TEENAGE ice hockey forward Natz Aldridge made her senior women's Great Britain debut on Sunday night in the World Championship in Miskolc, Hungary.

Last season, the team just missed out on promotion to division two when they took the silver medal - this year they will be gunning for gold.

Their main rivals look to be last year's relegated team Slovenia and promoted Croatia.

Great Britain opened their campaign with a game against Korea and today face Belgium.

Wednesday afternoon will see them up against Croatia, then on Saturday they will play the hosts Hungary, followed a day later by Slovenia.

The 17-year-old from Basingstoke said: "This year's team is fresh and has a few new faces, so I think it looks good.

"It's going to be a tough year, once again, but I think our team has a good shot at the gold medal and everybody is very focused on winning it."

Aldridge added: "This is my first year making the team and I am very excited about it."

Previously, the young forward has played for England juniors and seniors and Great Britain under-18s. She has travelled to Prague, Finland and Switzerland with these teams.

Aldridge has also played for Great Britain inline women's team in Detroit, Spain and Germany.

The former Basingstoke junior player spent last year in Toronto, Canada, at the Hill Academy.

This is an athletic and academic high school that specialises in ice hockey. Aldridge played for Markham Stouffville Stars in the junior AA league, which is the highest league in North America for girls of her age before college level.

10:27am Tuesday 8th April 2008

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