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13th Feb 2017

Wexford’s Lee Chin offers a very honest assessment of his ice hockey skills

One man, alone in a rink

Mikey Stafford

Ask the Limerick full-back line – Lee Chin is an absolute beast of a physical specimen.

Strong as an ox, the Wexford joint-captain has been honing his skills in recent seasons to transform himself from teak tough defender into scoring threat.

He was at the sharp end of the attack Sunday as Davy Fitzgerald got off to a flying start with a come-from-behind victory over Limerick in Division 1B of the National League.

A powerful hurler, accomplished footballer and part-time League of Ireland soccer player – is there anything this man can’t do?

Well yes, he admits he is not a particularly accomplished ice skater. No biggy, says you, so you may be missing out on a diverting winter afternoon at the pop-up rink. Hardly anything to be upset about.

Unfortunately for Chin, he has signed up for the latest edition of #TheToughest Trade, which will see the Faythe Harriers clubman swap his sliotar for a puck as he tries his hand at ice hockey with the Vancouver Canucks.

Speaking to Colm Parkinson on the GAA Hour Hurling Show, Chin filled SportsJOE’s GAA editor in on his preparations for the show. He has been practicing. It has not been going well.

“Very, very average,” was how the 24-year-old described the skating skills he was honing at Wexford’s Winter Wonderland over the, er, winter.

“I have done a small bit over Christmas when the Winter Wonderland was there. Just on my own in the rink, any morning I wanted. So that’s the only bit of training I have done so far.”

Chin said ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ coach Fitzgerald was happy for Chin to take part in the show as long as he did not miss any league matches, which is in stark contrast to Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly’s attitude to the show when they were in charge of Aidan O’Shea and the Mayo footballers.

He also discusses life under Davy and the long road back for Wexford from 2014 disappointment in a wide-ranging interview.

Listen to Lee Chin’s full interview below, or subscribe on iTunes.

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