Hockey Blues

The Blues Ice Hockey team, with Keble students Will Paine front row third from left, Shaan Baig back row second from right and Youri Tamitegama back row fifth from right.

In January, the Oxford University Men’s Blues travelled to Zuoz in Switzerland to play in an outdoor tournament hosted by the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, winning every game and beating Cambridge 4-0 in the final. The team also won the BUIHA Checking Division 1 South this year, including wins over Cambridge, London, UCL and Imperial. The following details the triumphs of the Keble members of the team, and their paths to success.

Shaan Baig (2022 MSc Clinical Neurosciences)

“Growing up in Montreal, Canada, known as the Mecca of ice hockey, my dad registered me for the local team. He himself playing all of his life, I quickly enjoyed learning the game from him as coach. I played competitive youth hockey on the south shore of Montreal. I ended up playing on my varsity high school and college ice hockey and lacrosse team. I spent the last four years playing Junior A hockey in Montreal. Playing for OUIHC has been an experience of a lifetime being able to travel across Europe, play with some inspiring individuals and have a home away from home with a Canadian-dominant team.”

The Blues travelled to Switzerland to play in an outdoor tournament hosted by the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz

Youri Tamitegama (2021 DPhil Mathematics)

“I first started playing ice hockey at the age of six when I moved to Canada with my family. Over the next decade, I played with various competitive teams in Montreal, notably in the Hockey Québec U15 tournament in Brossard and with the Lac St-Louis Tigres in Midget Espoir. After a seven-year hiatus, I am proud to be back on the ice to represent the University of Oxford.”

Will Paine (2022 DPhil Biology)

“I started playing roller hockey about 12 years ago in my hometown, Tunbridge Wells. I switched to ice hockey after a few years and played youth and senior hockey for Invicta in Gillingham. During my undergraduate degree, I was club captain of the Sheffield University Ice Hockey team and during my MSc I played for The University of London Dragons and the Lee Valley Lions. Playing for OUIHC has been a privilege, with the trip to Switzerland being a definite highlight!”