By SEAN CUNNINGHAM

FORMER Narrandera man Scott O’Brien is about to swap the dusty paddocks of Australia for the freezing cold ice hockey rinks of the United States.

O’Brien is heading to USA after being selected in the Australian ice hockey team, the Aussie Heat.

He will lace up his skates and don the green and gold jersey for the national team in the World Police and Fire Games, in Birmingham, Alabama, from 27 June to 6 July, in the second-largest multi-sporting event in the world after the Summer Olympics.

A former student of St Joseph’s Primary School Narrandera and St Francis De Sales College in Leeton, O’Brien’s path to ice hockey stardom is anything but traditional.

His unusual journey from the searing summer heat of Narrandera to frozen ice rinks started with a TV remote.

Moving from Narrandera to the Central Coast in 2003, O’Brien said his interest in ice hockey was sparked by a combination of watching the NHL on television and the Mighty Ducks trilogy.

O’Brien said when he first started the sport, his friends’ and family’s reaction was “What? Australia has ice hockey that’s awesome, ice hockey is insane.”

Although he didn’t take up the fast-paced sport until 2020, the upcoming tournament is not his first foray representing Australia.

“I was previously selected to represent Australia in Canada, in 2023,” O’Brien said.

“International selection is made from being scouted while playing for the Aussie Heat’s domestic team in various tournaments across the country.

“We will compete against teams from all around the world including USA, Canada and Iceland just to mention a few.

“I’m looking forward to exploring the USA and its culture, as well as those from other countries who are attending the games.

“It is a true honour and privilege to be representing Australia, playing the sport that I love in one of ice hockey’s biggest countries.

“I do consider myself extremely lucky and it’s a dream achieved to be flying the Australian flag.”

The 36-year-old, who played basketball for the Narrandera Knights and his school teams in various competitions, including the NSW Championships, plays ice hockey for the Sonics in the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) and the Newcastle Northstars in the Ice Hockey New South Wales (IHNSW) League.

While age might be a factor for some, O’Brien refuses to let it hold him back and is hopeful of catching the eye of some National Hockey League teams.

“Being 36, one might be considered beyond prime age for selection, but never say never,” he said.

When he’s not on the ice, O’Brien is staying connected to his roots, frequently visiting family and friends in Narrandera and surrounds.

“Family and friends have been nothing but supportive and extremely interested in my hockey career,” he said.

“With my family and childhood friends living in Narrandera and surrounds, I try to visit when can.”

A New York Rangers fan, O’Brien, through ice hockey, has forged lasting friendships.

“I have met some truly amazing people who have become lifelong friends through ice hockey and I can’t wait to see what further opportunities this great game brings,” he said.

“It’s never knowing what’s actually possible in life, considering the last person you’d expect to be playing ice hockey overseas is someone from Australia who grew up in the bush.”

Flying the flag for Australia, O’Brien’s journey from the Riverina to ice rinks on the world stage is proof for aspiring sportspersons from the bush that no dream is too weird if you chase it hard enough.