The tournament features 16 European junior teams in a three-day event scattered throughout nine different arenas. It is known as one of the largest junior hockey tournaments in Europe. Each team is guaranteed seven games with three 15-minute periods.
Harrison is the son of Peterborough Petes assistant coach Patrick O’Connor. The family moved from England to Peterborough four years ago.
“We are incredibly proud of Harrison on his selection to the National Team, it’s the greatest honour to pull on that jersey,” said Patrick. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication he has put in on and off the ice. He continues to develop and grow and the last four years in Peterborough have played a major part in this and he will proudly represent his new hometown.”
“It’s such an honour to play for my country and can’t thank the people who have helped me along the way including my coaches here in Peterborough,” said Harrison. “I would like to say a big thank you to the people who have helped me along the way: Scott Wasson, Jody Albert, Brodie Birkhof, Josh Gilliam, Rob Wilson and a big thank you to my dad Paddy O’Connor for making this possible.”
Harrison is a member of the U16 AA Petes. His family was immersed in the sport back in County Durham, England where Patrick notes it as a ‘big hockey town.’
“The city where I lived in Durham had an ice rink and it was built from coffin wood in the second World War and they used an ice-making plant because there was no refrigeration back then,” explained Patrick in a prior interview. “The Canadian Air Forcemen flew over and they had a base in Country Durham and a lot of really talented players came over.”
The 16-year-old forward was also a member of the Bradford Bulldogs U15 for the 2018-19 season with a goal in ten games played in England.
