Chris 0:16

Well, hi everybody, and welcome once again to your weekly dose of a lightning talk of course where we talk everything lifestack Milton Keene's Lightning and I'm really pleased to be joined once again on the podcast this week by Harrison. How are you doing, mate?

Harrison 0:30

Doing alright, thank you. Doing alright. A positive weekend all in all for everyone really connected at Lightning four points. You can't really complain about that, can you?

Chris 0:38

No, it was it was going to be a nervy start, wasn't it? And I know it was a busy weekend for you, of course. You did comms on the on the game on Saturday, and we'll come on to these games in a bit. And um, you were on the road up to Telford yesterday.

Harrison 0:50

Yes, it was uh my voice is still recovering from that. First, first away game of the season for me. And uh I forgot how much chanting I tried to get involved in. So yeah, my voice has definitely been run round the ringer this weekend.

Chris 1:05

So let's have a chat about the weekend's games then, because I must admit, when you know, back a month or two ago when the when the fixtures came out, you know, I saw that for the for the first league game, you know, it was Leeds coming down to Arban. And I must admit, there was a little bit of me that was thinking, that's a challenge first game. You know, do we do do we want to go in that deep straight away? Um, and it was very much like that, wasn't it?

Harrison 1:30

It was. I mean, you look at that, Ross, you looked at that um start to the season, and it was one of those that you're like, all right, we're playing the playoff champions, and then having to go away to a place that we've notoriously struggled in. Um, so it was one of those that you were like, this is could be an interesting start to the season. I think maybe some memories of last season were hanging over people's heads as well with um confidence. And I'll be honest, I was probably the same because of last season. But yeah, I mean, you saw it in just that first period against Leeds, and obviously we'll come on to that um in a second, but completely different squad, completely different tactics. And I mean, the the shots on goal I think tell the main story as opposed to the scoreline on that Saturday night.

Chris 2:18

Yeah, and I think um I I think actually reading some of the socials afterwards, you know, both both sets of fans could actually see that as well. And you know, um, you know, leads are always gonna come down to our barn and and you know, if you tick stick Sammy Gospel in the net. Um, he's uh I don't think he's ever had a bad game in Milton Keynes, has he? It's it's ridiculous.

Harrison 2:40

It's frustrating us, uh honestly, as a as an MK fan. It's frustrating, but he is one of those netminders that um is just gonna be relied on. And I think Leeds are gonna potentially have one of those seasons where Sam Gospel is key to where they end up, um, going off of the fact that they opened obviously the weekend. They were they were the curtain raisers at at the castle against the whole Seahawks. A rematch of the playoff final, uh, but it went the other way this time, and I think Hull were better off in that game and they deserved the win. And so going into that Saturday, Leeds coming up down to down the M1 to us, you're thinking they're gonna have a bit of fire in their belly after a quite feisty affair against Hull, but they also came down to us, missing Finn Braden, and that's not a small player to miss out as well.

Chris 3:31

Yeah, I mean they're gonna be missing you know, obviously a couple of people have moved on during the close season, and and and when you miss when you miss people like that, players like that, I think uh Ryan's got a bit of a challenge on his hand this season, hasn't he? Because there's there's you know, there's a couple of new players in the squad for Leeds, and you know, they're not gonna be I don't know, I'm not entirely sure they're gonna be as defensively strong as they were before. Um, and like you say, going back to you know um Sam Gospel, I think, you know, I think he's gonna have gonna have his work cut out for him uh a lot of the seasons. It's not to say they're not gonna be up there challenging because they will, because they're a they're a hyper competitive team, but um, yeah, I I I just don't know where they're where they're gonna go. But we could say that for any team in this league right now, couldn't we?

Harrison 4:16

Yeah, and I think they've they're not massively helped by the fact that I think they're they're probably one of the teams that have had the least amount of changes uh over the summer. I think I worked out there was only four players that they'd lost over the summer, and in terms of that squad on um Saturday night, the newcomers in that, uh Zach Sullivan, which big sign defensively, very important, Cullen McLean, the new input forward, and then that was it. That other than Harrison Walker backing up, but obviously as a backup he didn't ice. And I do think Harrison Walker's gonna play a massive role in this lead side going throughout the season because gospel is unbelievable as we know, but he's gonna need a rest at some point because if he plays like he played against us on Saturday, then he's gonna be he's gonna be tied very quickly. And Harrison Walker, they loved him up in Leeds the first time he was there. He is arguably one of the best backups in the league, and even to call him a backup feels a little bit harsh on him.

Chris 5:19

Yeah, I mean you're talking about 50 plus games, so it's gonna take its toll over the over the course of the next five or six months, isn't it? And that's that's before we even start getting into the into the playoffs. So yeah, so overall the game tight all the way through.

Harrison 5:33

I think yeah, tight on the score sheet, but the that first period, Lightning outshot the night 17-6. And I think every fan in that rink, whether you're a lead supporter or a lightning supporter or a neutral that have come for a first game, you could see the way that the game was going, and it was the Sam Gospel show. And I mean, obviously, it he had made some absolutely unbelievable saves in that first, and it took, and we say it a lot about Sam Gospel, the way that you beat him is get him moving laterally. You have to get him moving laterally, and that worked to a trait um with an unlikely first goal scorer for Lightning, really, um, in uh James Griffin.

Chris 6:15

Yeah, I know. Well, it's always celebrated when Griff scores a goal. Um, you know, um, they always do that. And you know, even he'll be patting himself on the back to get one first league game of the season because normally we have to wait just till just before Christmas before we get one.

Harrison 6:28

Yeah, I mean it I think the last couple seasons he said he's not been too happy with his points production because they've been he's been taking a bit more of a back seat, but yeah, first out the out the gate as well. Um, and assisted by Jake Haywood as well. And I think that's a player that we need to I want to bring up as well. I think Haywood hadn't has had a great start to life at Lightning. And as one as one of the players that, as especially one of the Brits that maybe less players or less fans might have heard of coming into it, he's slotted in like he's been here forever.

Chris 7:01

Yeah, I was just looking at some of the newbies, actually, the the the newer guys, whilst you know, um I was watching the stream from a distance. So, you know, and and it didn't look as though any of them really looked out of place. You know, they it it that team didn't look like a team that had really played, you know, only only four games. I know some people will say, okay, maybe we could have taken our chances, but you know, we've already talked about um gospel in the in the leads net. But I don't think anybody looked at that out of place. That there might be a bit of gelling to go on from a team perspective, you know. Um uh not even when we're looking at sort of you know the special plays as such, but you know, when we're looking at things like the breakout transition from you know our defensive zone into through the neutral zone and and so on and so forth. But a lot of those passes from the the lightning guys, you know, first first and third periods, especially, there was a lot of tape-to-tape stuff, um, which was really good to see. But it's Milton King's Lightning. It's you know, we it's three out of three periods with, you know, the the I don't think anything went wrong in the second as such, but it just felt like a little bit disjointed.

Harrison 8:08

It felt, yeah, it felt a little bit flat, and I think lightning were a little bit more passive in that second period, and the Knights, I wouldn't say upped their game massively, but they were getting more opportunities to get closer to Headley's net. And Headley again had a very good night as well. We talk about it being the Sam Gospel show mainly because of the amount of shots that he faced, but Jordan Headley was still having to make some grade A saves, which there was a point where Kieran Brown's threw on goal, and then all of a sudden, yeah, everyone in the rink is just like, oh, there's Kieran Brown again. But Headley was equal to it. And I think over the night, I'm if I can remember rightly, I think there was about three opportunities where Kieran Brown's one-on-one with Headley, and Headley saved every single one of them. Um, and that seemed like it was going to be the story of the night. It was the net minders keeping them in it, and it was I don't want to say it, but it was almost an unlucky goal, really. Um, that Sam Dunn scored against um Headley. It was a very slow trickle um into the net. But and then after what seemed like Lightning were being the more dominant side, it was one all and then a goalless third period, so it ended up going to overtime. And I think Leeds Leeds could be very happy taking that game to overtime.

Chris 9:30

Yeah, yeah, I'd agree with that. And I you know, going back to heads as well, and um and uh Weyler, you know, the the the the the permanent lightning pairing in in net, they're they're gonna be absolutely key as as this season um goes on and and and develops, aren't they? They they're gonna be absolutely key. Uh, I think we've got you know good strength in our defensive core. Um but again, and we're always gonna score goals. That that you know, that group of forwards that we've got, where anybody, it seems that anybody can play on whichever line you know P. Russell decides to put out and be strong. You know, if we're gonna be strong at the back, our netmind in tandem's got to be up to that.

Harrison 10:13

Oh, 100%. And I think you we'll go into that when we talk about the Telford game in a minute. But it is that ability where you're missing a couple players that would be your top two liners and your your third line, fourth line, and even Pete said that he doesn't like to call them a fourth line because they're better than that, but they step up and they have that impact on the play. And I was speaking to Pete after the game, and it he could not stop raving about Cam Hamill, and he didn't get them, uh he got one of the least ice time, but the fact that he singled him out shows the quality that Lightning having the depth. But we talk about depth, it wasn't one of the depth players that won it in overtime. It was what I mean. I don't know if you remember a playoff winning goal against um Romford a couple years back that Sean Norris scored. Um, as soon as he's gone through against um Sam Dunn and then squeezed it through the five-hole of gospel. I've immediately in my head replayed that goal that he scored against Romford to make it 8-7. And he just has that ability to turn a pace so quickly, and he'll get past anyone.

Chris 11:27

That yeah, and and I mean, the Sammy Gospel will want that goal back. You could see as soon as he went in, it crept underneath him, he threw his hands up because he was frustrated, he didn't get more on that perk. But at the end of the day, the goal's a goal, it scored that you know, Norris has won it. But the the touch for me for Norris was just as he just as he went across the blue line and just took it away from the Lee's defenseman, and it just seemed to turn, and like you say, he put on that speed. And the handling, and I think the sidestep he made was just sublime. It was just it just gave him, it just created so much space for him, and that's what he does. That's that's that's his game, isn't it?

Harrison 12:04

Yeah, and I mean you've got we can say that some of the players have like trademark moves, and I would say that that Sean Norris's quick turn of a face, and almost like a drop of the shoulder, really, where he's able to just get the puck under control and almost flick it to the side of the D-man so that Dunn's now off is he's not in position, he's had to turn his back and then reach. And he nearly does connect with Norris, in all fairness, but at the end of the day, it sent the crowd into absolute pandemonium, really.

Chris 12:36

Yeah, there was a lot of noise, even coming across the stream, there was a lot of noise in that place.

Harrison 12:40

Yeah, and that wasn't just from me on the mic.

Chris 12:43

Um two points in the back for Saturday night, a good all-round performance from from from everybody. Bit of a long trip up to uh up to Shropshire to face uh the Tigers on uh on Sunday night.

Harrison 12:55

Yeah, and obviously the Tigers were gonna were coming into that off the back of a relatively heavy defeat um in Basin Stoke as well. 7-4 that they um they fell to the bison. And bison have started the season really well, let's not um ignore that. Um but the tigers were gonna go, they were gonna be going into that expecting to get a result, and so coming back to their home barn against a team that they are normally quite good at at home, they probably came in with a lot of confidence and lightning knew that they had to step up. And not only did we have Mac Stewart not icing, who obviously wasn't icing on the Saturday night, he was with Belfast as they got a four-point weekend. Um, but also late in the warm-up as well, Jordan County was scratched from that um as well. So you're then missing two guys that would normally be on your like third or second line, and so you've you're then down to say 10 forwards at that point, which doesn't sound like a lot, but that's two important guys. But the score line, and you look at the the goals as they were spread across, they came from every line, every line contributed.

Chris 14:03

Yeah, I'm just having a look at the game sheet now, and it it it is a it is a great spread as far as the the goals were concerned, and uh you know a a win in return for David Thompson to back go back up to Telford and um pick up the two points there.

Harrison 14:16

Yeah, I mean let's be honest, he would have won he would have loved the goal. I can already imagine the celebration if he um would have scored. Um he did get him, he did get himself uh a couple of assists as well, though. Um so and I think the one thing that's also nice to see, especially from Lightning's standpoint as well, is you've got Danny Waite getting two goals, you've got um David Thompson getting three assists across the weekend as well, you've got Jared White getting on the score sheet, you've got Brady Johnson getting in the assists as well. Those imports, which are the which were a talking point last season, have now become they're the ones that are putting the points up. But also, I do want to give a quick shout out to three-point night for Carter Hamill. And one player, I think he's playing on a higher line than most would probably have expected him to um going into the season, but it just shows what that one season away at Solway getting a good few games at Belfast as well and performing for them, getting on the score sheet for Belfast last season as well, just shows the amount of confidence that that's given him playing that more ice time in Solway, getting those top six lines coming back and immediately impactful.

Chris 15:32

Yeah, and that's the thing, isn't it? I I mean, one thing that that sprung to mind when when both handles were announced as as you know coming back to us, and uh you know, you've yeah, you've already mentioned Cam as well on this on the Saturday night where you know Pete had singled him out. You know, you you know that you're gonna get so much energy from those guys, and they're they're by their very nature, they're they're they're fast, in-your-face players who are just absolutely relentless, and that just completely fits in with the system that you know that that's a that's a Pete Russell team. Yeah, it's absolutely a Pete Russell team. It's just movement and it's very dynamic.

Harrison 16:09

Yeah, and Pete absolutely loves to he rocks all of the lines out. They're they're relatively evenly used as well. He does try to get all of the lines playing, and that's one of the things that I think that we've now noticed is that in four games now, or in five games if you count uh even the the second Rostock game now, Lightning have not conceded in the third period. And it is just that as the game goes on, you've got three, even four lines potentially of guys that are still playing that one that almost 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D lines that they're just relentless, and it was as if all of those missed opportunities, say on the Saturday night, they came into fruition on the Sunday and a 6-1 win away at Telford. I don't think we've seen a Lightning victory that high in Telford in a very long time. And I think on the on if we look from Telford side, they weren't at their A game. I think they would be happy to admit that as well. Um, but I think Lightning were also very good. I think it's not it isn't just uh we were very good, um, and they were very good, but we were better. I think there would be a couple of those goals that Telford will want back, and but they'll learn a lot from this weekend as well. And also a quick shout out, Callum Field. Good to see him as well. Um, they brought past him as he came off the ice and was like, oh, hello. Like I'm not traumatizing him on the TikToks this year. Um, but yeah, no, it's it's one of those. I think the the Tigers have got a lot of very good players in there, and their imports look very good as well. Duke of that stood out to me, could have had a good few points last night.

Chris 17:57

Harry Ferguson as well, next ex-lightning player. Harry Ferguson is he's he he just keeps improving, improving, improving uh year on year on year, he's getting better and better. Um, he's he's doing really well up there.

Harrison 18:08

He really is, and they they've got a lot of experienced players as well. So they're gonna be a team that I think in the later stage of the season, once the the league table's almost sorted out in the sense of there are quite set positions almost. Yeah, Telford are going to be one of those teams that are gonna go up to like a lead, they'll go up to a hull, they'll come to MK and they'll disrupt, and they'll be that very difficult team to play against, and they will pick points off of those teams, they've got the quality to do so.

Chris 18:39

Yeah, I mean, I'm just just looking at the points from over the weekend as you mentioned, you got uh well, you've got uh something like 10 different um point scorers over the weekend, um, 10 or 12. So, you know, as you say, Carter Hamill, three-point weekend. Uh Liam Stewart, you know, newly awarded the uh the Captain C on his shirt, um, is always gonna produce. And and it, you know, I know he keeps saying Swan Song and all this kind of stuff, but you know, maybe just maybe.

Harrison 19:10

Yeah, I mean, I think Liam Stewart's one that there were still some it was questions about what sort of Liam Stewart that Lightning we're gonna get back. Obviously, having a couple seasons out, um, obviously he played that one game in um against Swindon last December, and he said after that that he was he was blowing.

Chris 19:30

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Harrison 19:32

But you could see that over the summer he's put a lot of work in and it's come into fruition, and he's looking like one of Lightning's most dangerous players again.

Chris 19:43

Yeah, he'd like you say you know, you could look on his on his socials, and he was he was putting the work in. He wasn't he wasn't coming back over here to make up the numbers.

Harrison 19:52

Absolutely not, no.

Chris 19:53

So, on to this week's guest.

Harrison 19:56

Yes, yes, we're uh joined by the the one and only, or the number one, shall we say, uh Jordan Headley.

Chris 20:04

So, Jordan, great to see you on the podcast. Thanks for uh thanks for joining us. I know you've got your hands full right now. We'll get this one out of the way. The little stain on your uh GB t-shirt is from what?

Jordan 20:15

Uh just had the bath time with a little one, so I got a bit of uh a bit of dribble on me.

Chris 20:21

I guess I you know, because we haven't spoken to you since the start of the season. Obviously, you know, it was an eventful off season for you and your and your and your partner and the family and everything else. So, first off, congratulations. Obviously, you know, um Litland's already made an appearance at on the ice at the end of one of the games.

Jordan 20:36

Yeah, she's uh she's really good. She's growing up very fast, and uh it was really nice to have her at that first weekend on the ice of us. It's been a long time coming since we found out pretty much the start of last season, actually. I think it was like the first preseason week we found out we were gonna have her, so it's been a long time coming.

Chris 20:55

I talked to us about your your your regime now. Is your training regime chart? Does it have to change from necessity, or are you trying to sort of balance all that? Because you've got your business going as well, haven't you?

Jordan 21:07

Yes, uh I'd say in the summer it was a difficult one to before she came along, it was easy to work out in the mornings, still the same before work and stuff. But as she came, it kind of the mornings were you were getting up at four four o'clock to feed her and stuff, so it was kind of work out when I can, and then once we started to get back on the ice, it was a lot more difficult. But I think once you're back on the ice, that fitness comes back pretty quick. And with work and everything else, I'm lifting weights and stuff with tiles, so it kind of goes hand in hand, really.

Chris 21:40

I mean, I still I know you're still pretty young compared to me anyway, as yet. So there's no bags showing under the eyes, but I'm sure I'm sure they'll I'm sure they'll come at some point. Um, let's talk about the start of the season then, because you know, last weekend obviously, this weekend just gone. Absolutely cracking start to the season. That's exactly what you wanted. But a a couple of well, first read. Test first game of the season against Leeds.

Jordan 22:03

Yeah, I think the preseason went well. I think we obviously were with Pete coming in, there's a lot of new things, a lot of different plays, a lot of different things in the defensive zone. So we're all learning and stuff where opportunities come from. But I think last weekend was huge for us. Like the team really clicked. I think the last week of training was really good. And then yeah, we showed we showed it on the ice. I think we're unlucky. I mean, gospel was unreal on Saturday. We could have been 6-7, one up, like end of the game. I think it's we showed that in Telford that we we can score them goals. It gets frustrating at points, but team's got to stick with it, and we'll get there.

Harrison 22:40

For sure. And you had a yeah, what two goals conceded across the weekend? And but it wasn't also just the fact that you were standing on your head, but also the defence in front of you was very strong as well. So narrowing those sort of like shots um from the sides. So how's has that benefited you as well? The fact that the defence has sort of like it seems to have shored up a little bit this season.

Jordan 23:02

Yeah, I think you can see it from difference from Peterborough weekend to this weekend. There's a lot less chances from the slot and the house, which Pete has been enforcing since we started, really, which is kind of what I like. Like if we can narrow it down to three to three or four like grade A chances a game, that's huge. Then I can make two or two or three of those saves, and we're we're gonna win games.

Chris 23:54

Yeah, kind of one thing that the defense has started to remind me of is a little bit um a few years back, you know, um when the defense was it was tight, but you know, like you say, you effectively you knew where the shots were coming from. So I I think years ago, I'm talking 10-12 years ago, maybe the the save percentage was really, really high with with with um Mets and and and and things like that. Because you know, as good a netminder as Mets is, he he knew where they were coming from, and that's and that was that was pure teamwork, wasn't it?

Jordan 24:26

Yeah, and then it makes the goalie player bigger. No offense to Mets, he's not the biggest guy, but it lets the goalie be bigger and come out more and trust that the the D's gonna do the job of say the guy on the back door or the guy coming in. It allows us to take a little extra step kind of thing.

Chris 24:43

Um there's there been much difference between um sort of the approach from last season and Pete coming in. And actually, has there been much difference between the last time you worked with Pete, which was what seven, seven, eight years ago now?

Jordan 24:56

Yeah, I think it's been quite it's been different because I've had him obviously seven, eight years, whatever it was, and then I've had him at GB in different parts, so I've seen him how he's different from when we had I was with him before. So I kind of knew compared to other guys like Griff that how he's changed and how he's probably actually chilled out a bit from shouting at guys since then, so that's nice. But yeah, I think for me it was a difficult one from the summer. Like, obviously, with Whaler coming in, it's a different outlook for me to try and I'd say more battle for that spot, whereas the years past it's probably been more guaranteed. Obviously, I had to battle with Will, but it's been more guaranteed from the get-go, so it's been good to get those games in, really, and just kind of get going with everybody.

Harrison 25:40

And what's it been like really since um Whaler came in as well? Because this is the first time really since going back to the elite league days that you've had an import netminder in that again, you said it yourself that you've had to almost battle with, but and he's also still relatively young, he's the youngest import in the league. So is there a sort of a bit of learning from each other on that?

Jordan 26:01

Yeah, it's it because he's not it's the yeah, he's because he's young coming from college. I think he's obviously wants to learn as well. And for me, I'm the older guy now, which is weird from being in cov when I was the young guy under the import's wing kind of thing. So I think we're complimenting each other, like we both get on really well. Like he's a great guy, and he works hard when he's on the ice, and he works hard off the ice. So we just got to be that goalie pair, and that we'd every night was battle, no matter who's playing.

Chris 26:30

I know he was um when we did the interview with him before he before he came over, he'd done, you know, he obviously knew he was joining Lightning, and he'd done a fair amount of homework, and he'd looked at, you know, um you know, videos with you in there and and stuff, and he was very, very complimentary, and he was looking forward to to learning with you and working with you, which was you know it was a great compliment to have.

Jordan 26:50

Yeah, I saw that, and it was a nice thing to hear because yeah, it's it feels weird being the old guy, and then guys looking at my stats where I'm normally looking at theirs kind of thing. But yeah, it's it's been good so far, I think.

Chris 27:02

From a from a Brit goalie perspective, um Ed's, you know, obviously this this rule came in in the in the season about ice time across the season around imports and and the Brits and stuff like that. I I know it's it's never going to be an ideal situation for you as a Brit netminder because it's always frustrating, isn't it? Because you know, it's the one position, I guess, in the in in this country that uh people really struggle in. It's it's it's not the cheapest sport in the world to get into in the first place. And then when you you hear things like that and you've got the imports coming in, as good as they are, you know, and and as you know, um it it it's very challenging, isn't it?

Jordan 27:43

Yeah, it's it's frustrating because it it it comes down from the elite league, and it's like when I was there, I was playing for GB, I wasn't I was getting not even 10 games, like I was getting put in for like the goalie gets pulled and stuff. So it kind of goes down from there. And then the way we're going with the imports in this league, it kind of then pushes the younger guys down, or say like the guys that could be playing a starting role, then back up, and it just works its way works its way down the the ranks, really, because now you're gonna get the backups going to the leagues below and stuff like that. So it's hard. Like realistically, I can't remember if we've worked it out in the summer. There's probably in the top two leagues, what four British goalie jobs, which I think is is crazy. But I think yeah, it is expensive, but I don't think we have the development that other countries have. We don't have that help on and off the ice, and obviously the equipment is expense is ridiculous. Yeah, but yeah, I think there's something obviously you with Kinger and stuff with the GB program and all the stuff they're trying to do with Clancy and all that kind of working down the ranks as kids. I think it will get better. Like they have the GB on the 16s now, which we had never had when I was a kid, which I think is great, and all the GB Golli workshops, which is really good. But yeah, it just needs to be then pushed on through our league and the league below us, so yeah.

Chris 29:02

So I know it's I know it's a bit of a challenge, and like you say, I was going to mention, you know, um King with the the G B set up now, and it looks like now there's been some kind of unification, and you know, there's a lot of conversations taken on, you know, going on in the same place now, not in three or four different areas. It does feel like now that there is development starting to happen, or at least it's being planned to start to happen, uh, like you say, all age levels, and that introduction of the G B 16s is is going to be crucial, isn't it?

Jordan 29:30

Yeah, I think even if I'm younger than that, I mean like the England setup is still going strong, but yeah, you just look at other countries, like when you go to world championships before, like you had like Latvia and Austria, and like these kids are so good, like the under-20s and under-18s are ridiculous. It's like, why can't we have that? Like, Austria is not a huge country, Latvia is not a huge hockey country, but they have like guys in the NHL, like young goalies in the NHL. It's like, why can't we have that? We have the talent, but it's just got to be sort of from the ground up, it's everything.

Chris 30:01

Talk to us about just very quickly. So, you know, this is really for the benefit of the listeners and the viewers, really, because obviously I've seen you over the years and the way you work and everything else, and you've always had this work ethic that you know you are you're 110% all the time. And you know, you mentioned you know, you've been up in Coventry in the elite league for for quite some time, and you've got that, you know, you've got that experience playing with some of the best players in in the country, albeit the imports and everything else. You weren't getting the game time. But one thing I do know about you is how you train, you train at 100% all the time, don't you? So if you've not got that game time, you're making the most out of any ice session you can get.

Jordan 30:38

Yeah, and that's for uh for any kid, I think that's that's how it should be. Like, because then you're ready for the game if it ever happens. Like when I went in with Coventry, I might not play for three months, but then I'll get chucked in for half a game where the goalie got injured one night, and you go in the next day and win the game, you just gotta be ready. And I think when you're playing at that level, the training does help. A lot of people say you've got to play games and stuff, which we do, but when you're at that kind of age, at young 20s, the training does help. If you work your bag off every practice, do every drill, and then do extras after, you'll get you get better.

Chris 31:15

Are we looking at gaps now potentially? Because in a GB setup, you've got you know, obviously Bouncy is he's not going to be around uh, you know, forever now. And uh, you know, are we is it a bit concerning that we've got that gap at that level now? We've got you know we've got some youngsters coming through, but it does feel like we go from one level and we we drop down. I mean, obviously, you you know you're not in that squad as well, so there is a bit of a gap.

Jordan 31:41

Yeah, I think that that needed to be addressed probably when I before I made the team. That was kind of something that was coming up. We knew Bouncy wasn't gonna be around forever, and he was getting towards that age where you knew there was gonna there was no goalies coming through, and then there was no real I would say action taken from that. It was kind of we've got Bouncy in Wis, and then whoever's the third kind of can fill in. Uh but yeah, the goalie pull isn't the strongest for Brits, and then it's it's being harmed by having four jobs in the top two leagues. You got young guys coming through, like you've got Harry Thomas, Ben Clark Leach, which are they out hopefully they get games this year. I think Ben will play quite a few. But we just you just need that those goalies playing, and I don't think you're gonna get one like Bouncey because he was playing elite league very young, and he got that amazing opportunity of Hull and Cardiff, so I don't think we'll get that again.

Harrison 32:36

But then also, do you look at it as um you can also look at like the dual nationals as well, where the rule in the leagues and the rule in national is a little bit different as well.

Jordan 32:46

Yeah, uh, I don't mind that too much. I think like you've got the likes of Halbert and like guys like that who are actually born in England, and then you've got guys that are like their grandparents just lived here when they were kids. So I kind of like the ones that were born here, like you're English, you're British, whatever. But if you're just coming here for two years and you kind of get a passport and then you're allowed to play that, it frustrates me and it frustrates other British goalies that have been working their asses off for years to get that spot, and then it's just it's gone, kind of thing.

Chris 33:17

Yeah. So we we're moving on, we've had this you know pretty distinguished career, and it it it's crazy when you start. You know, I keep thinking I'm really old when I do these podcasts because I've just like crazy when you start thinking like, you know, you sit feels like you've been around forever, and you're still what? You you just thirty you're 30, yeah?

Jordan 33:34

You do 30, yeah.

Chris 33:36

Yeah, just turn 30, which is which is scary. Um, but you've been around Lightning now for for quite some time. Um you know, you're ingrained into the Lightning fabric, if you like, and you know, it's been a been a been a while, hasn't it?

Jordan 33:51

Yeah, so I've yeah, I've been watching an MK since I was well, it was actually the Kings my first year or two, I think it was. I couldn't even see over the plexi. Had a little stool that I had to stand on just to see over the boards, but yeah, it's been my life uh since I can remember kind of thing.

Chris 34:10

What do you see yourself going from here?

Jordan 34:12

Uh I've I want to be here for the rest of my career. That's that's me. I want I'd love to have the jersey in the rafters. Obviously, when I was a kid, that would be the biggest thing. When you're a kid, you just want to play for Lightning, and then you get other aspirations like Elite League and wherever you can go after that. But then at the end of the day, that's been a dream since I was a little kid was to play for Lightning.

Chris 34:32

So you want to get that number one up in the rafters?

Jordan 34:36

Yeah, that would be the big that would be the coolest thing, I think.

Harrison 34:40

Especially the number one being hung up. That's uh that's a real thing. But yeah, it's been what 10 years now at the Lightning.

Jordan 34:48

Yeah, so testimonial coming, the end of the season. On the I think it's the 24th. Vicky, you'd have to correct me, but I'm sure it's the 24th of April.

Chris 34:57

So this is so this is actual fact, this is this is the official announcement, isn't it?

Jordan 35:01

Yeah, that's the official announcement.

Chris 35:04

Brilliant. Well, I I've got to say the uh congratulations, mate, because it it's thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly deserved. And and you know, if it's the 24th of April next next year, um, we'll take that in pencil for now just to make sure. But it obviously the the club will confirm that, but that that will be a fantastic night, be a brilliant night for you.

Jordan 35:24

Yeah, I can't wait. Uh yeah, it's been a dream since I was a kid to have that and everything. So it's yeah, it's amazing.

Harrison 35:31

If Ben Bounzer's testimony was anything to go by five on five goalie action.

Jordan 35:35

I did, I I was speaking to Greg about that, what about what to do and stuff. I did think about having like a little goalie, like three on three game.

Chris 35:44

Well, I'm just thinking actually, you can you can add another goalie because uh you know, um, you'll know uh Andy Gadiq, who's just um just had his hips done, so he should be fit by then. So if he he's probably still got his kit as well.

Jordan 35:55

He's been flying around the ring, so I might sign that.

Chris 35:58

Yeah, I sold my goalie kit a few years ago, so I haven't got I haven't got mine anymore. But yeah, I think I think uh I think slug will be around for that. But that'll be that'll be an absolutely fantastic night, and like you say, that must be a that must be a huge honor for you.

Jordan 36:11

Yeah, I think yeah, um hopefully we get a lot of people coming and good turnout for all the events throughout the year, still obviously in the process of planning and all that. But yeah, it's just exciting. Um it feels weird that it's actually happening like the last couple of years. With I've mentioned it to Tom in like passing, like joking around, but now to finally have it is nice.

Harrison 36:32

You want to stay humble, but you still want it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jordan 36:36

There's a couple of dodgy years where I play like one or two games, so I was trying to count them in, but it took me a couple more years to get it.

Chris 36:44

So, where'd you go from here then? I mean, obviously, we you know we're we're sat here, it's um it's it's Monday night, we're having we're having this chat after after the weekend. Um, another tough weekend coming up. This is gonna not gonna be easy uh the next couple of games, right?

Jordan 36:58

Yeah, I think Bromford have had a great preseason, so it's gonna be uh a tricky one. They're always our kind of bogey team home or away. They always kind of have a good get-oh, everyone gives us a good game, but then obviously going down to uh Bristol. I'm sure Will will be on his A game and flying around. So yeah, it'll be a tough weekend for us and a good a good test, I think.

Chris 37:19

Yeah, we'll be interested in uh, you know, we'll Will's gonna, you know, Will's gonna Will's gonna want to be proving a point, isn't he? Is um without a shadow of a doubt. But you know, and you talk about bogey teams as well. Um the Telford win, you know, comprehensive win as well. Um, and that's been a bogey rink to play in for a number of years now.

Jordan 37:35

Yeah, I think I actually I enjoyed playing playing there. I obviously played there in that spring cup in COVID, so I know quite a lot of guys. I enjoyed playing in that rink, but it has been like it's a tough rink to play. Like every game is tough, and yeah, it was good to kind of get that away win and kind of get us going on those those small ice pads.

Harrison 37:52

And the imports uh this year have got so much better, it seems, as well. There's we're the first weekend in, and there's already imports that have got four or five goals um in the column after two games. And does that just make it even more like hungry for you in net just to prove a point as a British netminder?

Jordan 38:14

Yeah, I mean definitely. That was my whole thing from the get-go was just uh prove my point and just play as many games as I can and just keep the team winning. That's all I can do, and then prove my point, and then whatever happens will happen. But yeah, that it's nice to have the imports that are putting the points up already. Like that's crazy, you know. They are such good guys in the room and off the and off the ice, so and they're great players.

Chris 38:37

It just it does feel like this group, um, you know, with no disrespect to anybody that's been been before, this group just seems to have it seems to have gelled quite quickly, and and and and Pete seems to have that selection just absolutely spot on as well, and you know, a great star. But I was going to ask you actually about goalies around the league as well, because obviously you're against each other, and you know, you're um, you know, for 60 minutes or whatever if it goes to overtime. But you know, saw a photo the other day of you chatting to um Sammy Gospel after the game and now it I mean there is still a bit of a goal union going on, right? At the end of the games.

Jordan 39:11

Yeah, I think I think it's probably got more now there's imports in the league. I think I've known Goss Gossi for years. Like we've we were like battling against each other for GB under 18s and under 20s, so uh and we've played against each other for the last what six six years, I think it is. So we always get along and chat. Like we were actually talking about obviously Heidi and stuff, because he's got a little one too. So that's what we were actually talking about in the handshake.

Chris 39:34

But yeah, we I was all times have changed, actually.

Jordan 39:36

Yeah, I know. Yeah, normally about how how bad the defense was, but it was actually about kids that that night.

Chris 39:46

Any any rinks in the league that you're not looking forward to going to this season? I'm probably I'm probably thinking about um I mean you've got a bit of a love-hate relationship with the whole fans.

Jordan 39:56

Yeah, I think they're the same of me as well. Uh whole's always a tough place to just because the fans are. I mean, they don't stop the whole game, even after the game. When you walk into the dress room, they don't stop. I think Sheffield will be a tough place to play just because the team they have, and it's such a quiet atmosphere from like the home fans. It's always like a I don't know, it's always a weird game. And obviously, our fans make the noise the most noise in there, so it it's good. I think from a team point of view, that'll be a tough game just playing against them.

Chris 40:25

Yeah, they're looking strong as well this season. Um, Slavas, and and you've got the added, you know, it's a it's a Slava team, so you you never know, you never know what you're gonna get, do you?

Jordan 40:34

And you've got Shane Owen in that, so that's yeah, top goalie.

Harrison 40:43

So a big thank you to Jordan Headley for joining us on the podcast. Before we get into next week's fixtures, we'll just have a quick look at the uh other results from last weekend. Um, obviously, the league opened with the Friday night game between the Knights and the Seahawks. That was a 2-1 victory for the visitors. Then on the Saturday night, there were five games. The Twindon Wildcats unveiling their league banner did fall at the hands of the Peterborough Phantoms 6-4 at home. The Bison took the Telford Tigers by seven goals to four. Big victory for them on opening night for them.

Chris 41:24

They could be my shock of the um, not a shock, um, surprise of the of the league, very early doors.

Harrison 41:30

Oh, yeah, I think a lot of people would have had them in um battling for playoffs. And in all fairness, if they proved people wrong, uh they would be one of the teams I'd be happy for them to prove me wrong. Yeah, always had a bit of a soft spot for the bison. Um, but yeah, then Bristol Pitbulls um and Romford Raiders, the two teams that Lightning faced this weekend, um, they did battle over the weekend on the Saturday night. It was a 17-goal affair. Bristol Pitbulls eight, Romford Raiders nine. Um, and as uh Anthony from Bandles on the Wall likes to say, why defend when you cannot defend? That is uh that is his favourite saying. Um and the other one, which I think was probably the surprise of the weekend, Solway four, Sheffield Steel Dogs three. Big result for Solway. However, Dershawn Stewart getting injured in that one could be massive for them. Although Aaron Campbell seems to have stepped in and has done a pretty decent job. So we'll see how that turns out. And that's the Saturday night fixtures. Sunday just gone as well. Sheffield Steel Dogs took Twindon Wildcats to a shootout, two goals to one. CJ Garcia scoring the winner in the shootout for the Steel Dogs. Raiders and Pitbulls did the second half of their double header down at the Sapphire, where the Raiders won six goals to three. The Baters took Bison for the second night in a row won by seven goals to four, this time away to the Peterborough Phantoms who couldn't make themselves a four-point weekend. Holt Seahawks completed their four-point weekend by beating the Solway Ice Hockey Club four goals to two. Although Solway did nearly come back into that. They brought it back to 3-2, and then it was a short-handed empty net up from Dylan Hare to win that one. And then, as you know, the Lightning took Leeds Lights to OT on the Saturday night and won by two goals to one, and then Telford Tigers won Milton Keynes Lightning six. So that rounds out the scores of last weekend, and that leads us nicely there.

Chris 43:38

I was gonna say quite a few um results there that kind of I I maybe don't necessarily raise eyebrows, but you you kind of you you kind of almost give them a second look. Um, you know, as I said, Bayes don't the quality of their imports is going to be really telling this this season. Um, I mean, one thing I was gonna point out, something I read uh earlier on today, actually, about the Phantoms um bison game last night in Peterborough. It's the first league game of the season. I think Phantoms have played the same amount of preseason games as us, so that would have been their sixth game in in in three weeks. And already, uh, as they walked around to the changing room last night, so from what I gather, it was only a very, very small section, a very, very small section. So that could have been two or three um or a larger group. There were actually boos and and jeers. Um directed uh Ash Tate as they walk towards the changing room. So that's going to be worth keeping an eye on because you know we know that Ash Tate, highly capable, very, very capable coach, legend as a player. Um, does he deserve that kind of treatment this early in?

Harrison 44:45

Yeah, I mean, what that was one that's two games into the season, fresh off the back of beating the champions. Uh, it's yeah, that that will be interesting to keep an eye on. But yeah, I I think preseason, though, you look at them facing lightning, they took lightning to overtime in a game where again lightning outshot the Phantoms heavily. So if you look at that, they probably did well to come away with well, it would have been a point if it was regular season. And then at home, it was just that third period from the lightning where they just had more energy. And so I don't think it's I think it's a bit harsh, really, if the if they're a some boozer take this early on, uh a week into the actual regular season. I mean, it'll be an interesting week weekend for them because they've got a double header against the Knights, and the Knights, one of their bogey teams is the Phantoms, so that will be interesting. So we'll have to keep an eye.

Chris 45:39

I I've I've got that as a split weekend for those two. I think uh, you know, two home wins there, I think. Yeah. Uh on those.

Harrison 45:47

Yeah.

Chris 45:47

Um, as you say, uh, on to this weekend where we we we play the uh the two teams that that had a double header um last weekend and score scored a hatful of goals with uh between them.

Harrison 45:59

Yeah, I mean Romford scored 15 across two games and Bristol scored 11. And I think the story of that is more the quality of the imports that both sides have, I think, are good is is really telling. You look at the likes of uh the Raiders, we'll start off on the Saturday night fixture, um, which is obviously at home to the Romford Raiders. If you haven't already, get your tickets for that one. We nearly sold out last weekend. Let's see if we can do it again this weekend. Um, but you look at that, and it's that the that import pairing that they have got at the moment of Barrett Kerwin and Leo Bacallo. That seems to be something special that's given me a bit of a memory of Sean Miller and Andrew Schufeld.

Chris 46:41

Yeah, 14 points between them over the weekend.

Harrison 46:44

Cross bonkers. It's mental numbers. But the imports have always been something that Sean Easton's done really well at the Raiders as well, and just Rumford in general have always done really well when it comes to finding imports. I mean, you look you you go back, Adam Lastrum, they um took from Lightning. Um, but then you've also got Sean Miller, you've got Andrew, um Andrew Schufeld, you've got um Andrew Coxhead. Like they've brought some very good imports in. Jarrett Baker, top point scoring D-man last season. So they're gonna be a dangerous side, but it's one of those that you've almost got to shut that top line out. If you can shut that top line out, then that's where Lightning are gonna use their four lines to to try to overcome it.

Chris 47:29

Yeah, I think that's I think that's gonna be the uh gonna be the case with him. And I think um, you know, they're gonna again, once again this season, I think they're gonna be reliant on CC um in that in net, although they've got Ryder to back him up. Um but you know, I mean I think Sean Easton's I mean Sean Easton uh has always been a canny coach for me. He's uh he's he's always been uh switched on. He you know, he's he's had not great times at Romford in the past, but he's you know he obviously came he came back and um you know it's been a bit up and down for him. But you know, when you start starting the season like that, like we say with those imports, and you know, the two imports scoring seven points apiece. But if you look at the Brits in there as well, I mean Jake Sylvester and TJ Anderson, five points over the weekend. Um, you know, they're they've they've started well.

Harrison 48:21

They have, yeah. And I mean, that's not even mentioning the likes of Brandon Ayliff as well, who is on a ridiculous run of straight games for the Raiders. I think there's almost 400 games where he's not missed a single one, including preseason cup playoffs. It's some real run that he's on. But even the sort of the people you wouldn't maybe expect to get some points, like Stanley Johnston, the D-Man, getting two points across the two games as well. So it seems to be that Romford have almost refined their squad this season, as opposed to sort of trying to do like a reset or adding, they've almost sort of just taken bits and added. So someone like No Yusven Scotonis from Peterborough, very good young D man. And at a place like Romford, he's gonna get a bit more ice time than he might have had at Peterborough, and that could be a nice little move for him, especially if he's gonna be partnered up with, say, Jack Cooper.

Chris 49:18

So, where do you think the danger comes on Saturday night at the uh at the Thunderdome at the Milton Keynes Arena uh against this Romford side? I mean, we obviously know that that Lightning have got four strong lines, so I guess Pete to a certain extent has got the ability to keep rotating those those lines, but Romford don't really have that luxury, do they?

Harrison 49:38

No, and that's where I think it's all going to come down to how hard Lightning come out in that first and second period. Um, because those first two lines for the Raiders, just by going by the three import forwards and the three brick forwards that we mentioned, those are very much able to do damage no matter who they face. They could come up against any team and they would do damage. Um, but as the game goes on, are they gonna have to start relying on those third and fourth lines that are not as high scoring points-wise? But then when they're coming up against lines that say a lightning third line that on Saturday night included, I think it was Sean Norris and Jared White and Jordan Cowney. Like, yeah, it's it's one of those that are the likes of Louis White, who's new to the league, Spencer Yardy, who's new to the league, Joe Tomalin, who's a very good young forward for them. But when they're having to then put up those minutes against players like Archie Hazeldyne and Kel Beatty at the back, I think that is why Lightning have done so well in the third period. And it's no fault of the opposition, because look at the opposition that Lightning have faced already this season. And we're even talking about Rostock. If you go into that first game, Lightning may have lost it, but that third period, they were beaten by an absolute cracker. So it takes a lot in that third period, and they're gonna have to. I think Romford are gonna have to come out hard and fast and try and get a couple early goals. If they can get the couple early goals, silence the home crowd, they've already done the hard part.

Chris 51:20

Yeah. And then, of course, on the Sunday, it's the uh it's a long trip down the uh the M4 to uh to Bristol.

Harrison 51:28

Yes, and Bristol will have the benefit of having the Saturday night off as they start their weekend on Friday away to their rivals, the Swindon Wildcats. That'll be an interesting game, especially as both teams took two losses at the weekend. One of them's gonna want to rectify that. Bristol are gonna want to spoil their rival's uh home party, should we say? Um, and the Pipples have got some very good players in their ranks as well. You look at the top five point scorers so far for the Pitbulls, it's all imports. All Canadian Dylan Stewart with seven assists. I mean, Larkin and would be looking at that thing, like worrying about his total. Um, John Dunbar, we know what quality he has from the time at Glasgow and then and Guilford, and then now Solway recently as well. Um, Robbie Fisher, the newcomer into the league, again, not so not many people really sure what he would offer, but again, five points in two games. And then for me, the standout, Jake Britnall. He is lethal.

Chris 52:36

And this is this is the thing because during the close season, obviously during the sign-ins and everything else, people have got keeping close eyes on everybody else, and you know, they're looking at oh, yeah, we'd sign this and so-and-so's gone there, and so and so's gone there. Actually, Bristol have flown a little bit under the radar, certainly with with their imports, without a shadow of a doubt with their imports. But actually, that's and and some people were thinking actually they were worrying for them, for example. You know, if you look on socials and and certain forums and stuff like that. I they're gonna be another team that potentially I don't think they're gonna be challenging for honors at the end of the season, let's be honest. But they're gonna be a very, very, very dangerous team to play on any given night.

Harrison 53:22

Yeah, you looked at them last season and they were beating, they beat Hull a good couple times, they beat Lightning a couple times, they even beat Leeds, I think, at their place as well. So, in terms of the quality they have, it it's not you you can't ignore it because, as we said, you've got Dylan Stewart, John Dunbar, and Jake Bricknall on a line, then you've got Robbie Fisher, um, you've also got Sean Morris who's on a two-way with um the Coventry Blaze, you've got Josh Shaw, who's just come from Swindon as well, who knows how to find the back of the net, Jasper Foster, experienced as well, and then you've got the youngsters that the youngsters like Bobby Reagan, for example, had a good couple seasons with them, and Josh Paul looks incredibly bright. Um, and I think one of the more positive ones as well is Jacob Whitesey missed so much of last season due to injury. Yeah, he was a bigger miss than I think a lot of people realise. And as the season goes on, I'm hoping I'll be proven right by how important Jacob Whitsey is going to be into this Bristol side because he's one of those players from that pitbull side that I just look at and go, I would take him in a heartbeat.

Chris 54:35

And I think that's been the case in seasons past, isn't it? He's always been a standout. He's always been, you know, he he was unlucky with the with the injury last season, as you say. And I think it, but if he comes back and he's absolutely fit and he's got over that injury, um, I think he is going to be absolutely uh absolutely uh key at the back for um uh uh for Bristol. And I think obviously, you know, um we we mentioned him when we were talking to heads earlier. Um we know that they've got quality in the pipes this season because we know how good a netminder Will Curlin is.

Harrison 55:07

Yeah, and you've also got to remember that they've not just got Will Curlin as well, they've got Ben Norton as well. This is a goalie tandem that have got a lot of experience now coming back to Bristol. Obviously, this was the goalie tandem from I think the 22-23 season. Yeah, yeah. Then you've got to think Ben Norton after that went to Sheffield and then was sort of floating between their starter and their backup, then went to Telford and backed up with Brad Day. And even then, he got quite a bit of Ice time um with Brad Day, but he's got a chance to learn in a an institution such as Sheffield, which is a very strong hockey institution, then got to go back up against a former elite league netminder and a very experienced good Brit netminder in Brad Day, and he's now come back. Will Curlin has spent the last few years at um at Lightning with Jordan Headley and at a team where there were points where Headley got himself injured a couple years ago, and Curlin was our starter, and on multiple occasions he'd saved us in times where it was looking a little bit low. So you have to look at it and go, these are two netminders that have gone away, honed their c hone, oh can't get the words out, honed their craft, and have then come back and are now a better netminder than when they left in the first place. And so it's gonna be one that we've got to watch out for because Will Curlin played both games at the weekend, and I mean it was an exciting one.

Chris 56:40

Yeah, I mean it it is gonna be. It's gonna that's gonna be a tough challenge down at the panel pound on Sunday. I was just looking at Will's shots on goal over the weekend. He faced 82 shots. Um, I mean, there'll be some in there that he's probably won back, um, but that's a lot of rubber to face over over a weekend. Um, but they you know, I I think you know, I think I think Bristol over the over the season are gonna be one of those teams that no nobody is gonna want to play. Because it I they're one of those teams that could they they could ultimately decide where trophies go, if that makes sense.

Harrison 57:11

Yeah, 100%. They're gonna, as you said, they're they're not really going to be part of the um the probably of the league table at the at the top end of that league table come the end of the season. Um, but they're gonna do what they do best, and that is spoil the party. And when they get a full barn, which they do a lot of the time, it is a tough place to go. It's a long journey for most teams, and it's a long journey back. It's it is never an easy place to go. There are no easy teams when it comes to the NIHL anymore. Um, and a moment of magic from anyone, especially someone like Jake Bricknell who can pull something out of nothing, a moment of magic from him, and and then maybe a power play or something, suddenly you can be two down.

Chris 58:01

Yeah. So that's Lightning's weekend. Still lots going on around the league as well, isn't there? There's some there's some really there's some mouth-watering matchups this weekend again.

Harrison 58:10

Honestly, there are some really big games going on, and you start off with that Swindon Bristol game on the Friday night as well. And Bristol, as we said, they come into the Lightning game having a day off, and that could be key as well. If Lightning get a troubled game against Romford, Bristol could come into that with a bit more confidence. On the Saturday night, it is Leeds Knights versus Peterborough Phantoms and Basenstoke Bison versus Whole Seahawks. That's gonna be a big one to watch.

Chris 58:36

That's gonna be a crack up, that's gonna be a crack.

Harrison 58:39

That could be one where you start looking at who's gonna be taking the spoils and who's gonna be setting themselves that um target to push on as the season goes on. Because I don't think anyone expected Bison to come out of that first weekend with four points. But if you result against Hull, then there's a lot of confidence they can take from that. Swindon then travel up to Dumfries to face Solway. Again, never an easy place to go. Solway gonna have to be on their A game, especially against the League Champions and without Dershaw and Stewart in there as well. Telford Tigers face the Sheffield Steel Dogs, um, and then obviously the Lightning face the Raiders. Then on the Sunday, the Steel Dogs host Solway as well. Very tough weekend, that is, for Solway facing the Cup and the League Champions in one weekend. And Lightning travel to the pound to face the Pitbulls. Romford Raiders, Lightning's opponents on the Saturday night have a home fixture against the Basingstoke Bison. Another one that could be very tasty if both imports from both sides could find the form.

Chris 59:48

That's that I think that one that one's got tasty and feisty written all over it.

Harrison 59:54

It's got feisty, and I I almost feel like it's gonna be another nine and eight, or it could be a two-one.

Chris 59:59

Yeah, it's not gonna be I don't think it's gonna be short of goals. I could be wrong, but you know. Yeah.

Harrison 1:00:05

Um then Hulsehawks Host Hotel for Tigers, and then finally, Peterborough Phantoms versus Leeds Nights. There is a few tasty fixtures this weekend across the NIHL. Um, obviously, we're very much focused on the Lightning. And if you haven't got tickets um for that game against the Raiders on the Saturday night, do go to the website mkhenlightning.co.uk. Get your tickets because there's not going to be many good seats left if you haven't got them by now. And if you're free on the Sunday, either catch the stream or make your way down to the pound. Join the Lightning Faithful, make some noise, and try and cheer the boys home. What will hopefully be from our side a four-point weekend? Absolutely. But yeah, I mean, that's the that's the weekend, really. Um, we do just want to obviously remind you, um, as mentioned earlier in the podcast, Jordan Headley's testimonial um on the 24th of April. Um, keep an eye on the socials as you will start hearing more about that as time goes on.

Chris 1:01:12

There will be an official announcement, probably uh well, certainly within the next, well, today or or within the next couple of days as well. And one thing I want to mention as well is is the great work that Dave Um and Co. on the supporters club have been doing a huge amount of new merchandise for this season that you've probably already seen the guys on the social modeling and um people are already wearing around a rink, of course. But that's all now on the uh online shop. That's on the uh the Lightning website that Harrison just mentioned as well. Um and don't forget, on the 10th of October, the first theme night of the uh the season, the Wild West night, um those shirts. Uh I think the well, the own own and loan shirts have all gone. Um but there will be raffles coming up on behalf of the supporters club uh in the not too distant future to secure your own and loan of those shirts as well. And of course, on game night, there will be um Ollie's grid and there'll be shirt off the back as well that the uh the supporters club will be selling. Um and I think there's something else on that on that as well. Oh, yeah, there's a limited run of replicas as well, isn't it? If they haven't gone already.

Harrison 1:02:16

There is. Um there might not be that many now as the orders might have already been placed. I think the um you've got to get your orders in very quickly if you want it in time for country night. Um hopefully Lightning's first country night. We'll see everyone kitted out in country outfits. Um, it'll be a good night. Um, good music as well. DJ Bertie will have the playlist set. I'm sure there's a lot of country fans out there as well. I know I'm gonna quickly shout out Aaron and Charlie on Lightning TV, who will have an absolute field day on that night.

Chris 1:02:49

But there'll be more details of that coming out as well. And in actually, incidentally, I saw uh the MKL Heritage um uh Facebook page and the website. Um, they do do amazing work just keeping the history of lightning going and you know, uh documenting the history of lightning goes. But they posted a photo the other day of uh Dave Bunyan with Nick Paul, and Dave was presenting a check from the supporters club, and I think it was about 15 years ago or something like that. Yeah. Um, and I think the check was something around about I think it was about 900 pounds or something like that. I was thinking how times have changed when you know the checks they present them now. But you know, that's all credit to uh you know Dave and everybody else who's involved with Supports Club and has been involved with Support Club over many many years now. But um, and he hates taking applaudits as well, but you know, um he's there and he he's he's the front man. But it's also a massive, you know, a massive shout out to everybody that's brought merchandise shirts and sponsored shirts over the years. It and and long may this continue because it's absolutely fantastic to see. And you know, that's the reason that that they they can continue to support the club in a way that they do. Fantastic bunch of people.

Harrison 1:04:00

Yeah, absolutely. They deserve all the applauders.

Chris 1:04:03

Right. Well, I think Harrison, that's pretty much all we've got time for uh this week, isn't it? And um don't forget, as Harrison's already said, um, if you haven't done it already, just get yourself onto the INE website and pick yourself up your tickets for this Saturday night's games. A seven o'clock face off, of course, uh down there in the Milton Keynes Arena. Uh Ron for the ring of in town that should be an absolute cracker. Um, but for now, thanks very much for watching. Thanks again to Jordan Network and thank you to you as well, Harrison. It's been uh absolutely fantastic chatting to you. And uh see you all again soon.