Mike 0:16

Welcome to the latest edition of the Lightning Talks podcast brought to you by Lightning TV where we discuss all things lifestack, Milton Keene's Lightning. It's Pimmy here, and I'm joined tonight by Harrison. Harrison, how are you, buddy?

Harrison 0:28

Doing alright, thank you. Yourself?

Mike 0:30

Yeah, doing doing well, doing well. Just about recovered from the uh road trip uh back from Sheffield. Little bit of a delay around Leicester and then down by Luton. Standard on a Sunday after half time, I suppose. So yeah, a little bit tired for that one, but worth it because yeah, coming back to the two points, as we'll we'll touch on in a bit further on in the uh in the podcast. Uh, but a good weekend, all things considered for the lightning.

Harrison 0:55

Yeah, I mean, you can't complain about four points, really. We say it. And it's been a couple weekends for the lightning, a couple tough weekends. Um, obviously, last weekend you had Swindon um away, which was in all honesty quite a good place to get one point. Um, weekend before that was a tough one in Hull. The weekend before that, a tough one at Romford. So it's been a while since the Lightning has got themselves a four-point weekend, and it's uh it's two big games, tough opposition, that they've managed to put to the sword in very different ways.

Mike 1:29

Definitely, and uh, we'll we'll start by looking at Saturday's game and uh on Halloween, very aptly it was the uh the Ashes Derby, and we hosted the Peterborough Phantoms who come into the game off a well back of a very heavy defeat uh in Romford in midweek, and also confidence a bit low. But in a in a derby game, you can't really uh take any game as a given, especially with something that highly emotionally charged and with a loud fan but crowds in uh near enough another full barn again. But it was the Lightning who uh well put the Phantoms to the sword, especially in the uh opening two periods.

Harrison 2:07

Yeah, for sure. And I think the the Phantoms could go into the game with a tiny bit of confidence, knowing that they had players like Luke Ferrara back from midweek who um just had a child. So congratulations to Luke Ferrara and his partner and his family as well. Um but also the introduction of Race Francis, um, which is massive, and we're not sure whether it is a two-way agreement or if it was just a bit of a helping hand, but either way, he looks like a quality player that he's got a big frame on him as well. Um, and the other one that's good to have back is Brad Bowering, um, a player that they've really missed on the blue line, especially without Tom Norton there as well. That's two key guys that they've missed, and getting one of them back was important. You could see how important Bowering is to that Phantom side. But as you said, yeah, Lightning started off very strong. The Phantoms managed to reply and get it back to one-all. Um, and you thought that we had a game on our hands, but and I want a quick mention Carter Hamill's solo goal was a thing of beauty.

Mike 3:11

Oh, it definitely was, and it was not long after the Phantoms had equalised, and we both spoke about it on the commentary on the stream as well. Lightning had dominated, got the go, go ahead, go, and then Phantoms pretty much with their real first venture and foray into the Lightning Zone, had a bit of possession, build-up line, and Ferrara tipped it in. I mean, credit to Luke Ferrara, 48 hours ago he was with his partner with the birth of his son, and 48 hours later he was redirecting uh a shot in and tipping it over the glove hand of Jordan Herdley. So credit to Ferrara because 48 hours after my little one was born, I'd pretty much have forgotten how to put my shoes on. So credit to Salute Ferrara for being able to do that. So and but then straight up we thought it's just gonna be one of those typical Lightning Phantoms games where we'd have a lot of possession, a lot of territory, but we just they'll just keep keep we won't be able to keep them away, we can't keep them away at arm's length. But then Carter Hamill decided I'm gonna pick the puck up in my my own zone and I'm just gonna go on a little solo run right through the middle of the ice and just fire it past Matt Hennessy.

Harrison 4:22

Yeah, I mean it was it was 28 seconds after Luke Ferrara's opener. Um, but it's the way that he picks it up with so much confidence and just drives at pace. And Liam Stewart's obviously there to support, and so is a bit further behind. But it's the fact that he just sort of toe-drags it past Pollard and I think Bowering or Thorpe. And the shot, I think Hennessy will want it back, but let's not take away from the entire move and yeah, Carter Hamill getting what was an another deserved goal uh to add to his accolades at the moment. But in that first period, we were thinking it was going to be a battle between Danny Waite and Carter Hamill to see who was going to end the night as top goalscorer because Danny Waite got one to equal Carter. Carter then got another to go ahead, and you just thought, okay, this is going to be the story of the night. Um, but yeah, Lightning ending the first period being four goals to one up, um, I think was probably quite fair. I don't think it deserved to be too much more than that, but they deserved the commanding lead that they'd got, but it was that second period where the they just blew the phantoms away.

Mike 5:36

Yeah, and it was just non-stop, it was relentless. There was I I know in previous years there's been some talk that the lightning maybe lacked a little bit of a killer instinct, but that evening they they were giving a treat for the home fans, especially, because they just turned it on in that uh second period, and the Phantoms at times were just chasing shadows, and lightning just purely dominated it, and it resulted after the seventh goal, just seeing uh Matt Hennessy skate to the bench. And I don't think Will Bray was quite ready to come on. We're not too sure whether that was a call from the bench or if that was just the decision from Hennessy to say that's it, game done.

Harrison 6:21

From looking at it back, it looked like Hennessy pulled himself. Uh it looked like he had basically the watching back after that seventh goal. I think it was Kel Beattie who fired it from just in front of the blue line, and it's gone through a relative crowd of traffic as well, to be fair to Hennessy, but it's gone quite central, and I think Hennessey had just sort of thought it's not his night. And to be fair to Bray, he came in, he and it was a few well-worked goals that Lightning got to get to the tenth, but after that, Will Bray was not being beaten, especially in that third period. He made some absolute blinders, and I think backing up an import netminder, you've got to be ready to come on, especially with that netminder rule now, um, getting that 600 minutes. And Will Bray has shown the capability that he has to step in when asked and to put up big performances because that third period, Phantoms were a different team.

Mike 7:22

Yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously, there was some talk of seeing it, a bit of discussion. Was it a little bit lightning had that one eye on the the next evening, well, next afternoon, because it was a four o'clock face-off on a Sunday against against Sheffield, so it's a very, very quick turnaround. Normally, then if you've say got a six o'clock face-off up in Yorkshire or something, so you got to set off that little bit earlier on the Sunday morning, be ready there in game time. Could have been a little bit on there, but Banner's got a couple of quick goals. But then from then on, Lightning again put the pressure on. Lightning were wanting to try and get another goal, and you could tell both Danny Waite and Jared White were trying to get that hatty a goal on there. They both got a brace, neither of them quite got the third. But Will Bray he came in cold in that second period, but third period he'd got warmed himself up, he got into the game and had just decided no, this is this is bad enough for my teammates, I'm going to try and keep the lightning at bay here, and hopefully my forwards will help out and give a little bit of respectability to that score line.

Harrison 8:52

Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think the story of it is more the teamwork from the Lightning, as opposed to it wasn't a lot of individual performances, really, because there are only what three players, other than obviously Jordan Headley, that didn't get a point in that night, and that was Rutkiss, Hazeldyne, and Griffin. Everyone else contributed to at least one of the goals, and that tells you the story that in a squad of what 18, when you've got 15 players that uh that have put points on the board, that tells you everything about how this wasn't just uh one line had it all, this was a depth win. This this was this sort of depth win more than it was anything else, and it was good for the Phantoms in that third period. And we said it on comms as well. The aim for that third period was just win the period. If you're phantoms, just win that period, give yourself a little bit of confidence going into their Sunday game at home to Telford, and that's what they did. They did very well in that third period. Obviously, Lightning might have stepped their foot off the gas a little bit, but credit where credit's due with the Phantoms, they were a lot more clinical, there was a lot more like want and drive in that third period, and yeah, they deserved the the two goals that they got, and hopefully they can see what they have to offer because the table might not look pretty reading for them, and we'll come up in onto the table in a bit, but they've got quality and they know they do, and they they showed it in that third period.

Mike 10:26

Yeah, definitely. And I'm I'm glad you touched upon the that that team performance and the team stats on there because sometimes you see like a big score, like 10 goals scored. You might see one guy on the individual stats that would get like six or seven points and had a hand in most goals, but there is again a very even spread, and uh Pete doesn't he he says that he doesn't have a first, a second, or third line, so to speak. They're all equal equal with like points contributions, and he sees strengths in every single one, and he has a mix of uh stars of player in each line, and it it's apparent now in that that depth was I think just what uh kept that momentum going in that second, because uh it was relentless at times like we were we could barely catch a breath, so let alone what the Phantoms D could do. There was one bit I think where uh the Phantoms couldn't just clear the zone, and lightning just uh didn't let up, they kept bringing out a fresh skater, kept changing on the fly every so often, cycling and moving the puck, and it was uh really good to see, but so dominant. And I don't think I've seen an Ashes game with there've been some big score lines before, but that's mainly because one team's just been a bit more clinical than the other, and it just leads to a bigger score. But I've not seen such a one-sided in term game in terms of just shots, territory, possession that I think we saw on Halloween.

Harrison 11:45

Yeah, because I mean you go back to say even the the playoff final a couple years ago, and despite the score line being quite one-sided in in 6-1, it was never it never felt like a 6-1 game. It didn't feel like Lightning were like they felt like the team that they deserved the win for sure, but it you weren't looking at it thinking that it was an embarrassment. Whereas the game on Saturday, it there were times that you just sort of looked at it and it was almost as if the Phantoms players had sort of like down tools after the fifth or the sixth, and it was I mean, I think Jared White getting those two goals at the the end of the the second period, and especially his second one where he's just taken it on stride and rifled it top corner. I mean, we've said it before, and Pete said it as well, he needs to shoot more, and that's why, because when he does shoot, he'll he'll score, and he showed that incredibly well. But yeah, it was one of those performances that the Phantoms players will want to forget, and I think once it got to six or the seventh, they probably were looking at that Telford game and just trying to sort of like go, look, this game's gone from us. Let's focus on trying to get the lines sorted, let's see what we can do to prepare for tomorrow. And uh ultimately it didn't go too to plan for them, but it it went the Sunday game, went to plan for Lightning, didn't it?

Mike 13:08

Yeah, yeah. Well, I'll quickly touch on it. I just wanted to say one thing just on Saturday's game as well. Not many penalty minutes, and I don't know if it was just the score line or just how lightning were playing, but did you just feel sometimes it lacked maybe the intensity of previous years against Phantoms? I don't know if that was just to the state the Phantoms were in, and Lightning just were there to get the job done and get the two points, entertain the crowd, obviously. Ten goals. If you're a lightning fan, you would have left that game very happy. You've you put ten on your collect nearest rivals in in terms of geography and the biggest rivals probably still in terms of like rivalry, but it just felt like games of yesterday, like especially after like with about five or six or seven one previous year, you would have thought the Phantom's flavor would have left a hit on there just to try and fire the team up a bit, do something just to like get the crowd lifted, just show a bit of fight, and it it just didn't happen.

Harrison 14:04

No, yeah, I mean, yeah, the it was four one in just under 17 minutes. There's three minutes there that before the end of the first period, the Phantoms could have laid someone, laid a hit on someone, started a fight or something, just sort of like go into that sort of second that first period break and just fire the fire the guys up with just something to rile that bench up. And they're just and because they didn't do that, the lightning turned the gas on and and then the second period was was a blowout, really. I mean, what 6-0 that second period was. So yeah, it's it wasn't ideal from the Phantoms, and I think that it'll be a very different game this weekend in Breton um on Sunday between the two sides. But yeah, I mean it was a good start to the weekend for the Lightning, and it was a very different performance on the Sunday, wasn't it?

Mike 14:57

Yeah, and I'm glad you're agreeing. I'm not just being a grumpy uh millennial pining for old-time hockey. So uh, but yeah, it was a very different challenge and a rink where historically lightning have always had a bit of a struggle. Ice Sheffield, for whatever reason, it's a tough, tough building for the Lightning to go and get points in. And for the first well, almost half hour of this this game, it was very, very tight, not much scoring opportunities. We'll just say that both defenses were playing very well, and uh Shane Owen making some big saves, uh birthday boy Jabber as well making some saves in the Lightning goal. And both teams sort of almost feeling each other out was very different to uh the home game in Milton King's a couple of weeks back, where there was goals pretty much from the get-go, and in the opening couple of minutes, there was the doing exchange goals. This one was uh much tight to affair, and really only thing of note prior to uh the opening goal from Sean Norris was there was a little bit of a coming together with uh Carter Hamill and CJ Garcia. A few verbals, both exchanged cross-checks, and then uh the gloves were dropped. Looked like it's just a recircling carter, lost his footing a little bit and slipped a bit, and uh wasn't much in the way of a fight there. I think Garcia probably landed a couple, so we'd probably say that he edged it. They still carried on chatting to the Simbin, but we'd probably say for one thing from Carter Hamill Yes, he's been scoring a lot of goals, but he's just taken arguably one of, if not, the best D-man in the league out of the game for seven minutes, uh sitting a major. So and also as well with a penalty point to CJ Garcia as well, uh, because he's got that fight fighting major. He lifted both sets of fans for a little bit as well, because it was a bit quiet in that building for a little while. Um and then yeah, the go-ahead goal, though courtesy of Sean Norris, who managed to find a way through Shane Owen. But I will say both teams they were really trying. There was a good battle there. I think maybe Lightning, if they're being overly critical, maybe didn't quite make as many fluid passes as they did in that second period against Peterborough. There was a few no-look passes, and the player would move aside. There was a couple of offsides as well, which was was a bit frustrating. But Jared Well, whilst he had to make a he made a big save to deny uh Walker Sommer towards the end of the second period, and it was Sommer doing what he's done so well over the last year and a bit in the NIHL, got the puck in the slot, drew back, ready for the quick release of the snapshot, and Jared Well had dropped into that butterfly position. Somet saw the opportunity. I'm gonna go for top corner over the glove side, and just as he released, Jared popped up, jumped up, straight into the glove, held onto the catch, and you could just see Sommod skating around and hear the little shake of the head, a little wry smile of yeah, I'm not gonna beat this guy, am I tonight? And I don't think Whaler gave away a single rebound all night. He just when he froze the puck he needed to, when he played the puck, he played the puck, and you could just tell he was playing so confidently that the lightning team in front of him grew in confidence as well. And then into the third, you got to that bit where it was still one-nil, and you just thought, oh, an unlucky bounce. Sheffield maybe just have a little bit of luck, they could just get a go-ahead go, and then David Thompson fired two goals in, I think it was uh about 68 seconds, and uh the third goal he got uh an assist from Danny Waite. So Danny Waite is kept for point streak alive.

Harrison 18:41

Yeah, I think we were all looking out for that as well. It got to the third period, and I'm sat there thinking, come on, come on, don't, don't, don't do this, don't do this. Um, I think probably um Danny Waite was probably happier with the third goal than what David Thompson was.

Mike 18:57

If Debbie looks at it from the celebrations, David Thompson sort of did his uh hand race, it turned to he was in front of the Lightning fans as well, right to the corner, raised his hands, raised the sticks, so mate, turned around and then nearly got flawed against the boards because Danny Waite had steamrolled it in to hug him. So I think I think I think what I think Danny must know that he's got that point streak going on.

Harrison 19:17

So if he doesn't, then he definitely does now.

Mike 19:20

But yeah, we probably said that now watch him. He'll probably be uh man-marked by Ryan Rent by Ryan Welser on Saturday now, just for the entirety of the game.

Harrison 19:28

Most likely, but it did seem like a performance where it was more that Jared Whale didn't need to be called upon all that much, as opposed to Jared Whale being good. But as you said, I think the contrasting performances from Whaler against Swindon away last week, which is a very tough away rate to be your first away game in the NIHL. And because it was quite a heavy goal scoring game, you you think that maybe the confidence might have gone. But I think now he's got that game under his belt, he's got a couple um games, he's got the home one against Bristol, the away game in Swindon, and now the away one in Sheffield. It's just that confidence, he's holding onto the puck a little bit more, he's sort of knowing his teammates a little bit more because there's only so much you can learn from watching on the sidelines um when you're injured. So it's definitely picked up in confidence, but as you said, it was a defensive masterclass, really.

Mike 20:25

It it was, and uh Tomo got the uh the player of the match for the two goals, and it could have gone so well, but it could have gone to either say someone like Archie Salisbury, who just had such a solid defensive game on there. And uh Sheffield went for broken the final few minutes, they pulled Shane Owen for the extra skater. Um, and then it became a chat almost like the uh the pregame challenge of who can score the goal from in the empty net. And uh, I think the final minute took about four and a half minutes because the lightning kept getting the puck of it. It was trying to shot, try the shot, try the shot, and every time it went wide for icing. I'm not gonna lie, I think the closest that the the goal came to it came from a misplaced pass. Uh, I think it may have been Johnny Phillips was just trying to put it back to the the player on the blue line, and it went between the two players, and we just sort of sort of in slow-mo trickling towards the goal, and it just went wide. But the closest to scoring was John O'Phillips, and uh I think as well, the lightning player that touched the puck last before that would have been Jared Wells. So, had it gone in, Whaler would have got been credited with the goal. So that would have been a very interesting one on for his birthday to have got a shutout adults to be credited with a goal.

Harrison 21:39

Yeah, I don't think you could really get a better goal, uh better birthday if you're a goaltender, really.

Mike 21:45

But yeah, so it was it was the it was interesting one, but lightning fans went home happy. There was a fairly good following, a good 40 to 50 left, I'd say that within the the away block, and like in Milton Keynes, there was plenty of fancy dress in the Halloween, and a big big result for Lightning because it is a tough ring to go to, and it was also Sheffield's first regulation defeat at home this season. And to do it with a shutout as well. I think really the stuff you can't uh not talk about how big a two points that is, especially as we said the previous three away games that only taken two out of a possible six. Arguably probably the three toughest rinks to go to uh at present in the league, though, in Romford, Twindon and Hull. But Sheffield again is another tough road trip and they started the month as well away at Leeds. So I'm probably going to say five very tough road trips, and Lightning came away with two wins, two OT losses, and uh and a regulation loss. That's a lot of bad return, really, and winning all the home games.

Harrison 22:49

So yeah, I think we could have been looking at a very different sort of outcome maybe in previous seasons as well. Um, and know that Lightning have very much struggled to win away to Leeds, and getting a win like that in Leeds was uh was massive. Getting um a point away on a very informed Bromford um was another big point. The the loss to Hull, I think, was probably more of a wake-up call um than anything else. That the Lightning are not indestructible, and there is there are teams in that chase and pack. The the defeat in Twindon uh in a shootout, I think, was more just two very good sides playing at their A game. And I think if you could if you could share two points and give both teams two points, that's one of the games you probably would. Um and then to get a shutout on the road as well, it's not often you get that. I mean, Lightland's last shutout was, if I remember rightly, in January of 2025 against Bristol. So that shows how big an away shutout is.

Mike 23:53

That's a good start, that and yeah, I hadn't even realised it had been that long since the last shutout. So it it will it will help with the team and defensively as well. Lightning are now tied with Hole for the best defence in the league, uh following on uh Hull. Well, we'll go into it in in in part two of the podcast, but yeah, Hole's defeat in Swindon. But it a very good four points for Lightning, good way to see it see out ahead of uh Great Brit the Great Britain call-ups, and there will be a few players missing. And uh probably have to mention uh just a quick bit of news about Jake Hayward getting a call-up, uh got announced Monday morning just before the play the plane sets off for Poland.

Harrison 24:33

So uh I hope it got told before it got announced to everyone, otherwise he's had to pack his bags really quick.

Mike 24:40

I I I think that probably was talking yesterday, and I know that uh because Liam Stenson's injury happened on the Friday night, and I think it they they realised uh yeah that he wouldn't be able to make it, I think, following on the Saturday after he got assessed and which which sent's a very quick recovery road for uh for that one, and he's hopefully back on the ice for Solway soon.

Harrison 24:59

Yeah, and hopefully he gets another opportunity with GB because he absolutely deserved the call up as well from Liam Stanton He may not as far to go at the February one because it's being held up in Glasgow, so uh just up the road, just up the road for him.

Mike 25:12

So he may hopefully yeah, Stence will be back in time for that one and he'll get a look in for the uh for the games going up in February around Valentine's up at the uh up at Glasgow. I don't I think it's at the Brayhead.

Harrison 25:23

I don't think it's at the I know yeah it is yes, but we've got a guest now, haven't we?

Mike 25:31

We we have indeed, and uh just before we uh just before uh we we started recording the podcast, Harris, we were chatting about this, and I I believe now it's uh he's pretty much now almost completed the set because I think we've had all but two uh lightning players on the podcast as a guest, and now it will be down to one. Uh but uh we are now pleased to be joined by uh the man with probably the most uh uh infamous and uh sing-along worthy chant out of all the all the lightning team at the moment. Uh, but we we we caught up and we'll be bringing on to the podcast. Lifestack MK Lightning's number 11, Harry Gulliver. Thanks for joining us on the podcast, Harry. Uh, I believe as well now you're uh completed the set now of uh all the Lightning players. I think it's just Lewis Conroy to go now uh that joins us on the Lightning Talks podcast. But uh off the back of a very, very good weekend uh and two positive wins. How did you think both games went?

SPEAKER_01 26:31

Uh I mean the Peterborough game, we we came out flying in the first two periods. I thought all the boys were ready to play and um up for playing that game because obviously they're a rivalry that we we know about and Sheffield. I mean, it's always tough playing away, playing in a different uh in a different ring. So I felt like we we done well to keep it 1-0 until the third, and then we got those two extra goals just to just to help get it over the line.

Mike 26:59

Two very sort of different games because uh against Peterborough, it was what 10-1 after two periods. Then Sheffield had to be a bit more defensive, I'd say, because there wasn't as many goals, and it was two very, very good netminders on their game on the Sunday night, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 27:15

Yeah, yeah. I mean, let's see at the Sunday night. I mean, it was like uh Shane Owen on Sheffield, he's he's a good goalie, he's played in the elite league, so you've got to you've got to like get in front of him, make sure he's not seeing the puck. And I felt like we were doing that that game, but he he was saving some of the re rebounds that we were getting, and then third period we just got those two goals that just got it over the line. So yeah.

Mike 27:38

Great stuff, and and how do you think the uh season's going so far? Because we're about a quarter of the way through now, aren't we?

SPEAKER_01 27:44

I think I I honestly feel like we're doing we're doing good. I feel like we've got more that we can show. I feel like there's still more that other people, and including myself, I feel like I could give. But I feel overall as a team, I feel like we're doing really well, and everyone's buying into what we want to do here. So I think it's going really good at the moment.

Mike 28:02

And uh and the team together, it's a a lot of good camaraderie and uh sort of brotherhood there. It's it's quite a close-knit team by the looks of things, looking for the uh looking in from the outside.

SPEAKER_01 28:13

Yeah, I mean like there's there's guys that have played it before that have come back, so that helps, and then you're adding in the new guys who are joining, and it's probably easy for them to to walk into a team where everyone sort of knows each other. So I mean everyone gets along. We've got a good change in room, and everyone's yeah, everyone, everyone's close.

Harrison 28:34

Obviously, your role has changed since you first joined Lightning, what, nearly four years ago now? And you've played up and down the lines, you've played with every teammate probably that on the ice. But how do you feel your role this season differs to to previous seasons? And is that Pete that's been really the main architect of that?

SPEAKER_01 28:54

Uh I mean, I mean, you look at our team, we've got loads of loads of players that can play first or second line. I feel like everyone's just doing their bit. Like, like I mean, we're on the third line, it doesn't matter. We're we're we're going out there, we're still trying to score, we're still trying to produce, and yeah, I feel like we've got so much depth that it's it's nice that everyone can go out there and and do something for the team, and that's that's basically what I've been doing on the line that I'm on now. So yeah.

Mike 29:25

And Pete has said uh it's it it's a third line, but it's not a third line, and the there's a lot of points and a lot of talent on that line because you're on there with uh Jared White and with uh Max Stewart, and Jared when he's got the puck in his possession, he's really hard to take to seal the puck off and and take it to possession back off of him. I mean, are you sometimes just sit there on the ice watching him just thinking, wow, he this guy's guys guys got some skills on him?

SPEAKER_01 29:52

Yeah, I mean I mean Jared, I think Jared's a great player, he's really good at protecting the puck, he battles hard, he uh goes to the net. I feel like sometimes maybe he doesn't maybe get recognition that he should do because he does do the little things on the ice, I think. But uh yeah, sometimes when he's battling, I do look at him, I think, oh, should I go help him? But half of the time he does sort of like walk out of the corner with the puck. So yeah, no, he's good. Jared's a good guy, he's I think he's doing really well for this team.

Mike 30:18

Uh as you get in uh minutes on the power play line, and to know you scored what I think is one of your trademark goals against Swindon the other week, where you're just in front of a slot and you're finding that one timer pass for any more. Is that a position of like a part on the uh man advantage that you like to do, just finding that little bit of extra space and being able to just capitalise from in front of the net?

SPEAKER_01 30:38

Yeah, I mean I've I've played I've played in that spot for a few years now, and I think I'm kind of I don't know, like got it got it dialed in a bit, I guess. I mean, like I just yeah, I mean, I like going in front of the net. If I can pop out and someone slips me a pass through the middle, I'll I'll have a goal on it and see what happens. But yeah, I I I like playing there. I've done, I mean, last couple of seasons, I've done pretty well playing in that position. So yeah, carry on doing it.

Mike 31:04

Brilliant. And uh for this weekend will be another couple of tough games. Swindon at home, and then you've got uh Peterborough away. Obviously, a couple of guys will be away with uh GB, as will Pete. So uh is that going to be an interesting challenge and possibly opportunity for players such as yourself to maybe get some extra minutes because obviously the uh that top six spot that Carter's really had all season will be open for especially for that game on a Saturday against Swindon. So is there an opportunity for someone to like take advantage and come in and just prove their worth with maybe some extra minutes?

SPEAKER_01 31:38

Yeah, I mean I think with the depth that we've got on this team, like I mean, obviously the boys go out to G V, like fair play to them, and um everyone's happy that they're they're going to GB and they all enjoy it and have a good time. But I feel like the guys that we've got here can still do a job and still get get us the wins that we need. And I feel like also like Cowney coming back, he's been out. Like, I don't know, he might be back next weekend, we don't know yet. But if he's back, that's another guy that hasn't played, and he he could easily slot into a lineup and help us out. Like, we're we're all ready anyway.

Harrison 32:11

So, yeah, and that's something that I think we can all notice as well is the fact that as you said earlier, everyone's really buying into it, and with three of Lighton's defenders going to GB as well, that Saturday at the moment is looking like there's four D men at the moment, so there's every chance that that depth has to be shown in a different way, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:32

Yeah, I mean, I mean, it is what it is. We're gonna be losing three other guys, we're gonna have to deal with that, and I feel like we're gonna deal with that fine as a team, and I feel like everyone's gonna show up on Saturday and still give their best and get the wins that we need.

Mike 32:49

Um, you've you said earlier on how you've been here for a few seasons now, and what is it that makes playing for Milton King's Lightning just so special?

SPEAKER_01 33:02

Uh I mean when I I remember when I played against it at Romford, and I remember always thinking, oh, like this place is pretty good, like crowded loud, and I always thought, oh, I'd like to play it. And then when when I've started to play it, I've realized like how like the fans really like buy into the club, and it's like a lot of people give a lot of their time to come and watch us, and and I just think like I I like playing it because I just like how everyone's together and the sports club, and I just like yeah, and also like the teams we've had too, like that that's helped. I've always enjoyed myself, everyone gets along, and I feel like that's why I've always wanted to come back.

Mike 33:40

That's great to hear, and uh you've you've got your own you've got your own song from the fans as well. Uh do you get a bit of uh do you get a bit of ribbon for the boys as well for the uh for the uh sold just sold my car charts?

SPEAKER_01 33:51

They do give it to me a little bit, I ain't gonna lie. But uh to be fair, I don't even know where it's coming from because the amount of times I get asked, um, like do I sell cars and I don't. Or or people like or people ask me to like sell a car for them. I'm like, mate, like I don't I don't sell cars, I just I don't even know where it's coming, but yeah, I don't know. It's nice when everyone's singing your name, it's fine, no matter what song it is. But I want to find out like where that whole I don't know if it just rhymes in the song, I guess. I don't know, but yeah, the boys do sometimes sing it to me and like yeah, I don't know.

Harrison 34:22

I think I remember in the 22-23 season, your chance started off as what used to be what was last season, um, Jordan Spadaforce and is now Daddy Wayne.

SPEAKER_01 34:33

I remember yeah, yeah. It was I I remember it was one, it was something like that, and then I remember just one game, it just started like they started singing like just sold my car to Harry Gulliver. And I was just like, I remember hearing it, and I was like, I was thinking, I don't know what where the hell where's that come from? Like I don't know, it's pretty good. Whenever I'm singing it, it does sound good, but I just don't know where it's coming from.

Mike 34:55

We'll try and find out. It's probably like a West Ham or Arsenal fan. It was like the uh Pakatar or Mikel Arteta chart or something, so it's probably one of them. I mean, I'm an Arsenal fan, so uh maybe it is that maybe maybe we'll say it's the Arteta, it was it was a Arteta connection for you. I mean, obviously, that I've we know you're an Arsenal fan of so's Malik, and he was representing his Arsenal stuff last last week on the pod.

SPEAKER_03 35:20

I saw that, I saw that.

Mike 35:21

Um is there a bit of banter with all the different football fans? Uh like especially like the British guys, they've got their favourite football teams. The Canadian lads there a little bit, just thought, wow, okay, this is uh this is crazy. What are they talking about?

SPEAKER_01 35:35

Well the Canadian boys are too busy calling it soccer, so the they're still trying to they're still trying to figure it out. But yeah, no, there's a there's there's some good banner with the with the football on the team. I mean, like Max Sportsman United, they're going for a little bit of a tough time at the moment, so we'd like to give it to him. Uh I mean head sports Spurs, you know, that's tough. It's got to be a tough uh life that in it. So yeah, but me me are you a Spurs fan as well? Yeah, no. It's something at least he got a couple of wins, so you do you get you get that yeah, no, but like me, me, Carter and Malik. There used to be more, I think Rio was an Arsenal fan. Chony's an Arsenal fan too, even though he likes to support Chelsea now and then. But he he uh yeah, I think he's an Arsenal fan. But yeah, there is some good banner on the team with the old football.

Mike 36:23

So amazing, and uh moving back on to hockey because there's probably a few fans that would have probably just zoned out whilst we've we've been talking about football. But um moving forward for the rest of the season, obviously it's been a great start. And is it just keeping that momentum going and keeping the train running? And obviously, I know you all want to win, you're all desperate for silverware, it's still a long way off. But is it just building on this solid start and carrying that momentum going?

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Yeah, I just me personally, I think like us as a team, I think we just have to take like every week as it is and just keep you know, like getting those points, keep them consistent, and just yeah, just keep just keep going the way we're going. I think. I think every I personally, I think everyone's bought into what we want to do here, and I think if we just keep going on that path, we can do something really special this season.

Mike 37:14

Amazing. Uh Harrison, you got any other questions?

Harrison 37:18

Yeah, I wanted to to first of all sort of like look at obviously you've had a lot of time, as Pimmy said, on the power play. Um but do you have uh like if you could build an ideal power play line from all of the lightning players that you've played with? Who would you play on it?

SPEAKER_01 37:40

That's a tough question, that is just to make it fair for the guys that are including in it or can I just pick like a yeah, yeah.

Harrison 37:50

Well you've got to be in your position. Alright, okay, alright, I see.

SPEAKER_01 37:53

Alright, I'd have. Alright, where would I have? Alright, this is tough. Uh I'd have County on there. I'd have V. I'd have Dylan Lawrence. How many's that? I've got four. That's four, isn't it? That's four, yeah. I need one more. I'm going all forwards here. I feel like I need a D-man. I mean I could have put Herms in there too. Herms was good. Herms was good on the power play. Uh I'll say Herman. Let's go all forwards. I I I don't I yeah, I feel like that would be a pretty That's pretty good.

Mike 38:28

You've got two as good assisters in Cowns and Vita, and then you've got yourself putting in front of that, and then you've got Dills and Herms who could just fire them in from like from the blue line. Yeah, that's that's lethal. I mean, that's tough.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

I mean, I mean that's I mean I mean that's tough. There's there's so many guys to choose. I mean, Shawnee could get on there. Even the ones we've got now, like Daddy Waits, like that's that's tough. We could have about five really good power plays from all the guys that have probably played it, to be honest. So yeah, I feel like that's pretty good.

Harrison 38:56

Very, very forward, very forward-wise power play, but yeah, but a lot of players are two-way forwards now, so it's not as uh Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:04

I mean, I I'm trying to think of like a D-man I could chuck on it. I mean Malik could go on there, I guess. Kel, but yeah, no. Yeah, I'll pick that one though, just but yeah, I feel that's pretty good.

Harrison 39:13

And is there a game uh separate question, but is there a game that stands out from your time as a lightning player that you think was either your best game or just a standout memory so far?

SPEAKER_01 39:26

I don't really have one on the top of my head for uh stand. I mean, every standout game, I like to I like to have a little standout game against Romford. I feel like I always had one of them, but uh I'd say Coventry. I think like I think covet the Coventry weekend, I think the Leeds game that we played that semi-final, like that was like that was such a big game for us, and I think I think that was the final and it was just it was yeah, that was just such a good game because it was just back and forth. I mean they scored with like what was it, like a couple seconds left in the end, and then it went into OT, and then it was just yeah, that was uh that's a game that I I remember most with MK. And obviously we went on to win it, but I think the Leeds game, yeah, that I remember that the most. That was a good game.

Harrison 40:11

I think you you interviewed um Cowney in the summer after that, and he said that his one of his memories of that uh leads goal um with like six seconds left was that he just went to the bench and basically said, We're we're playing our game, we're gonna keep playing. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:27

It was it was just that yeah, that uh that game was just it was mad. It was like back and forth the whole time. I mean, it was like that realistically, I I personally think that should have been should have been the final, but we ended up playing in the semi-final, and um, yeah, it was back and forth, and then they scored, like even when they scored in the third period, like nearly like it was really close to us winning it in regular time, and then it went into overtime, and I just like just by our bench, like we just weren't like there was nothing, it was just all right, we're carrying on. Like there weren't anything like we really wanted to get that trophy so bad, and yeah, that's one game I do remember playing in Middle Games.

Mike 41:06

Just on that game, Harry, I think in that overtime, I think I still think it was a bit of a harsh call. I think you got called on a high sticks. Were you just in that penalty box? Like, I can't watch it. Were you were you confident they'd kill it, or were you just sat there like I can't watch this? I like can't Jeopardy can't watch it.

SPEAKER_01 41:20

Like I was sitting there and I've got like, do you know, like I didn't even think it was that bad. I remember like it was like I think it was like me or Kieran Brown, like sort of I don't know what we did. We went into each other. I thought, I don't know, I thought like it was a bit soft, but anyway, I went into the penalty box and I'm just sitting there and I'm just like like first thing you're thinking, you're like, oh mate, it's overtime. And I'm like, no, you're just watching, and I'm just like, please, like, please kill it. And then to be fair, the penalty kill, they were amazing. I think like Artie South was brought to it. I remember him like blocking a shot to the chest or something. I just sat in the penalty box, like, Jesus Christ. I well, like the boys, the boys got it done. It was just like that that game was just, yeah, it was it was a good game. It was a good game. But the penalty box, I was nervous. I was sitting there just like, oh please, please don't do it.

Harrison 42:00

Yeah, but it does feel like that that sort of togetherness that you mentioned from that game as well, that sort of never say die attitude, and that that's kind of in the squad now, and there is that will to win trophies.

SPEAKER_01 42:13

Yeah, no, no, definitely. I mean, I all I I think it helps the fact that we have brought that sort of core group back, that but a lot of the guys like Carter was there, Mac was there, you know, like County, like we've got a lot of those guys who are playing in that game, and I think the guys we brought in, they're they're also guys who have that same mindset and they want to do that. So I feel like that's why it's working this season, and that's why like I think if we keep going the way we're going, we we can do some good things.

Mike 42:47

Great. Thanks, Harry. I know I know you're probably uh desperate now to get your dinner. So uh uh just a final message just for the fans uh going into this weekend and for the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_01 42:59

Uh yeah, keep keep coming to the room, supporting us. We love it, we can hear you, and it and it definitely pushes us on in every game. Um yeah, like you you you guys help us out a lot, like a lot more than you think when you're all loud and cheering us on. So yeah.

Mike 43:14

Thanks to Harry for joining us. I forgot to ask him what he was gonna have for his dinner. Uh that would be nice to know. We'll catch up with him about that and find out, and we'll we'll let you know. But uh we there was a it was a busy, busy weekend. Well, it was before the weekend because of half term. There was a few midweek fixtures, Tarrison. So we're gonna quickly run through because there's quite a lot of fixtures, so we won't go into too much detail because uh time is precious.

Harrison 43:37

Yeah, yeah. I mean, we obviously record the podcast on a Monday, and there were fixtures every day from the Wednesday onwards. Um and starting on that Wednesday, the 28th of October, the Romford Raiders and Peter Braphantom spared 10 goals, with the Raiders winning eight goals to two. And that started with Hennessy getting called in that one as well. The Telford Tigers put Bristol Pitbulls to have scored nine goals to five, um, which again is another tough defeat for Bristol, but five goals away from home is a bit a positive that they can take as well. On the Thursday night, it was a Yorkshire Derby up at the Castle late night, beating the Sheffield still got four goals to one in another big win for the Knights who have started to creep higher up in that table. Um, and suddenly they're they're looking up ahead of them and seeing the line. Of Swindon, Hull, MK, and Romford. And uh the Swindon Wildcats and the Basersloat Bisons were another rivalry on that Thursday evening. The Wildcats beating the Bisons six goals to two. On the Friday night, Leeds travelled up to Solway and beat them by five goals to two. Another big result for the Knights, who the train just doesn't stop running for them at the moment. The Saturday, obviously back to a classic Saturday with five games. We'll leave the big one the result out of that for now. Obviously, Lightning beating the Phantoms ten goals to three. Basen Stoke Bison beating Romford Raiders five goals to three as well. Raiders missing Cole Sisi at the moment, which is a big loss for them at the back. But Matt Cowler has been on an absolute train of goals at the moment. He just cannot stop scoring. Uh Telford Tigers beating Solway four goals to one at home, featuring a goal from Callum Field to open the scoring on that one as well. The Sheffield Steel Dogs went to Bristol and got a result, six goals to two on Halloween for them. And then I think the real frightening one, Swindon Wildcats seven, whole Seahawks nil. And we were looking at it, we were on comms obviously for the lightning game, and and that game started half an hour early. And we're looking at it midway through the third while we're on the period two um break, and we've seen that score, and I we were a bit speechless at that.

Mike 45:59

Yeah, I mean I I I thought Swindon were going to win. I'd actually put in that uh one of the prediction leagues that Swindon were going to win this one. I think I said 3-2. I thought it'd be quite low scoring, but then just pipped that. I thought Maher against Heskin would yeah, close game, but I thought Swindon at home, I think they might just have uh enough to to see it over the line. Um yeah, 7-0. I was not expecting that. And obviously, we our result up in Hull a couple of weeks back. He said it was possibly that I open just sort of set things, possibly would be the same for for Matty Davis and Hull that to go seven-nil to potential title rival and get blown away like that. Yeah, I think that they're putting a bit of a bit of soul searching on that long bus journey back up to Humberside from Wiltshire, because it's a long-old trek as it is, and that probably felt even longer after you got a hiding of seven goals to nil.

Harrison 46:57

Yeah, I mean, uh you could tell Matty Davis was not happy with the performance afterwards, he blamed himself for it. Um, and in terms of their game on the Sunday, they did bounce back in in quite impressive fashion, beating the Bristol Pitbulls at home 14 goals to three, and for the Pitbulls in what four days conceded 34 goals. It it was it's been a tough week for the Pitbulls, it's been a tough season so far for the Pitbulls, really, and you're just struggling really to see where they're going to be able to pick up the wins from. But a clinical performance from the Seahawks, even a natural hat trick from Emil Sveck in there as well. Got to shout him out for that because you don't see too many natural hat tricks anymore, so big from him. Obviously, the Lightning going away to Sheffield and beating the Steel Dogs three goals to nil. Basenstoke Bison and Romford Raiders had a bit of an entertaining third period with three goals in just over a minute, which took that game to overtime. The Bison beating the Raiders away in overtime, massive win to give them a four-point weekend. Um, and then the Peterborough Phantoms fell to the Telford Tigers, who got themselves their second 4-1 win of the weekend in Breton, and that's a four-point weekend for the Tigers. Then the the Leeds Knights getting themselves what is six points in three days, beating the Swindon Wildcats three goals to two, and that was a massive game in what we like to call the Nel Classico. And by the shot counter, it seems like Sam Gospel was being Sam Gospel.

Mike 48:37

Yeah, and he he's a big time player and he delivers. And that was interesting. Is that Leeds only had three imports? Uh Sam Dunn out with an injury, and Liam Payton uh with a suspension following on with a hit up in Solway on the Friday night, and it that hit has been referred to DOPS, so Peyton may sit a few more games out. So Knights could be potentially two imports down for a couple more games. But when the backs are against the wall, we saw it for them last season. The Knights just they just know when to turn up and perform. They they've seem to have gotten over that very shaky start to the season. And I don't know if it was maybe some words from Ryan Aldridge. I know after the defeat to us, he was said there's a few players that need to take a look at themselves. It seems that they've done that and they're fully on board now, and they're they're clicking again and they're doing what needs to do best, and as you alluded to, they're looking upwards and they're thinking we're we're getting close now, we've we've we're closing the gap on Romford, we're closing the gap on the Swindon, we're trying to close the gap against Harlem Keynes, and suddenly the Knights could well be on that top table discussion rather than on that bottling for those final playoff spots. They could be looking for a seeded spot, and also they could still have a say and sneak into the cup semi-final qualification as well.

Harrison 50:02

Yeah, I think you're right. I think that that defeat at home to the lightning was a bit of a turning point, and again, that was their eye opener, and they've shown that the knights that we all really know um from previous seasons, and what also helps is having Inns Gallagher back, who's been out for a very long time. Finn Braden um played the opening game against Hull, but that was his only game, he's now back um iced in that game as well. So they've got a couple key players back as well, um, and they've got a weekend, a doubleheader against Bristol this weekend. So, in terms of positivity, they can go into that looking at even if they are missing a couple of their imports, they can still go into that with a positive mindset indeed. Um, but obviously, we look ahead to Lightning's weekend, it's an interesting one for sure. I think on any other week you would look at it and say it's a tough weekend, but it's made even tougher with three of Lightning's D men going to Poland with GB, one of the forwards, and the head coach going as well. And obviously, Swindon losing Aaron Nell as well, but not losing any players. And as it stands, Lightning being down to 4D, it's gonna be in it's gonna be a very tough Saturday against Swindon.

Mike 51:24

It is, I think it could be very difficult performance because obviously we like and even since the start of the Lightning days, we've had a big squad and we've used to play that whole ice pad and play and rotate at least three lines, even four lines, and make the most to really just work teams with four with only two D pairings. We may not be able to play as expansive, so it'll be interesting to see what the setup is and uh how Lewis Christie will will approach the game as well. And I'm not too sure what the logistics will be, I'm not too sure what time GB get back from Poland if on the Saturday if it's a Saturday night if they fly back on a Sundays. So they may they may make Peterborough, I'm not too sure on that. Pete may certainly try and get himself across to Peterborough in time to be behind the bench. But if you've just played three games of international, will help actually Jake and Carter be able to play and all their bodies let them. I know the players would probably want to play, but will it be right for them to do so, especially in in that rink at Peterborough as well, where it's hard wooden boards, yeah, not the best of i i iced ice pads, although it's a new ice pad on there, but not much space as well, and Phantoms will close down there and in front of their home fans they'll be wanting to put in a performance.

Harrison 52:50

Yeah, they're gonna want to come back from the defeat in MK on Saturday. Um, but you've also got to look at the fact that I think with those GB boys, the age is on their side, and that that sort of they are very much young, hungry guys that are probably buzzing to go to GB. Obviously, Jake Haywood's been called up before, um, and Kel Beatty's had a little bit of a shoeing with them, same with Archie Hazel dying. Um Carter Hamill getting his first taste really of GB experience, and we're absolutely delighted for him because he 100% deserves it, and we're delighted for all of our um players that have been called up. Um, and in terms of the squad as a whole, the GB squad as a whole, it is a very young GB squad. Um, there's a lot of sort of like players in there, and I think Edgar Zvengis is in there as well, which is massive for him. I think he deserves that too. Um, and yeah, you've got like Jonathan McBean as well. It's it's a very youthful squad, and it'll be good to see what they can do, obviously, as the newcomers trying to the bat on is being passed down, and it's their chance to shine and show what they can do.

Mike 53:59

Well, this is it. This is they've got nothing to lose and all to gain. This is like an open a rehearsal almost or like a uh just a like a chance an audition for the Div 1A championships uh next May or or April, I think it might be April they start. I think it's May when the worlds actually start. But opportunity for Div 1A, and there's a few guys who have leaving the GB set up and retiring from international hockey, and yeah, as you say, pretend to pass the bat on, and there's some exciting prospects coming through here, but they're not going to get uh the experience to play in these world championships unless they play some of this international hockey. And credit to Pete for doing this and playing and going for a quite a young youthful squad. I'm picking quite a few from the NIHL as well for this tournament in Poland.

Harrison 54:48

I think there's eight in there as well, and some like someone else that stands out to me is Ben Clark Leach. Um, after a very positive start to the season with the bison, had a very positive spell at the bison last season as well. Um, obviously playing with the Wildcats and being a Swindon youth, and so it's good to see him being called up as well, along with like Lucas Bryan. And then I think on the coaching side as well, Aaron Nell getting a deserved chance to to to go to the GB setup as well. And obviously, at first we there was a little a dig saying, Oh, Pete's only done that because lightning are playing Swindon, but he's a coach that deserves it. He's he's been in the national coach in Swindon, a Swindon side that again have been always in that conversation up at the top end of the table. And it's for him, it's good to see his that he's getting recognised for what he's doing for British hockey.

Mike 55:42

Yeah, and as you say, there's a lot of young British guys, and all through his career, Aaron Nell has been a top scoring Brit forward at the level, and his teams reflect that in their style of play that he's coached with them. So I will say if you're a young Brit, if Aaron Nell is telling you giving you advice on how to do something, you'll snarl you'll listen. You'll listen and you you'll hear what he has to say. Like and and if you don't, then what you're doing, you should you just should be listening to someone with that experience with that pedigree. I mean, he was still scoring bucket loads last season and that was his final season and he he was putting so many younger guys to shame with his scoring records. I mean his time if if he laced them up as well this season he could probably still do a number, I think. And I don't know if he I don't know if he will do. I don't think that I I think for he he would want the Swindon team to carry on or not have the injuries where he'd need to do that, but yeah, it it's it's a good call up and it's opportunity for him as well to see the international game and take his coaching to the next level as well, and he'll probably learn a lot in those few days that he's out there alongside Pete and in that GP setup. Yeah, and wish the team very well. I think it'll be a tough challenge for him. There's some very good sides that they're going to be coming up against, but it's a great opportunity, and uh hopefully for the fans that travel out there, they'll get a chance to see um their their their lads perform and play well. And I imagine that uh Jake Hayward's family are probably scrambling for flights out from Luton Airport to try and get over there to cheer on Jake as well.

Harrison 57:23

Yeah, I can imagine, I can imagine so as well. It's gonna be a a tight turnaround as well. But just quickly before we touch on Peter, bro, I'll go I want to go back to to Swindon and Aaron Nell and you said about his what he brings when it comes to if you're a youth player and Aaron L's offering advice and you listen, you look at the Swindon setup, and that tells you everything about what Aaron Nell is to to British hockey. I mean, you look at some of the players that are coming through at Swindon and that have come through in the last few years, Dylan Lipsy, along with his brother Mason and Reed Sayers. Again, they've become stalwarts of that Swindon side and playing lots of minutes, and they've got a couple others coming through as well, Oscar Sagan, Jan Kostel Jr. following in his dad's footsteps. So there is a lot of players in that Swindon squad that have now sort of like learned under Aaron Nell for many years now that Nell has been part of that Swindon setup, and he's got a lot of experience to bring, and as you said, it'll be good for him to see the international game as well, because for someone that's got as much experience as he has, it's bizarre that he hasn't had that experience already.

Mike 58:32

Yeah, for sure. And uh on Saturday's game as well. Uh just to remind anyone who hasn't isn't aware as well, it will be the remembrance night as well. Uh, so we will be remembering all those who sacrificed their tomorrow for our today, and it's always a very poignant night, it's very well respected. Tickets, there's not many of them left, so make sure you get there for that. There will be members of the armed services at the game, there will be a presentation of the and laying of the poppy reefs on Centre Ice, there will be the playing of the last post, and we will also be having uh the national anthem sung from one of the local service members here in Milton Keynes as well. So it's very, very poignant tonight and always well respected. And we'll say the uh the remembrance jerseys as well, they look absolutely amazing. And Dave and the team have done a superb job again, and obviously uh some of the proceeds as well from those shirt sales as well go to the Royal British Legion as well. So big, big, big, big event to do, and always always find it a very emotional pre-game build-up as well for that one, and it's always well respected. And I know uh this Saturday will it will be no exception as well, and I can imagine a lot of fans will be there for that one.

Harrison 59:49

Yeah, it uh you said it perfectly. You you raised the point incredibly well, as you said. Um it is one of those games that it does sort of like those the moments of silence, and you can hear a pin drop, it is it's unlike anything, really. Um, the weekend as a whole, and I don't just mean that in hockey, I mean that in every sport as well. It's very well respected nationwide. And yeah, if you haven't got tickets, do get your tickets, they are running out, and these games do sell out normally, so you definitely want to get your tickets. Um, but yeah, you put it incredibly well. Um, and we'll quickly touch on obviously the Sunday game as well because we are obviously short for time. Um, but when it comes to traveling to Breton, Lightning know the problems that they've had in the past going to that small drink, that very close ice pad. It is one of those that anyone struggles at, especially with the size of the pad. But when it's a local rivalry, you're going into enemy territory, and they will make sure you know it's enemy territory, and they're very good at doing that.

Mike 1:00:55

Definitely, and I think for the lightning it'll just be maintain that discipline, block out the outside noise, listen out to try and maybe try and get an early goal, silence that home crowd, and then get the MK travelling MK support making the noise for you. Yeah, come away those two points. I think that's just go out there, play smart hockey, play disciplined hockey. I dare I say play like you did up in Sheffield, play it really disciplined, just do this, do the basics, do the simple things, and yeah, just be smart, smart heads up hockey, and take the almost take the emotion out of it.

Harrison 1:01:32

But it's also one of those that can you play the same way that you play in Sheffield uh in in Peterborough because obviously it's a very different size rink. I mean, the blue line in Sheffield and the blue line in Peterborough, you're almost in sort of like if you the blue line in Peterborough is as close to the goal as the hash marks at most runs.

Mike 1:01:52

Yeah, for sure. And also as well in that Peterborough ring, those fans are right on top of you. There's you've got that netting and you've got that big, those big stands, and then you've got two behind either goal, which I Sheffield, there's nothing there. Peterborough, you're surrounded, you've save for that little pocket in the corner by the by the by the away bench where you've got your fans there, so that usually got that little warm welcome coming in on and off the ice, but it's a cauldron there, and Phantom fans will be up for it. We know they'll be up for it, they always are when it's when it's Derby Day. And yeah. But the lightning have been there before they've gone to hostile rink so far, and they've they've performed well, and I think yeah, it'll be another challenge for them. It'll be different to the game in pre-season. And yeah, we'll look to see what happens. And uh obviously Peterborough, there's already been one change in personnel uh this week so far where we've gone on Morgan Clark Piso having uh requested and had it approved his uh that he's left the club, so it'll be interesting to see if they bring anyone in. Or if we do say if Race Francis then becomes a bit more of a permanent fixture at the Phantoms. He had his own shirt number and a name and a number on on the shirt, so on on Saturday. So I'm I'm assuming I'm I'm I'm making an assumption, but I would. I'd I mean his frame as well at that rink. What an equaliser.

Harrison 1:03:11

Oh god, yeah, I mean, two strides and he's gone he's already at the other end of the rink.

Mike 1:03:16

Definitely, and he took his goal well brought for them as well, so he scored it to debut. So I'd I I think if he's available, you'd want him. It all depends if the uh Storm are wanting him to ice at the AO or whether the Storm might be playing on that Sunday.

Harrison 1:03:31

Yeah, I mean, what a different set of rinks as well. The AO to Breton.

Mike 1:03:35

Very different, very, very different, yeah.

Harrison 1:03:39

Different is probably the nicest word we can probably use in that sense. But yeah, in terms of that'll probably about wrap it up for us um on Lightning Talks. Um obviously, if you haven't, as we said, get get your tickets for Saturday. If you haven't, it's gonna be an occasion, um, as well as the fact that you've got two teams at the top end of the table battling it out as well.

Mike 1:04:00

Um Lightning TV.

Harrison 1:04:05

Yeah, good. Um I'm just getting there, you got the plug before me. You got the plug before me. But yeah, as as mentioned, if you can't make it to the rink, do join the stream. Um it'll it'll be a cracking game for sure as well. Um, and obviously, if you if you're still able to make the trip up to Peterborough as well, do so. There are some tickets still left. If I think they're still only in the standing and in the block next to the away block, as that is all gone now. Um, and it is obviously remembrance game up in uh Peterborough as well. So two lots of remembrance games this weekend. Um in but other than that, have you got anything else to add, really, Pimmy?

Mike 1:04:42

Uh no, no, nothing else on that. Uh just keep watching the hockey and yeah, if if you can make sure you get you check out those remembrance games because they're always very good, and yeah, where you're probably prepried if uh if you choose to do so as well.

Harrison 1:04:58

Absolutely. Um thank you very much for listening uh on the Light and Talks podcast on whatever platform, and we'll be back obviously next week to look back on the the Remembrance Day games and look forward to the Basing Stoke Doubleheader. Um thank you very much, Pimmy.

Mike 1:05:15

Cheers, Harrison, always good to join you on this.

Harrison 1:05:17

Yes, and hopefully we'll see you on Saturday for the visit of the Swindon Wildcats.