Leeds Knights
| Leeds Knights | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Leeds, England |
| League | NIHL |
| Division | National League |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Home arena | Planet Ice Leeds |
| Colors |
Blue, Yellow and White |
| Head coach |
 |
| Franchise history | |
| 2019 - 2021 | Leeds Chiefs |
| 2021 - Present | Leeds Knights |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (2023, 2024) |
| Playoff championships | 1 (2023) |
mainThe Leeds Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The team is a member of the National League and plays at Planet Ice Leeds.
History
The team was announced, along with the new National League, on 16 March 2019.[1] However, rumours of a Leeds-based team playing out of the 1800 capacity[2] Planet Ice Leeds arena were circulating months beforehand.[3] In joining the league, they became the first ever hockey team to play out of the city.[4]
The Chiefs name was selected by Planet Ice following the results of a fan poll. The 'Chiefs' moniker won the poll, results of which were announced on 16 May 2019, having beaten the alternatives; Cotton Kings and Mighty Mammoths.[5]
Former Whitley Warriors Defenceman Sam Zajac was announced as Player-coach of the team on 10 May 2019.[6] Zajac's first signing for the Chiefs was former Manchester Phoenix captain, Defenceman Luke Boothroyd.[7]
In November 2019, head coach Sam Zajac launched an urgent appeal after a large amount of the team's equipment was stolen from an apartment block in Batley. This included new helmets that hadn't even been worn yet, along with sticks and gloves used by the players all season.[8] Despite this, the Chiefs confirmed their weekend games would go ahead as planned via a statement on Twitter.
In their first National League season, the Chiefs finished 10th. They won 13 games, losing 36, achieving 28 points overall. The season was curtailed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] For the first five months of the season, the Chiefs were required to play home games elsewhere, due to a delay in the opening of their rink.[10] The first game at their Elland Road arena was against Sheffield Steeldogs on 31 January 2020.[11]
In 2021, the club rebranded and changed their name from Leeds Chiefs to Leeds Knights due to a change in ownership. The team is now owned by Stephen Nell who was an also owner of Swindon Wildcats. The new name has ties to the Royal Armouries in Leeds.[12] David Whistle arrived as Head Coach and General Manager, but departed in January 2022. Former Swindon Wildcats coach Ryan Aldridge was then appointed as interim coach until the end of the 2021/22 season.[13]
Aldridge was named as permanent Head Coach ready for the 2022-2023 season, a season in which the Knights won both the league and the playoffs.[14] In the 2023-2024 season, the Knights successfully defended their league title, but lost in the playoff final to Peterborough Phantoms in a shootout defeat.[15] The following off-season, a Leeds Knights team was accepted into the NIH1 North Division, led by Assistant Head Coach Davey Lawrence.[16]
References
- ↑ "New National League announced", British Ice Hockey, 16 March 2019.
- ↑ "Planet Ice rink is starting to take shape in Leeds", Planet Ice.
- ↑ "How an ice hockey team in Leeds could prove popular and be successful at the top level", 28 November 2018.
- ↑ "Leeds ice hockey secures place in newly-formed National League", 16 March 2019.
- ↑ "Leeds settles on name for new ice hockey team ahead of 2019-20 National League season", 14 May 2019.
- ↑ "Sam Zajac named as first player-coach of new Leeds ice hockey team", 10 May 2019.
- ↑ "SLeeds Chiefs signal their intent with signing of Luke Boothroyd for new National League season", 27 May 2019.
- ↑ "Leeds Chiefs launch urgent appeal for help after ice hockey equipment is stolen", 20 November 2019.
- ↑ "NEWS: Board meeting confirms competitive hockey cancelled through May 31" (in en-GB). English Ice Hockey Association. https://eiha.co.uk/news-board-meeting-confirms-competitive-hockey-cancelled-through-may-31/.
- ↑ "Confirmed Leeds Ice Rink Opening Date". 16 December 2019. https://leedschiefs.co.uk/confirmed-leeds-ice-rink-opening-date/.
- ↑ "FixturesLive". https://w.fixtureslive.com/staticapi.aspx?a=statzone_match.ashx?fixtureID=2235449.
- ↑ "Revealed: New name and logo for Leeds". British Ice Hockey. 19 May 2021. https://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/post/revealed-new-name-and-logo-for-leeds/#:~:text=Leeds%20Ice%20Hockey%20Club%20have,and%20will%20take%20effect%20immediately%20..
- ↑ "Leeds Knight Confirm Change in Management Team". https://twitter.com/Leedsknights/status/1481294911840260101.
- ↑ "2022-2023 NIHL Season Standings and Stats". https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl/2022-2023.
- ↑ "2023-2024 NIHL Season Standings and Stats". https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nihl/2023-2024.
- ↑ "Leeds Knights 2 Is Confirmed for 2024-25". https://leedsknights.com/news/leeds-knights-2-is-confirmed-for-2024-25.
External links
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