A DELIGHTED student became the only person from Renfrewshire to be picked for a top international ice hockey tournament a decade ago.

Teenager Chris Wilson was heading to China as part of the Great Britain Universities ice hockey team to compete against the best players from around the globe.

He was set to compete at the World University Games, which kicked off in the Chinese city of Harbin in February 2009.

Chris, from Johnstone, who started skating at the age of four, said at the time:

“I am over the moon.

“I have been training for a year and it is great for all my hard work to be recognised.”

The previous year, the third year Glasgow University statistics student suffered a broken jaw when he was hit by a puck travelling at an estimated speed of 100 miles per hour.

But the former St Cuthbert’s High School pupil bounced back to full fitness and was able to realise his life-long dream of competing for his country.

He reckoned that, without the support of his family, he wouldn’t have succeeded.

Chris, 19, who played for the Paisley Pirates, added: “All my life I have been dreaming about this.

“Without doubt this is the highlight of my career so far.

“My parents must have spent tens of thousands of pounds on supporting me down the years.”

GB Universities ice hockey team manager Simon Hopkins said: “This event is renowned globally for being second only to the Winter Olympic Games.”

He added: “Chris is a very talented player.”