Leeds Knights ice hockey crowned NIHL National play-off champions

Ice hockey has found a passionate home in Leeds, and Leeds Knights have given their fans a great deal to celebrate. The club competes in the NIHL National league, and its recent record has made it one of the standout teams in the division.

Before the 2025-26 campaign, the Knights had won the regular season league title for three straight years. Head coach Ryan Aldridge warned early on that the 2025-26 season was likely to be the toughest yet, and so it proved, with the league title slipping away. Even so, the squad kept competing hard right through the winter.

The team still finished in style. The Knights won the NIHL National play-off final against Yorkshire rivals Hull Seahawks, ending the season with silverware and a fresh reason for supporters to be proud.

There were statement performances along the way. One highlight was a road win over league leaders Swindon Wildcats, handing them their first home defeat of the 2025-26 season.

The squad blended experience with home-grown talent. Forward Innes Gallacher and defenceman Bailey Perre returned for the season, as did young pair Danny Harrison and Daragh Spawforth. Sam Gospel was the first-choice netminder, with young goalies Dan Norton and Ollie Booth given the chance to develop under him.

The club's junior pathway was also on show, with Edgars Vengis and Jonas Bennett signed from the junior system, a sign of how the Knights are investing in local players.

The 2026-27 campaign brought only minor squad changes, with Canadian forward Cullen McLean added to the roster. Fittingly, the new season opened with a derby against Hull Seahawks at Elland Road, a rematch fans had been looking forward to all summer.

For newcomers, a Knights game is a fast, loud and family-friendly night out, with plenty of noise from the stands and end-to-end action on the ice.

Leeds Knights publish fixtures, ticket details and club news on their website, which is the best place to plan a trip to a home game at Elland Road.