A DETERMINED Inverclyde teenager kept her cool to play for her country's ice hockey team.

Talented Port High pupil Megan Craig underwent months of trials to land a place as goalie in the English under-16 international side.

The 15-year-old started figure skating five years ago and it led her to playing the sport.

He said: "I'm now a goalie which is fun."

Her dad Grant believes Megan could go to the top.

He said: "Megan has no idea how good she is.

"What she has achieved is phenomenal."

Megan, who lives in Kilmacolm with her dad, mum Fiona and twin brother Fraser, trains with the Kilmarnock Avalanche as well as the Scottish National League side but she jumped at the chance to try out for England.

Her dad said: "About two years ago Scottish Ice Hockey and Ice Hockey UK decided that Scottish girls could qualify to play for England.

"Megan plays for Scotland but there's no competition up here as there's no girls league, so she's got to play with the boys whereas in England, there's quite a big league set up there."

Megan underwent a very intense selection process which started last August.

Grant said: "We were down in Cardiff for a two day camp and since then we have been up and down to Sheffield."

As well as training on the ice, Megan also has to complete conditioning sessions.

She said: "I do strength and conditioning three times a week and I have to submit the results.

"I have to hold a plank for three minutes, do a wall sit for three minutes and also have to see how many push ups I can do in one minute."

Grant says Megan has no fear blocking shots on the ice despite the fact that hockey pucks can travel at up to 70 miles per hour.

Megan added: "At first it was scary but you get used to it.

"You can feel the puck hit you but it doesn't hurt because of the padding - if it misses the padding then it really hurts."

Megan, who is currently in S4 at school, is now looking forward to the exciting opportunities which lie ahead and is due to get her first England cap against Finland soon.

She said: "I would like to make the GB team and the Youth Olympics."

Grant added: "Because Megan is now in the under-16 team she will automatically trial for GB in August."