JOSH Batch is currently enjoying the most successful spell of ice hockey career.

The 25-year-old won the Challenge Cup with the Cardiff Devils before also being called up in to the senior Great Britain squad.

But his dad Kevan has now revealed none of this would have been possible had his son not watched the popular Disney films – Mighty Ducks – during his youth.

“Josh must've been about seven when he first watched the film and he just loved it straight away,” said Kevan, who lives in Wickford.

“He kept on and on about wanting to play for the Ducks and getting into ice hockey so in the end I had to look into how to get into the sport and how to learn to skate as well.

“We ended up going over to Chelmsford and I ended up falling over countless times while with him before I eventually decided to get him some lessons.

“From there he joined Chelmsford's Chieftains' under 10 team when he was eight and that's when he first started to play.”

Josh immediately began to shine in that side coached by Martin Parfit, Russell Brummitt and Dave Capps and soon also earned international honours.

He represented England at under 13, 15 and 17 age groups before heading Stateside on a scholarship.

Josh spent four years playing in Colorado, California and Boston before picking up an illness at a pivotal time of his career.

“Josh went down with glandular fever and ended up losing two and half a stone just when his future was going to be decided over there,” recalled Kevan.

“It was just after he had come back to play for Great Britain's under 20 team and it was really bad time.

“But everything happens for a reason and maybe him joining the Cardiff Devils was what was best for him all along.”

Josh, who is a former Westcliff High School pupil, now combines his playing career with studying Business Economics at Cardiff Met University.

And moving to Wales has done wonders for Josh, who continues to be watch on regular occasions by his family.

“We're all really proud of Josh as we go to watch him as much as we can,” said Kevan.

“The first year he was there I think we pretty much went every week and we do spend an awful lot of time on the M4.

“That's much better than trying to find cheap flights to America though and I'm also a big fan of the sport myself now having got into it all with Josh so I really enjoying going to the games.”

Josh's mum Sue and older sister Courtney remain equally proud of his achievements.

But he could well have excelled in a different sport if Kevan had had his way!

“Rugby was my sport when I was younger and Josh was quite good at it too,” said Kevan.

“However, because of where he want to school there was a tie up with Westcliff and they wanted him to go there but that was never go to happen because I used to play Southend!

“Josh was also really good at golf but it only ever ice hockey he had his heart set on and of course we fully supported him in that.”

Josh would therefore regularly practise at his Wickford home and would often delay Kevan being able to get to sleep!

“We live in an old farm so Josh would always be in one the barns practising and the noise would often keep us awake to begin with,” recalled Kevan.

“Even now when he comes back home he's out there every night practising but that's how he's done so well.

“We think he's the first person from Essex to have ever made a Great Britain squad and I guess it is quite unusual for a young lad from Wickford to have achieved all that.

“And, to this day, I'm very relieved we decided to watch the Mighty Ducks that day!”