At a time when many sporting competitions have been cancelled and international travel limited, Riley Tonks counts himself somewhat "lucky".
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The Charlestown 17-year-old flies out to Sweden on Tuesday, linking back up with Stockholm-based ice hockey club Hasselby Kalvesta for a second straight season.
Tonks, who was due to start Year 12 at Kotara High School on Monday, has been granted an exemption for his trip abroad and is keen to reunite with teammates.
The global coronavirus pandemic threatened to derail his plans, but with the country of destination reopening borders to Australia it cleared the way for another campaign in J18 division one.
"I'm very lucky to be able to go," Tonks told the Newcastle Herald.
Tonks reckons "hockey is just so competitive over there" and the defenceman enjoys a focus on skills over strength. He feels "the improvement is just tremendous" following his first experience in Europe.
"I've seen the videos I sent originally and there's such a difference between how I feel now, how I know I can play now," Tonks said.
He intends to return home next year and earn a spot in the Northstars' main squad for the 2021 Australian Ice Hockey League.
"I've always known that's a level I wanted to get to ... it was a really cool experience," he said.
Also this year Tonks, a NSW junior representative, made several appearances for the Northstars in the statewide East Coast Super League despite requiring permission to play underage.
Temperatures in the Swedish capital are set to remain in single figures all week.
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