only minutes away from the opening face off,

and they're feeling the pressure.

A little bit nervous, but I'm just going to do what I can

to help the team and that's, you know, I'll do whatever I can.

I like playing teams like Sutton cos they make you work harder.

You can't just easily score a goal, they'll work you down to the ground.

You've got the wills and you've got the skill.

OK? Be smart.

If you're not prepared to give me energy,

I'll find somebody else that will give it me.

When you look in this room now, it's competition time,

not just out there, but inside this room.

Who wants a spot, who wants to work hardest -

whoever works hardest gets ice.

It's warm in here now, boys, OK?

Yeah? Let's get last preparations. Let's go, boys!

With the Cougars fully pumped up,

Liam, in shirt 20,

and Rais, in shirt 18,

take to the ice.

It's game on!

Straight from the off, boys.

PAUL SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS

It's a promising start for the Cougars.

OK, boys, off you go, let's go.

Go, Morgan!

Liam is known as someone who watches the backs of his team-mates,

but during a scuffle on the back wall,

he's sent off to the sin bin.

I got a sin bin.

It's not good. I'm not happy at all, but I can't do anything about it,

so just got to get on with it, get back out there and try and score.

Despite being one man down,

the Cougars break away and score.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

1-0 to the Cougars.

And now Liam has been allowed back on the ice,

they push for more goals.

With tensions rising all around,

Liam is desperate for a team win.

Oh, no.

It's another foul...

..and coach Paul isn't happy.

Boys, this is one thing I did not want, was penalties.

That's the one thing I did not want.

Declan! Dean!

We're not first to the puck! We're last!

Unacceptable!

With Liam off for the second time,

Sutton take their chances.

One all.

Sutton have just scored, so it's 1-1.

So we need to get a goal right now.

First to the puck -

we've got to be first to this puck, boys, yeah?

-CHEERING

-But straight away,

Sutton score again,

taking the lead 2-1.

And with a break in play,

things aren't looking good for the Cougars.

There's too many of you on this team who think you're better

than what you are. All right? You try and do too much fancy stuff.

We're not playing football here, boys, we're playing ice hockey.

Your fancy Dan stuff don't wear with me, I'll tell you here and now.

You've got 15 minutes, yeah,

for one of the worst defeats that you guys'll have in your career.

I tell you now, and they will not let you forget about it, ever!

A skater's life isn't always about hard work.

Jellie are having the day off

with their skating friends Tom and Claire.

We've decided to go for girls vs boys.

It's me next.

I think you make better friends

at skating than you do anywhere else,

because you're always with them all the time.

I think they're like your best friends in some ways.

We go out with Tom and Claire as well,

just so that we have time to go out with other people,

because we don't have that much time to do that,

so it's good fun when we do.

When Josh and I do any sport,

erm, we're always competitive.

Josh cheats, so he's probably going to win.

No! Josh!

SHE LAUGHS

I'm taking the next one.

No!

Joshua!

I'm going to go through your legs! Get off!

I think Ellie likes to win.

If she loses, she won't say that she's mad, but she will be.

For Josh and Ellie, it's all about the winning.

That's an example of how competitive we get.

If they have that attitude in Bracknell,

they might just do it.

Josh, go away! No!

But that's if they don't get too distracted!

Josh says to me that he doesn't fancy Claire,

but I think he does.

No, I'm just friends with Claire,

but I think Ellie fancies Tom.

Go away!

Tom won, which means the boys won, because he won overall.

-No, we're adding the scores together!

-No, we're not.

-Yes, we are.

-No, we're not.

THEY BICKER

I think we've won.

Yeah, you've won.

-198.

-We won by six points!

Claire and I won, and Josh and Tom lost.

They're saying they won, but they didn't.

I had a really good day with everyone today.

It was really fun.

Not everyone is winning though -

the Cougars are trailing 2-1 to Sutton in their season defining

ice hockey game, and their dreams of making the league play-offs

seem to be fading.

Coach Paul has done his best to motivate the boys.

I tell you what, let's get out there, let's go!

Let's take this game to them, boys! Let's go!

So with 15 minutes left,

they must up their game.

It looks like the coach's words are doing the trick.

Drive him! Drive him! Drive him! Let him freeze, let him freeze.

Good job.

But just as the team are starting to flow,

there's another scuffle on the back wall.

Liam's in trouble again,

and this time it's serious.

The ref sends him off the ice.

Just been kicked out of the game,

so I'm back in the changing room now.

Basically, they had four of their guys on one of ours,

so I went in to help my team-mates out.

The ref pulled me back and took me to the box,

and he was digging into my ribs,

so I like shook him off.

And then the ref kicked me out of the game.

It's not the ref's fault, it is partly mine as well.

It's not looking good.

We've got seven minutes 45 left,

and we're a goal down, so we need to try and get better,

so I'm going to have to go in defence now cos Liam's out of the game.

With Rais in defence and time running out,

the Cougars up their game and score.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Two all.

You'll never guess what? I believe you can still win this game.

Let's go!

With just two minutes to go, and some final words from coach Paul,

they push for the win.

And they score.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Three goals to two.

Even with a man down, the Cougars have managed to steal the win,

and are still in with the chance to make the play-offs.

We scored 3-2 at the end in the last couple of minutes.

We got there, we won, and we came up with the goods.

You pulled it out of the bag.

You showed the character that it takes to win games.

Good job, boys. Get yourselves changed, boys. Let's go.

The team are celebrating their success,

but Liam's dad isn't so impressed.

-All right?

-All right? Yeah, so what happened here then?

-A bit disappointing, supposed to curb your temper.

-Yeah, I guess so.

-Keep the boxing in the ring.

-Yeah.

I was disappointed in myself.

Sometimes my blood gets pumping a bit too much

and I get a bit too carried away with it.

It's just passion, I think. You know, I've got a lot of it.

Next time on Ice Stars:

Things don't go to plan when Josh goes to Luxemburg...

I cut my finger.

I think I just sliced it with my blade.

..Kaira finds out that her dad has been keeping

a life-changing secret...

Kaira, what's your dad doing on the ice?

Huh?

..and brothers Rais and Aren forget all family ties

when they go head-to-head on the ice.

I just want to beat my brother,

because I want to be better than him.