AIB’s Toughest trade campaign has revealed the second half of this year’s swap with Wexford hurler Lee Chin heading to Vancouver to play Ice Hockey and that city’s Canucks team sending back Alex Auld in return to play for Faythe Harriers in a challenge match this Sunday against reigning county champions Oulart the Ballagh.
Auld will be experiencing how the life of an amateur GAA player compares to his 12 years as a pro in the National Hockey League. The results will then be broadcast on primetime television next month alongside the similar swap which has taken place between Shane Williams from Rugby Union and Donegal’s Michael Murphy heading to play Top 14 Rugby.
Auld has spent the past week fully immersing himself in hurling and the Wexford lifestyle. He plays in nets in Ice Hockey and it is not certain yet whether he will do likewise with the bás over the weekend.
He has been balancing the demands of training, late night drill sessions and gym work with the added pressure of working for the Chin family business. Some recognisable faces have been offering advice and tips throughout his time here but the most important might be any offer from Wexford hurling legend Liam Griffin to spend time afterwards at his Monart Spa.
It is not known yet if Davy Fitzgerald will take time out of preparing for the Wexford campaign in the Allianz Hurling League to pop along and check the talent.
“We initially came up with the concept of The Toughest Trade as we believe that GAA club players are among the toughest athletes in the world,” said Mark Doyle, Head of Consumer Marketing for AIB.
“Over in France Michael Murphy impressed his Clermont teammates with his kicking and catching skills and he had no problem lifting as much as the professionals in the gym.”
“Now we’re really excited to see how Alex and Lee get on here and in Vancouver.”
This is AIB’s third season producing The Toughest Trade as part of its #TheToughest campaign. In 2016 the documentary featured Tipperary’s Brendan Maher who went Down Under to play cricket with the Adelaide Strikers while Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea travelled to the US to participate in an NFL combine.
All previous episodes of The Toughest Trade are free to view on AIB’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/aib
For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from The Toughest Trade follow AIB GAA on Twitter and Instagram @AIB_GAA and facebook.com/AIBGAA.
