STUART Mogg and Ivan Antonov of the Basingstoke Bison flew out to Almaty, Kazakhstan this week with the Great Britain team, to take part in the 28th Winter Universiade.

It will be a great experience for the Herd players, as they are set face games against the sports super powers of Canada and the USA, along with Slovakia in their three group games.

Forward Antonov is in his second year at Royal Holloway University of London, while defenceman Mogg was part of the GBR team in 2015 and this is his alumni year, after he graduated from Southampton Solent University.

He is looking forward to playing the likes of Canada and America, captain Mogg said: “All the games are going to tough, but it will be a great experience. Canada have a couple of players who have been drafted.”

Two other former Bison players Elliott Dewey and Alex Sampford are also in the British team.

Their first game is on Saturday (6.30pm GMT) against Slovakia, then on Wednesday they face Canada (10pm) before the USA (6.30pm) the following day. After this there are play-offs to determine the teams final position in the event.

The British team in total is made up of 96 athletes covering ice hockey. as well as aerials, alpine, curling, figure skating, long track speed skating, moguls, ski-cross, slopes type and snowboarding. There are more than 55 countries taking part in the event with over 2,000 athletes.

Mogg said: “The whole event is really great, as it is not just an ice hockey tournament, it is more like the Olympics with an athletes village.”

“It gives you a chance to meet other athletes and also there is the chance to watch other sports, which I am really looking forward to.”