Ice hockey: Maya Low signs for Whitley Bay Beacons

Maya Low will line up for Whitley Bay Beacons in the WNIHL Elite League after signing her first senior contract.

Impressively, 17-year-old Maya only took up the sport two years ago – and immediately had the Covid-19 pandemic to contend with.

She said: “I was 14 when I did my first learn-to-play session at Murrayfield Ice Rink.

“This was in February 2020, just before lockdown.

“I lived on my rollerblades on my driveway during lockdown as hockey is all I wanted to do.

“In May 2021, I was back on the ice doing learn-to-play in Lanarkshire as there was no sign of Murrayfield opening after the lockdown.

“In October 2021, I started training with Murrayfield Junior Ice Hockey Club, albeit in Kirkcaldy as Murrayfield was still closed.

Maya Low is enjoying success on the ice

“It was mostly boys I was training with as it became apparent not many girls play ice hockey in Scotland.

“I played my first game for the club in November 2021 and I haven’t looked back since.

“Murrayfield eventually reopened in October 2022, where I continued to play for the junior team in the 22/23 season.

“For the 23/24 season, I will be playing with Murrayfield Junior U19s and the Whitley Bay Beacons Elite team.”

Maya, who lives in Haddington, has family and friends living in Canada – where ice hockey is one of the country’s national sports.

After seeing photographs and watching the Edinburgh Capitals play, she decided that “all I wanted to do was play ice hockey”.

Now, she will combine playing with the two clubs alongside a part-time job and her final year at Knox Academy.

She said: “I train all over the country, Murrayfield, Kirkcaldy, Coatbridge and Whitley Bay, as ice rinks, ice time and training opportunities are few and far between.

“This requires lots of travel and time, including training sessions as late as 11pm at night and finishing at 12am in the morning.

“Three to four times a week on the ice.

“However, I do off-ice training during the week as well, in between school, and a part-time job.

“I recently got a part-time job to help fund my hockey and start to pay my own way – which I am determined to do.

“As well as working, I am actively looking for sponsors to help with the costs.”

Maya Low

Open trials were held during the summer, with those impressing offered the chance to join up with Whitley Bay Beacons, near Newcastle.

Maya did enough to impress those behind the scenes and she was offered a deal.

The forward, who dreams of playing for Great Britain in the World Championships, was determined to keep progressing.

She told Courier Sport: “I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity and determined to make the most of it.

“However, if it wasn’t for my mum and dad, none of this would be possible, so I’d like to say a big thanks to them for the endless miles they go for me.”