Mike 0:16

Welcome to the latest edition of Lightning Talks Podcast, the podcast that brings you all things Lifestack Milton Keynes Lightning. I'm Pimmy and I'm joined by Harrison Mills. Harrison, I know you're you're fresh back from Peterborough. Your voice is a little hoarse, but how are you?

Harrison 0:32

Yeah, other than that, I'm doing alright. Oh god, yeah, you can hear it, can't you? Um but yeah, I mean a positive weekend overall. I think the the fact that my voice has gone is actually a good sign um of Sunday's game in Peterborough. Um, but we'll obviously talk more about that after we mention the Saturday game. Um Saturday game, obviously, I was on solo comms for that one. Remembrance night was everything that you would expect from Remembrance Night. Um, very well observed silence for the playing of the last post, uh the singing of the national anthem and the two-minute silence. Um I do want to also give a shout out to I think it was Middleton School that were situated in block nine, um, who also perfectly observed the silence and were a very rowdy bunch during the game. Um and the players loved it at the end as well. So a big shout out to them.

Mike 1:26

I think Middleton came a couple of seasons back as well, and yeah, they they bought the noise, uh, and it looks like yeah, they did the save again. And uh, I think we should just make them a permanent fixture at block nine now. Let's just have that little official noise section, it will help out the drummers in the levels and uh possibly join out the away fans in block eight as well. So uh yeah. Chat out to everyone at Middleton. Pretty much just have that board of noise just behind the the away uh behind the home net moder for two periods, and then that second period make the away goal, he's thinking, oh no, go in front of the V's lot.

Harrison 2:02

That would be funny.

Mike 2:03

It would be good. I've done sorry to all the other schools, but middle middleton have set the bar now. You need to you need to raise it now. So that's the challenge for the rest of schools. And then K. Are you louder than Middleton? Let's find out.

Harrison 2:15

That is a good thing to have. Come on, whatever the next school is, you've got a challenge now.

Mike 2:20

Definitely. We'll we'll say that to the guys when they do the next school visits. They've got to uh proper egg them on and encourage encourage that. Could have done with L's for this one, he would have definitely helped uh trying to uh be the cheerleader and raise up raise them with their chance up, wouldn't he? But definitely. But uh a very, very good performance though on the Saturday. Obviously, team cover at the top of the table in the Lightning against the Defending League champions. Swindon getting a penalty shot win against the Lightning back at the link a couple of weeks before. We're expecting a good game, and obviously, there was the added extra both teams were about their head coach, and Lightning had a couple of GB guys return. And I know in the interview with Lewis Christie said that Kelvin Jake had a bit of a nightmare journey back due to all the weather conditions, a bit of delayed flight. I think they literally touched down on the tarmac of it, it was instantly in the car straight to the rink, ready for the game against the Worldcats. Not exactly ideal preparations. The boys must have been exhausted. I mean, I was tired looking at what they went through that week in terms of playing and travel, so uh yeah, God knows how they must have been living that.

Harrison 3:31

But uh God, yeah. I mean, I wouldn't have been wanted to wanted to have been a part of it. I think that um I heard that Jake and Kel got into MK at 4:30 pm. And bear in mind that the players normally arrive around between 4 and 4.30. So the fact that they've arrived at just the right time, and that was them rushing, um, they've not had any chance at all. And um Louis said in the post-game interview, I don't know if he said it in the interview or before it, but he said that there was a power play with a few minutes left of the game. Kel was on the power play for about a minute and a half, and um to save some extremities of what Louis said, basically told him to get back on the bench. Um, and he was like, You're done, you're done for the game. And Kel was like, Thank you, I'm knackered. So um and I'm not surprised as well. Not surprised.

Mike 4:24

I'm not surprised Kel deliberately tried to take like a like a two-minute minor just so he could go and have a breather and have a little nap in the penalty box.

Harrison 4:32

That would that wouldn't have surprised me at all, no. But I mean, yeah, overall as a game, it was one of those that when you looked at the rosters as they came out, you saw that Lightning had that return of Jordan County, as well as the fact that you had um Kel and Jake returning from GB duty, it just meant that the lines were a little bit more structured than what people were expecting them to be. And Swindon, obviously, without Aaron Nell, but no players to GB. But there was one notable absence from that Swindon roster in Ben O'Connor, um, who travelled with the side, was at the rink, but didn't ice. So I'm not 100% sure what happened with him. But I mean, we'll go into the game now. You look at it, it was quite clear that that was a player they really missed.

Mike 5:20

It is a big, big loss. I mean, just what Ben O'Connor offers any team, whether it's Great Britain, whether it's in the elite league, whether it's the World Cats, he's he's a class player, and he's at this level, he is dare I say it, a cheat code. He can score goals, he reads the game so so well. He was a big loss and a big absence for them. And I did see on the game sheet that he was absent. I know he'd just returned back from an injury, so I don't know if it was a setback from that or if it was just illness and he wasn't just able to play. So we didn't have a game on the Sunday, so we won't know until I guess next weekend uh whether he's fit to ice again. But yeah, when you're going to a place like Milton Kings, you want your best players, you want all your players fit and available, so it would have been a big loss for them. And of course, we didn't have Aaron Nell behind the bench as well, their head coach, so some big losses for them. But it was a 5-2 scoreline, but it didn't reflect the game, I don't think, at times. I mean, uh especially in those second or third periods, Swindon definitely came to play and they've made things a little bit uncomfortable. But the first period it was a bright early start for the Lightning. And Jordan County have pretty much on his first shift back from injury, get a good assist for a lovely close range goal from Liam Stewart and a great finish, which slightly caught, I think, Rennie Mar unawares. And I think Rennie may want looking back, probably want that one back, wouldn't he?

Harrison 6:46

Yeah, and I mean it's it's Liam Stewart also turning on a knife edge, really. It was he sent Glenn Bill in shopping. Um, and I think Rennie Maher was probably expecting Liam Stewart to try and go far post, but he snuck it in near post under the skate. And yeah, you say that Rennie Maher will want that one back. I reckon he probably will, but it's not really one that you can blame him for either. It was just a very a good um a smart goal, more so, um, than like a pleasing one to the eye. Um but yeah, that first period it was very much a lightning attack show. Um and I mean we'll go to the second goal, and that there's there's only one man we can really talk about for that Saturday night, and that was David Thompson, who almost that was his home announcement, really. He's he's been quite sort of like consistent with getting a couple points and a couple goals here and there, but this is where you saw the absolute pinnacle in the class of David Thompson.

Mike 7:54

Definitely both goals are quite quick apart, and I would also just say, just leading up to that as well, the little scrap as well, involving Cammy Hamill and Sean Richards, and yeah, I don't think anyone can debate who won the the outcome of that scrap, but Cam's on that fourth line, he's just taken out one of their top import forwards for a major, and in that five minutes that Richards was well, I think Richards got in another two as well, but on that time that Richards was off the ice, Lightning had scored two quick fire goals, and what was a 1-0 period is suddenly a three-goal deficit for the Wildcats at Milton Keynes. It's got to be something special for you to come back from three goals down at Planet Ice Milton Keynes, isn't it?

Harrison 8:47

Yeah, of course. And yeah, you mentioned about the uh Sean Richards uh penalty, but also it's the the power play goal that Thompson scored, which was Lightland second, it was a Viegas tripping call. So you've got two of Swindon's imports in the penalty box, which they would they would be two players that would most likely be on that PK, one whether that's the PK first unit or second unit, and then without having Ben O'Connor as well, that's three big players missing from your PK. And I mean it didn't take too long into the Powell play for for Lightning to get the goal either. It was a mere 11 seconds um before David Thompson lifted it over Rennie Ma. And I mean the third one was a thing of beauty as well.

Mike 9:38

A lovely little breakaway and a great a great finish from him, and yeah, and a and a celebration from all four celebrations of all of his goals Matt lived up to the goals as well. He gave the big Selly after the big goals, and that just jeeped the crowd up even more.

Harrison 9:54

Yeah, and I mean when you go into the first period break, 3-0 up against the the current league holders, there's a lot of confidence you can take from that. Um the Wildcats just didn't really know what to do in that first period. They weren't they were getting a few chances, but not any that were really screaming that they were gonna bring it back. And there was one very good save from close range from Jared Whale, who made um a good, I think it was a double save, um, where he's had to stretch the pad, and at that point it was very much looking like that the game was gonna go in really in one direction. Um, and you thought, right, the period breaks come at a very good time, the Wildcats can reset, but then just over 50 seconds into that second period, and Cowmy's got his second assist of the night, and Brady Johnson in what was almost a mirror image of um Bom Gabay's overtime winner against the Wildcats last year, batted it out of the air.

Mike 11:00

It's such quick reflexes that just uh the initial shot saved, but just the anticipation, just knowing where that puck was going to be, and great for ready to make the initial save. But he just had no chance straight off on that rebound and then that batting out the air from from Brady. And he he was happy with that because he's he's a player who does have a lot of opportunities, and he maybe hasn't quite gotten the points that his game play has deserved, but that just shows what he can offer there. And for such quick thinking and intelligent, smart play just to to read that puck rebound and just fire it into the net. And yeah, as you said, straight off that period 4-0, and you're just thinking it's just gonna be another double figures game. I've I was certainly thinking that when I was seeing the scores coming through, and it had visions of that.

Harrison 11:48

It was bizarre as well, because it was very uncharacteristic of the Wildcats at that point, and yeah, Brady Johnson is still a point per game player at the moment as well. Majority of those being assists. But I mean, you look at who his line mates have been for most of the season. Liam Stewart has got himself nine goals, Carter Hamill's got himself twelve. So you can see that Brady Johnson's role on that second line wasn't isn't really the role of the goal scorer, it is the role of providing, and I mean he's doing it. That's what he's that's what he's done. And when he's called upon and he's thrown net, he's got the goal, and full credit to him. But Wildcats do what the Wildcats do best, they never say die, they've got a great attitude in that squad, and um an almost slick passing move um from Bradley to to Vermartin getting the Wildcats first, and then Sean Richards out in front getting Wildcats second, suddenly deficit halved in the space of five minutes, and you're thinking Wildcats aren't gonna let go, they're gonna they're not gonna make this easy. Um, and then you had Jared Whale going off for what we thought was an equipment issue, and Headley had to come in, which again is very tough for a netminder to come in when you're you're not prepared, you're not you're not expecting to have to come in, and I mean he he kept us shut up for the rest of the game.

Mike 13:15

Yeah, definitely. Heads came in cold, and it's always dangerous, especially with the team in the ascendancy, but he made a couple of good early stops and confidence and just grew for heads for the rest of that game. And mentioned as well the lightning penalty kill that game as well. They were very, very effective and shut down the the Wildcats power play units in that game, and that was positive to see that and at the end of that game it lifted the Lightning's PK to over 80%. We'll talk about what happened in Peterborough in a bit with the with the PK, but that just could show some good discipline, especially with the fact that there was no Archie Hazeldyne there, and the head coach wasn't actually there and hadn't been in all week to do the drills for that week. So a lot of credit has to go to there was Christie for that one and to the penalty killer units out there because they put they put in a shift and there was some big shot box going in on those PKs as well.

Harrison 14:12

Yeah, and there was a five-on-three in the first period that we forgot to mention that the Lightning killed as well against the best power play unit in the league. So full credit to that, and I think that's where the you could see which direction the game was gonna go um with that five-on-three penalty kill. It the the ascendancy was always on in the lightning camp. And I mean, at 4-2, it never still really felt like Swindon were then gonna get back into it in that third period. It wasn't really a a resurgence um from the Wildcats until then David Thompson just under four minutes into the third period, and I mean the the toe drag is it it was to to quote to say another word, it's just naughty.

Mike 15:01

It was a lovely finish, and we'll mention I won't mention this guy because uh the point streak got snapped, it came to an end against Swindon. But with that toe drag, Danny Wade, I've just seen back on the highlights, did such a good job just ghosting over the shoulder of Ryan Wells, and Wells is one of the best D men in this league. But you saw Wells had that two might have he's just Thompson's just toe dragged past my D partner here. I've got Danny Waite on my shoulder. What am I gonna do? Do I back away and watch Wait or do I close down Thompson? He went, I've gotta watch the shot, I'm gonna watch the pass for for Waite and leave it to my goalie. But Thompson, instead of he'd done that chow drag, you just knew that goal lamp was gonna light up and he roofed it past Rennie Marr. And I felt a bit for Rob Rose because he he was caught between a rock and a hard place. The defensive thing would always be watch the pass, and you knew you know what Danny Waite's like if he's got space, but he just sort of left that space and yeah, Thompson had time to pick his spot. And Rennie Marr, he would he he he got as set as he could, but somewhat of calibre of Thompson, you'd know that's going to be hitting the net.

Harrison 16:16

Yeah, and Rennie Mar didn't have a bad game by any stretch of the imagination either. I think it was a real positive game in net for him. But the Lightning's attack just showed what it's capable of, and yeah, Lightning came away with a 5-2 victory. Uh David Thompson got to show off his moves. Um in the that was some strong dance moves. They are strong, he's rivaling Carter now. Um we need to see we need to see what the rest of the squad are doing, but we'll obviously have to hang on for that one. And then obviously, if we move on to the Sunday, a very different game, and it was always going to be a very different game. Um, travelling up to your closest rivals who had won one game in 11. It's been a tough season for the Phantoms, but credit where credit's due, they came out with a plan, and they came out looking very, very strong, and they played a very physical battle. And in their rink, that's the game you've got to play.

Mike 17:16

And oh, definitely, definitely. That that that pad's tiny, and the fans are on top of you. It's it's a cauldron of noise in that barn if it's got the right atmosphere, and it always has the atmosphere for Derby Day. So Phantoms knew, and I've credit to Nathan Pollard, he knew exactly what had to be done in that game, and they battled, they battled hard.

Harrison 17:34

Yeah, a hundred percent. And I mean the the goal a minute and twenty-eight in from Archie Hazeldein, a great finish as well. It almost lightning needed that just to give the Phantoms a little bit of a sort of remembrance of they're not this isn't just a derby game, they've got to beat uh the top of the table side.

Mike 17:57

For sure. And obviously, I that started that game, it was probably a cauldron of noise, it would have been very intimidating. Best way to silence that home crowd, get a door, get a goal early doors, and yeah, and it was a great finish from Archie as well. Uh yeah fired it, fired it over the blocker side of Will Bray, who who he got the start ahead of Matt Matt Hennessy, and a lovely finish from from Archie Hazeldyne. And bear in mind he'd played three games straight in Poland on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, landed and went straight to Peterborough.

Harrison 18:29

I hope he had a little bit more time than what Cal and Jake did.

Mike 18:34

Definitely, yeah.

Harrison 18:36

I mean, the story of the night, though, if you're looking from a Lightning perspective, was it was the special teams, and the Phantoms got four goals in total, obviously, and two power play goals, one short-handed goal. And that's one thing that Lightning will be having to look at because you knew that that first power play goal was going to happen, they were setting it up really well, and the Phantoms power play has always been strong, it's been one of their strong points over the last few years. And even this year, without someone like Cam Huff, you've still got Luke Ferrara, you've still got Dylan Lawrence, you've still got Jana Larkinen, and the addition of Reese Francis, who in the right place at the right time, you get the puck on net, good things happen, and then suddenly you go into the break at one all, and when lightning were, I would argue, probably on top for most of that period, suddenly it's one-all, and you've got to re-look at things. But the second period, really, for 15 minutes or so of it, Lightning just showed their class.

Mike 19:42

Yeah, definitely. And I I think that power play goal as well was a little bit frustrating just because a couple of guys just got drawn out of position as well. And I think they may have been a little bit guilty of just going towards the pack carrier, and uh Reese Francis was just on the doorstep just to fire it past past Hedley. But yeah, the uh second period Danny Waits' point streak was broken, but he ended up getting, I think it was four assists in the in the end in that in that game. And well, it was it was that man again, David Thompson, that that picked up a brace, and two of those lightning goals were very, very 10 seconds apart as well. And so that was just a quick way, and it was just a really dominant early start from the Lightning, and they just played very smart hockey, they were attacking the ends where the the Lightning fans were as well, so that that may have been a little bit of a helper for them as well. But they just stepped up a gear for that one, and for those few minutes, the Phantoms just couldn't really live with them. They tried, and but Lightning were just stretching the play, they were passing and moving the park so fluidly, and they made that possession that territory counts.

Harrison 20:50

Yeah, and I think that second period is when the Lightning realised that they had to change their approach slightly. A lot of that first period, there was a lot of stretch passes that were going a little bit too far, they were rapid passes that some players just weren't able to get a hold of. And you've got to remember that you can't play the same style of hockey that you play on an Olympic-size ice pad as you do in Bretton. You can't play that same style of hockey, and I think it took until that second period, really, where the Lightning then realized that they've got to rein it in a little bit. And I mean, what three goals in the space of three minutes that tells you everything as to that that worked, or three goals in two minutes, should I say.

Mike 21:31

Yeah, and uh Carter Hamill getting another goal as as well, and uh he scored on the Saturday night, albeit in a Great Britain jersey, and then he scored on Sunday night in a lightning jersey. And I know we talk about him a lot, but he's just in such a rich vein of form at the moment, is is Carter.

Harrison 21:50

Yeah, and he came back, slotted straight onto that second line again, back where he was before he went to GB. Um, County dropped into a line that he Was also all too familiar with playing with Max Stuart and Harry Gulliver, and then you have someone like Jared White centering a fourth line. Jared White on the fourth line. Which on its own is ridiculous. Um, but yeah, the end of that second period, Phantoms get a power play, they get one back, they keep the pressure on, they get another. You go into the period break, 4-3 up, and suddenly, and I think as a collective of lightning fans, we're all thinking, Oh dear, this we've we've seen this story before.

Mike 22:33

Yeah, and you've then got the Phantoms crowd back involved in it. We've been in games in MK before where we've been dead and buried, and then suddenly a couple of quick goals, and then suddenly that building is bouncing, the noise is there, and at Peterbras Rick, that low roof, they'll get behind their team and they'll make it loud, they'll make it uncomfortable. And for the most part, though, the lightning came out and they were very professional in that third period. They did restrict the Phantoms in for their goal opportunities. I think they only had six shots. Yeah, well, until ten minutes gone, no change in the score lines. Both that we've made a couple of good saves. Will Bray definitely the busier of the two power play chance for the lightning? Bear in mind lightning had actually killed a penalty as well earlier in that third period. And you thought, right, chance to put it to bed. Loose Park. Luke Ferrara finds the gap, puts it through to Nathan Pollard in his last game before he hangs his gates up to go full but full-time bench coach, threw the breakaway with Jordan Headley and lifts it over the blocker into the top corner and uh gives the knee slide celebration as well. It was a big goal. And that I mean, I thought the even on the stream, I thought the roof was gonna come off that building. I imagine if you were there, it must have been very loud.

Harrison 23:54

I will say that the atmosphere that night, or yesterday, sorry, was it was a great atmosphere. And for the sort of range of form that the Phantoms have been on, they those fans are backing them. There is no worries about that. They they are very much in support of Nathan Polar, who you could argue he is a bit of a club legend as well, with over 400 games um for the Phantoms, and you can see that he wears his heart on his sleeve, he cares a lot about the club. And I watched his interview after the game, and he speaks very well. And he you can see the sort of the progression of Peterborough over the last sort of couple weeks, and that they played an incredible game, they just got beat by a better team. There was no you cannot fault the performance of the Phantoms last night. And quick shout out to Will Bray. Not only did he have a good performance in it, he got himself an assist on Nathan Pollard's goal as well.

Mike 24:50

He did, he did, he did indeed, and then maybe with last season you would have just thought that's it, that that phantoms are gonna go off and win this one. However, Mr. Clutch himself, he pops up right time. Liam Stewart scores the goal, and you could just feel the wind had just been taking out the sails then of the Phantoms. That goal whether it just went from noise to silence, say for the away block of the Lightning fans, who were probably a little bit oh, here we go. Then Disco pops up scores. Then have a goal review. So there was that had a little nervousness on there. I still don't quite know what the review was for, but the goal stood, and then Lightning very professionally saw the game out. Bray gets pulled, lovely bit of work on the c on the boards. Uh, from Danny Wade, finds Liam Stewart, and then he passes across to an unmarked Archie Hazeldyne who has the empty net goal to score and seal a 6-4 victory for the uh for the Lightning.

Harrison 25:55

Yeah, I mean it's a good win at your local rivals, and yet and we always say when we have these games, form goes out the window. Um, and that performance from both sides, I think, tells you exactly why form goes out of the window. Um, it was a a derby game which had everything really. It it could have had a bit more feistiness. I mean, it was still a very feisty game, but it wasn't feisty to the point where there was a fight left, right, and centre. Um but it was the epitome of how a derby game in ice hockey, especially in this country, should be before the game just chatting to the fans of the Phantoms and the Lightning chatting to each other. Um puck goes over, um Lightning fan hands it to a Phantoms fan that's a kid. Um second period break, uh, a Phantoms fan's wandered around to the lightning block and has got a bag of sweets and is giving it to the kids that are in the lightning block. Loads of banter in terms of chants from both sides. Um, I think I heard a or I say I think I heard I was a part of it. And is there a fire drill chant uh as Lightning SIC went in? It's one of those that it was the perfect epitome of a derby day.

Mike 27:14

For sure. And we we didn't mention after the uh the goal review came through and the referee pointed that the goal at the goal to signal the goal. Carter Hamill decides to recreate the knee slide in front of the Phantoms bench.

Harrison 27:28

Um he wasn't even the one that scored.

Mike 27:30

He wasn't even the one that scored, but he still did the full knee slide in front of the bench. And uh I thought, well, in in in derby days of yesterday yesterday, uh with likes of uh Jesse Hamill or something, he would have well, he would have been over the board straight away to have words on that. So uh yeah. Yeah, certainly but for Phantoms, I mean the performance they put in, had they played other teams in the league, they probably would have got the two points. And I probably said they're a bit unlucky. They they probably deserved a point from that game, and it was a bit of a shame for them, and they from all the counts, they probably deserve one from their Saturday game. So they come away with zero points, doesn't reflect the game they're playing, but it's a good building block for them going forward for the rest of the season.

Harrison 28:17

100%. And Nathan Pollard said that in his interview as well. It's just like you can see the signs are there, there's a lot of progression in the squad. Obviously, they are missing some players as well. You you're you're missing the likes of Ewan Hill, who would be quite key on that movie, second or third line. You're missing Tom Norton, who's massive at the back. Brad Bowering missed yesterday as well. So they're still getting a few key players back as well. Um, but those performances from the last weekend for the Phantoms, they can take a lot of confidence from. And hopefully for them, they can string a few results together because they might be quite far behind in terms of trying to get that into the playoffs. But there's a long way to go.

Mike 28:58

Definitely. But for the Lightning, another four-point weekend, two tricky games uh for different reasons, but two more victories, which keeps them still top of the league. And leading on now into our interview segment, the weekend also saw the return from injury of the Lightning's number 95, Jordan County, and he is joining us now on the podcast. Counts, thanks for joining us on the podcast today. Uh, first uh games back following your injury, and uh, how do you think they went?

SPEAKER_01 29:33

Uh yeah, I mean, I would say firstly, thanks for having me on. I've been watching these uh throughout the season in the summer, always a always a good listen. So uh, but yeah, no, um obviously six weeks out of the lineup, it's a long time. It's kind of tough to stay, I don't want to say motivated, but it's it's hard to keep yourself motivated. And I feel like I've kind of done a good job of that just keeping myself ready when when my for when my injury was obviously better. And uh yeah, for a for the first weekend back, I was I was happy with how it went. We we done well on Saturday against Swindon, they're they're a good team, and then obviously going into Peter Bratt's kind of a different game altogether. So the main thing's always four points, and we managed to do that. So yeah, as as far as uh weekend coming back from injury goes, I'm pretty happy with it, yeah.

Mike 30:27

And uh for that first game back against Swinden on the Saturday, it was almost pretty you could say perfect timing because you slotted straight back into that slot uh with Carter being away with Great Britain over in Poland. So was that something that you was almost a target for the team for you to come back into that one knowing that uh Bart was uh away with G B and it you know, it almost slot almost sit perfectly onto that line with uh Stewie and Brady.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Um I mean it wasn't really something I thought about. I mean, I was just I think uh I kind of said to the staff and Liam the physio the week before that I thought I might be ready to go the previous weekend. And I think obviously everyone would was aware that we were going to be losing some guys the next week anyway. So I think it just kind of made sense for myself and the team to just give me that extra week, and then it'll obviously an extra week to to get stronger and heal and what have you, and then obviously being short a couple guys, it's easier to kind of just slot me back in from there. So I think that was kind of the the thought process behind it. But yeah, I wasn't I wasn't too fussed where I was going. I just wanted to get back on the ice and obviously helping the guys because obviously they've been doing such a good job, so it's uh it's not too fun sitting there watching them when they're uh having all that fun, yeah.

Harrison 31:53

And I mean the one thing that I want to point from Sunday's game is the return of a line that was almost very familiar, um, seeing you with uh Harry and Mac. And that gives quite a throwback to I think the playoffs from the season that we won it. But how nice is it was it to be back on the line with those two that you're almost so familiar with?

SPEAKER_01 32:16

Yeah, it was good. I mean, we we don't really know what's going on until we get to the rink and we're we're told what the plan is. So when I found that out, obviously it was it was nice because A, I know how they play, and B, we're all good friends as well. So it's it's easy for us to kind of gel and and click together and stuff. So yeah, it was nice. I mean, obviously it's tough getting thrown in in a game. You you kind of want to go through practice together and work on a few things, but like I said, we're all good friends as well, so it's it's kind of easy to to talk to each other and communicate things on the bench. So yeah, it was a pretty easy transition.

Mike 33:26

Great. I just uh go back to that injury right at the start of the season, Cam. You've sort of you had your preseason, you got through the preseason bit, then at the start of the season, there's never a great time to get injured, but you've always always had to reset because you had that pre-season, you just sort of got back to that sharpness, and then injury straight straight away almost at the start of the season. Psychologically as well, that must have been quite tough as well, because you just got yourself prepped to start the season and then uh you're out for out for a few weeks, well, six weeks afterwards. There, did it almost when you came back into the fitness again, was it almost getting yourself back to that much sharpness again?

SPEAKER_01 34:05

I think uh that's that's probably the hardest part about it is you you kind of allocate yourself two or three months in the summer anyway, to get yourself in shape and as fit as possible for the start of the season. And obviously, with the excitement building up around it with the team we're signing and the expectations, obviously, I'm giving myself the best opportunity to be almost the best version of myself. So to come into pre-season, I always feel like I'm kind of a slow starter anyway. It takes me a couple of weeks of being back in the team environment to kind of get going as such. And I generally felt like the preseason done exactly what I was supposed to, like shake shook the rust off. My game was starting to feel good, and then like that first period against Leeds, my wrist, I don't know if I should say that, but well, I'm better now, so my wrist just goes. So uh yeah, but like you say, you you kind of it's not the ideal start, but I've had I've had injuries before, and I feel like I've probably been less professional before when I've I've let it almost affect me mentally and things like that. Whereas I feel like this time I was I was able to kind of stay mentally strong and keep working out and keep jumping on at the end of practice and skating and keeping my conditioning up, which I feel like going into Saturday's game, it was a lot easier to jump back into the lineup again rather than before. Sometimes you jump back in and it feels like you haven't skated for three months. So yeah, I think uh obviously not ideal, but we're uh we're back in a good place now and obviously just just ready to to help the guys uh just keep keep putting wins together.

Harrison 35:56

Yeah, and you you mentioned about the the injuries that you've had in the past. Obviously, you had a little one last season as well that you had to to battle back from. Did that almost help with this injury when it comes to sort of like getting through it, knowing that you've been through it?

SPEAKER_01 36:12

Well, I think it did in a way, because I mean, I think it was the shoulder one halfway through last year, and same again, nothing serious, just such an awkward little freak play that just I don't know, just knocks you back, and then next thing you know, you're out. But that was one thing I took from that one is I'd kicked because it was only four or five weeks, I was able to kind of stay in shape anyway again. And I remember when I came back into the lineup from that, like it was almost like I hadn't a new lease of life because it kind of brought my hunger back and things like that, and that's kind of the same way I feel right now. I feel like um obviously having that break and being forced to sit in the stands and watch it almost brings that hunger and and that drive back for the games. So although it's a bad thing, like I'm just kind of telling myself to to look at the positives and take it as a positive, obviously.

Harrison 37:10

Yeah, and obviously, you didn't just have um a few games in the stands, you did join me up for for commentary that one time, and I do want to sort of ask about that because obviously it's a bit very different view when you're on the bench on the ice or even just in the stands. How did you see anything different that you've like because you've not been up there, you've not had that chance before. So is it was it a different view for you? Did you see things that you might not normally have seen?

SPEAKER_01 37:38

Um it's definitely a better view. I feel like uh sitting up there, you you obviously see the whole ice, which is nice. It's almost like playing FIFA or like manager mode when you're looking from it all from up here, so you see you see everything perfectly. But no, I I actually like funnily enough, when that's usually something I probably wouldn't feel that comfortable doing. And obviously, when you messaged me, I was injured, I was I wasn't bored, but I was thinking like this is a cool opportunity, like it's something different, something new, like put myself on my comfort zone a little bit and actually try it. And I actually found that I said to you after we were done, I was like, if you need me next week, like just give me a show, mate. Like it was actually it was it was good, and it was good to obviously I don't know, just share a bit of knowledge from the the player's point of view as well. So no, I did I definitely enjoyed it.

Mike 38:39

Something you uh consider once you hang the skates up or something accounts to come and join Harrison off on the gantry. I don't know about that, but the offers there, yeah, I know brilliant, and uh obviously as you weren't involved a lot in the playing side of things, but obviously you're still turning up for games. I'm guessing you still would have been there during the week as well for the trading sessions. What is that team uh bonding like there? Because all the guys have said we've had been on so far said it's very, very close, and it does look like there's a very, very real togetherness with this group of players. I know there's a lot of players who've played together before, but even for newer guys coming into the team, they seem to have embraced the culture and the team spirit since day one.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Yeah, I think uh obviously it's kind of it's kind of easy for new guys to come into this group because, like you say, so many guys have played on teams together before, and we've got a lot of close friendships within the team as well. So it's kind of easy as a as a new piece coming into that and just kind of fitting in. So it's been we we do a good job of almost like team building from day one. Guys are meeting up away from the rink and getting to know each other, doing whatever. So it's uh yeah, I think it goes a long way, and you could obviously you could see the togetherness with the team when we win and the celebration in the middle that goes on now. And it's just yeah, I think uh there's only so much that like the hockey aspect can take you, and then it's that other team aspect that will get you over the line, maybe on a Sunday night in Leeds or Hull or whatever. That's when that's when the guys have to buy together as a team and obviously um get them results, but no, like you said, really close group. Um, everyone seems to be enjoying it, which is uh which is obviously the main thing as well.

Mike 40:44

Yeah, and it it probably helps as well with the uh how well the team are doing so far, top of the league at the moment, and just the one regulation time defeat so far. Does is is that does help things as well when the team's winning on the ice? Does it just feel that bit easier? You have that extra spin in your step when you come into training and you uh come into the matches on a on match night.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

Well, I think so. It just it keeps the vibe high through the week when you're doing well, obviously. I've played on I've played on losing teams as well, and I can tell you that's not very fun coming to the rank every day when you can't seem no matter how hard you try, you can't win a game. But uh yeah, obviously winning's a big part of that, and the feeling almost gets it's like uh it's like a bit of um an addiction, like you're chasing that feeling all the time. And I think obviously with the start we've had, whenever whenever there seems to be an off game or an off period, like the standards are so high within the room that we've set on ourselves that it's almost like let's sort this out and get back. So yeah, I think uh the winning helps, but that comes with a culture, that comes with the togetherness of the team, and obviously everyone sort of pulling on the rope in the same direction as such.

Harrison 42:03

And you mentioned about the team culture. Is that stuff that has come from other players, or has Pete instilled that, or is it a mixture of everything?

SPEAKER_01 42:12

Um, I'd say it's a bit of mixture of everything. I would say more so players. I mean, from me personally, like I've I've obviously I was here 10, 11, 12 years ago when you had your car Z J Mo Farney, and that's like the culture that I personally still try to to bring into the room and bring into the team, and just just little things like that, like um but as a whole, I mean the we kind of set out I don't know, set out like goals and do's and don'ts at the start of the season, which guys kind of have to abide by. And the main thing is just honestly be a good good human being at the end of the day, and we got a room full of them, so uh yeah, it's uh it's all been very positive so far that that's great to hear.

Mike 43:12

You were mentioned obviously your first thing when you were at the Lightning, and uh I know it was Nick Paul that signed you originally, but you did play uh under Pete as well, and it's uh playing back under him again, uh back in Milton Keynes. Is there any differences to that that first time being coached under Peter and Antonal? Because obviously in that time he's coached in the elite league, he's coached over in Germany, he became the national team coach as well. Is there some differences to how he was uh back in the EPL days as Antonal?

SPEAKER_01 43:47

Um I feel as a whole it's pretty similar to be honest. Uh yeah, you you obviously you know what you get with him. He's uh he demands a lot of the players, and uh obviously yeah, the standards are high and he he brings that to the rink every day, which I think for for obviously a team like we have with a lot of talent and a lot of depth, we need that. So I wouldn't say much has changed. He's what I remember twelve years ago.

Harrison 44:20

So yeah, no, is that in the good ways and the bad ways?

SPEAKER_01 44:24

Well, yeah, both ways.

Mike 44:28

Mentioned the the uh the depth in this team uh account. And last season at times don't I know uh Harrison mentioned it quite a lot of the comms last season, your the point scoring streak that you were on at one point last season, but it was it was tough going at times, and uh there was a few times when you were sort of the guy that a lot of the players looked to and you had to lift that team. Now that there's so much scoring talent across all the lines on this team, does that make it a little bit easier on yourself and you'd have to take less pressure on yourself to try like to lead?

SPEAKER_01 45:04

I mean, in a way, yeah. I mean, I still have high standards myself, obviously. So that that will never change. But as a as a as a team and as a whole, like absolutely like the more the more guys we can get putting the puck in the net, the better. Because the ultimate goal's not for me to get a hundred points. The ultimate goal is for the team to win three trophies. Like if we have 20 guys on 30 points and we win three trophies, it's better having two guys on 120 points and barely scraping into the playoffs. Because that's where you you kind of see that on good teams. You like you'll the the the top point scorer in the league is rarely on the top team in the league, and that's kind of I I don't know, like guys, uh it takes it takes more than one guy putting the puck in the net to get success, is kind of what I'm trying to say. And obviously we have that this year, and you can kind of get goals from anywhere in the lineup, which in a way is good for me because I don't feel like I need to to contribute five goals for us to win a game. But if I have to do that one night, then that's fine. Like Tomo, Tomo's been he's banging them in for fun just now, which is great. And then next week it'll most likely be someone else's turn. So the fact we have the the depth right through the lineup, it's uh it's it's huge, and I think obviously we're only however many weeks in, so there's uh there's a long way to go, and plenty of opportunities will come up for guys to step up and sort of have their moments. So yeah, it's a good thing to have.

Harrison 46:49

Yeah, and also just a quick mention of last season, obviously, with the amount of points and that goal streak, I think it ended up being 11 games in a row that you and you were scoring on. It was a very different season um from not just a fan perspective, but it probably was from a player's perspective as well, in terms of the amount of times you've seasons you've been at Lightning, it was very different to a lot of those. So, is it something is there any lessons you took from last season that it might have just been a bit different that you've not had before?

SPEAKER_01 47:21

Um, I think I mean the main thing is from last year is it gives you that hunger to get back to where you were before. I mean, it's it was kind of I think that was the weirdest part of last season was teams were coming into our rink kind of oh, we could probably just beat these tonight. Like it's that's not the way it uh really ever been. Like teams, especially like this season, for example, teams are probably coming to our rink thinking we'll be lucky to keep this under five, six goals with this team we're facing tonight. So, I mean, to have that across the ice from you, that's obviously not a very nice feeling. And then everything that happened uh behind the scenes with changes to personnel and things like that, that's never easy for a for a team or a group either. So I mean it was just I don't know, like one of one of them years when things just didn't go to plan essentially. So I mean, I feel like every sporting team in the world has years like that, and it's almost just how you bounce back from that. And I think uh the club as a whole has done a done a good job to to get the club to definitely where I think it should be anyway.

Mike 48:37

Definitely, and and Alphice you feel that in the crowd, like you see those those big sellouts, and for the last few weeks, obviously you've been sat amongst it, so you've probably felt that a bit more than you possibly would have done on the bench and on the ice. But skating out into a big full arena and a loud arena as it has been, how much of an extra lift is that for you? Does it just feel such a privilege when you come out and you know it's a sold-out building and everyone's on their feet clapping, shouting, chanting? But it must feel you must just get such a rush from that.

SPEAKER_01 49:11

Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think as a player, you kind of you almost take it for granted a little bit sometimes, and then when you're sitting in the stands, you can kind of take a a look at what's going on around the ice, and you're thinking, Jesus, like there's actually way more people here than kind of what you you think, because obviously when you're playing the game, you're just so lasered on the game. But uh yeah, I think uh seeing it from the outside, it kind of gives you that sense of gratitude, and you realize what you're a part of and how much it means to people. And yeah, it's just it's it's a really I think it's a really cool club, like it's a such a family oriented club, and obviously our fans are yeah second to none, honestly, from all the teams I played for. So it's uh yeah, they give us a boost, that's for sure.

Mike 50:09

That's great to hear, and I know that they'll constantly keep doing that throughout the rest of the season, win or lose. The the fans are always behind the team and uh always singing songs for all the players on there. And uh do the players uh sing your song at you uh during trading or after uh after any particular moments?

SPEAKER_01 50:31

Um I mean I will say I was getting I was getting a few Snapchats off some of the guys in the summer, and they're maybe I don't know, in a nightclub in Spain or something, and they're gonna phones and they're giving it to the song and that. But yeah, there's a there's always a bit of banter in the room with guys' songs. Obviously, you had Gillian last week's song, it's a bit bit of banter. Uh but yeah, probably I've not really played, so this year this year's team, the guys probably don't even know what my song is, so we'll need to we'll need to start banging them in again so uh so we get the the the song rocking.

Mike 51:06

Oh I I know that DJ Bertie or that as it was on Saturday, DJ Kat, well uh we'll probably have Gala on ready to play straight away the second that the puck hits the net for one of your shots. It's coming, so yeah. Right, brilliant. Uh Harrison, is there anything else for you for Camps?

Harrison 51:25

I mean one question as a sort of like quite a broad one, but in terms of your entire career at Lightning, do you have one standout memory from any previous season or anything that's sort of like you remember as being the one that trumps them all?

SPEAKER_01 51:44

Um I mean, just really anytime you've won a trophy. I mean, my first trophy uh challenge cup, uh the cup, uh Carzi penalty shot, special moment, uh playoff final 7-2, I think, against Helford, Bakerleg scores through his legs. Uh yeah, special moments, and then obviously winning the playoffs two or three years ago. I think that's the thing. Like, you don't you don't remember any of the the individual moments. Like you could probably ask me about my 20 hour goals last year, and I could probably tell you a handful that I remember. Whereas then that Carsy penalty shot 10, 11 years ago, I can remember it so well. Same with the Frankie one, same with the celebrations after we won them trophies, same with the celebrations after we won the playoffs. It's them ones that obviously stick with you, and obviously that's why we're doing it again this year, because we want to recreate that and obviously go further than one or two trophies.

Harrison 52:58

Yeah, and obviously just one final message to the fans that are that are listening.

SPEAKER_01 53:05

Uh yeah, just obviously thank thank you for your support. It goes a long way. All the guys uh do really appreciate it. And uh yeah, we're doing we're doing our best to take MK back up to the top again and like I said, make some make some memories for everyone. So yeah, we're all in this together and we'll uh we'll do the best we can.

Mike 53:29

Thanks to Jordan for joining us on the podcast and giving such a good insight into uh the injury side of hockey life as well when they're sat in the stands. So there was uh good to hear from that, and it was great to see him back at the ice on the weekend. Uh but Harrison, it wasn't just us playing at the weekend, there was a lot of other games going on, and it was over the Saturday and Sunday. So you're gonna give us a quick round up and summary of how the uh NIHL is looking.

Harrison 53:56

Yes, no Friday or weekday games this time, so a nice easy Saturday Sunday to go through. Um, Saturday, the only earlier face-off was Hull versus Romford. Um, what promised to be quite an interesting um double header for them. And the Seahawks did take the Raiders eight goals to five, big victory at home for the Seahawks in that one. Um, Solway and Basenstoke started their doubleheader as well on the Saturday with Solway taking the first game three goals to two in that one. Bristol Pitbulls and Leeds Knights on the Saturday down at the pound with probably not a shock result, but the Pitbulls taking the Knights to overtime and it being about 15 seconds left of OT for Bissonet to win it for the Knights. Um, but an all-important point for the Pitbulls who can have a little bit of confidence from that, um, going into future home games, of course, as well. And the final one being Telford 6, Peterborough 4. Um, another big victory at home for the Tigers, who, having checked, their only regulation loss at home was to the Lightning on opening weekend. So they have really turned their season around and are chasing the pack above them, which not very far above them either. On Sunday, started off in Sheffield, the Steel Dogs taking the Tigers five goals to one at home. Then Leeds Knights on their second of the double header against the Pitbulls, a little bit more expected, maybe. Leeds Knights seven Bristol Pitbulls won. Big result as Leeds continue their what I think is now a six-game win streak as they ascend the table and sit now in third. Solar and Basenstoke in the second half of their double header. The bison took this one, so it was a shared weekend of points up in Dumfries. Uh, two goals to one for the bison. Romford Hull, probably one of the sort of standouts in that day, with Romford going 2-0 up, but then a Cody Mons hat trick with the overtime winner as well. Means that the Seahawks take all four points against the Raiders, and that is a big, big four-point weekend for the Seahawks. And when it comes to the table, it means that they stay the two points behind Lightning that the weekend started as, and the teams that follow, it is getting very tight in behind, really, isn't it?

Mike 56:40

Yeah, I looked at that. So I think between the the Seahawks in second and the uh Sheffield Steel Dogs in eighth, there's uh eight points difference, and then between the Steel Dogs and Solway, there's eight points. So the gap between second and eighth is eight points, the gap between eighth and ninth is eight points. Uh I mean that's that's that's quite a gap at this stage of the season. I know it's still quite a lot of hockey to play for, but are we kind of seeing that top eight already forming?

Harrison 57:13

It does seem like that as well, and I mean it's gonna be interesting to see if Peterbrook can dig their way out of um what they're in at the moment. But I mean, Leeds' train that's kept rolling has pushed them all the way up to third, and there were points where we were doing this podcast, and they were sat in ninth, so it's a been a massive resurgence from the Knights. And I mean, you're looking at Swindon sitting in sixth, but they've also got two, maybe three games in hand on the teams above them, um, and that sitting sixth, only six points behind the whole Seahawks. So it it's all very tight, and it's still you can see the top eight and the bottom three, but that top eight is not it's not there's no sections to that top eight, really.

Mike 58:03

And yeah, I mean, I think you I was doing the uh the permutations of oh, if the season ends today, what would the playoff groups be? And I think every five minutes the teams kept changing. At one point we had like an all-northern and then an all-southern group, and then it switched around again. And I it's almost I can see this going to the final weekends. We may not know who the uh who your playoff opponents will be until like the Sunday, and the playoffs will start the following Saturday. It could could get quite interesting. I'm getting quite far ahead of myself, and we've got a lot of hockey starting with uh this weekend, but this weekend could be quite big in terms of the cup as well, because we're getting towards the end of that league phase, that round robin sort of phase of the cup, but before we decide the final four and some permutations in the cup, not least for the lightning's game this week, home game this weekend. And I think my maths is right. I've it's been a while since I've had to do anything sort of maths-wise, it's been a while since my GCSE's. But uh two points for Lightning. That's qualification for the for the semi-finals secured.

Harrison 59:09

Certainly is, and that's that's the aim. Yeah, that it's the first trophy to win. Um, you want to make sure you qualify as it stands. The lightning do sit top of the cup standings by regulation wins. Um, as the Raiders are level on points with the Lightning um at the top of the Cup standings, with both teams only dropping two points. Both of those two points were overtime losses uh as well. Um, but this is a big weekend across the league for the cup, um, as there are a sum total of seven cup games um this weekend, and importantly, it is a lot of the teams around the Lightning in that cup standing that have got their games left. So Hull, for example, this weekend, both their games, their away fixtures to Sheffield, their home game to Leeds, both of them are cup fixtures. Romford, away to Leeds, home to Solway, that's their two final cup fixtures done. Leeds, home to Romford, away to Hull, and then that's that's their cup fixtures done. So there's a good few teams whose whose cup fixtures end this weekend. Um, and we'll have a little bit more of an understanding by the end of this weekend who's gonna be part of that top four, and who's gonna be the one deciding who they play?

Mike 1:00:41

Yeah, because uh you you get top seed in that cup table, and you get to choose the opponents. It's not like it's first v fourth and second v third. You can decide to choose who you'd want to, and then you've got that step of do you play a team that you've got a good record with? Do you go for a team that it's less travel time, especially on a midweek, which it's likely to be uh different permutations and see who you'll pick, and it's it's always a tough call of like who to pick. I don't think lightning have had the privilege of doing that, they've often had the opponent, they've actually been either chosen or they've been the luck of not being picked, so to speak. So it'll be interesting if Lightning do have that pick, and but I'm sure there'll be a few more twists and turns in that last bit of standings beforehand. Uh very interesting to see in it big weekend coming up, and it leads us on nicely into uh our preview bit for this weekend's game. And it's uh it's a double header against a team that the Lightning haven't actually met so far this season. And uh it'll be uh a trip, a the way trip on Saturday down to Hampshire, down to Basingstoke to face the bison before the Herd travel back up to Milton Keynes on the Sunday for a 5.30 face-off at the Thunder Dome. And uh they started brilliantly the Bison, that has kind of tailed off a little bit, but they're they're doing very well, and also it's their second season since the rinks reopened, and it's a bit more of a solid start, and they've a little bit less of what they had last season where they started on the road and delays to the rink opening. This time they've been able to set the ground running and be secured from the summer, and I think they've they've started off very well building on what they established last season.

Harrison 1:02:23

Oh, 100%, and I mean they started the season incredibly well. They they won their first three games, um, and then it was a battle of two teams that hadn't lost a game at that point, and it was Romford, Basenstoke, and Romford came on top in that one. But yeah, the Bison have have been relatively steady, they've not sort of like gone up or down all that much uh as the season's gone on. Um, they obviously got that massive overtime victory in Leeds as well, which um, and that was nearly a month ago now, um, or it will be a month when this get this this comes out. I think it was the 10th of October. Um, but yeah, the the bison uh they're picking up points. Um, in terms of players that stand out, though, there's one that's on hot form at the moment. He was the player of the month for October, familiar to Lightning Faithful, uh, Matt Howlett. He's been a revelation for the bison, hasn't he?

Mike 1:03:20

Oh, he really has. We saw glimpses in his short stint at Milton Keynes last season of what he could do. Struggled a bit of an injury at the start of last season when he was at Leeds, came to Milton Keynes, found his form, scored on his debut up in Solway, and down in Basingstoke, he's slotted in superbly, and he's really, really leading the way in terms of the uh the attack for the bison. And back to that form that he was a couple of years ago when he was with the Knights, and he was keeping up with Kieran Brown and Matt Bissonet in terms of point production.

Harrison 1:03:55

Yeah, I mean, those are those are big players that you've got to keep up with um in terms of point production. But the bison have got two very solid top lines of players that are scoring. I mean, you've got Mac Howlett on 11 goals, Selen on 10, Isegai on 12, Farmer on nine, that's just four players alone that have contributed what is that, over 40 goals. And you can see where the the damage is coming from, and I think that's one thing Lightning have got to look at keeping the top line quiet.

Mike 1:04:31

Definitely, and uh, I think one player that's sparked a lot of interest when his signing was announced, and I think Lightning fans, and I imagine Pete Russell as well will be keeping an eye on Sota Issa guy, Japanese International, Japan will be in the same group as GB uh next next April, next May in the uh IIHF uh World Div 1A. And he he started the season listering form, didn't he? Like he he was fighting like every time he seems touched the pocky seemed to get a goal, and very, very intelligent and smart hockey player. And I'm I'm looking forward to seeing him in action, as we don't see many Japanese players playing in the UK, so it'll be quite interesting to see the style that he brings and how he's settled into life in the NIHL.

Harrison 1:05:22

Yeah, I mean he got five goals in his first two games, but that's that's a way to announce yourself, really, uh, in the NIHL, and obviously it's quieted down a little bit, he's still getting a point here and there. Um, but you you don't just get called up to the national team for no reason, and Japan aren't in Division 1A for no reason either. So the quality is there, he's shown it uh in abundance, um, and as you said, it's a very different style of player and a different sort of like style of hockey that most might not have seen really, as a lot of the imports that we get in the NIHL are Finnish or North American.

Mike 1:06:04

Yeah, that it's it's probably a little bit akin to when last year we signed Ilya Karenchuk, obviously being a Ukrainian, we don't see many Ukrainians playing in the UK, so it's that little bit of the unknown, and that might have been what led to his five goals at the start of the season because people just didn't know how he was going to play, and now they've scouted him a bit more, they know a bit more of what he brings. But looking at the offer end of the ice, two very solid netminders, and they've gone for an all goal. All Britt, Goldie, Tandem, amazing state. They had Max Wright last year, but they've gone with a mixture of the next generation, I'll say, of net miners coming through in Burn Clark Leach and a very experienced head in the form of Ethan James. And Ethan played both games up in Solway, did very well because Clark Leach was in Poland with Great Britain.

Harrison 1:06:52

Yeah, and I mean that's what I love about what um Iceland have done over the summer. They've taken a chance, and it is being honest, it is a punt. They have taken a punt on a very young British netminder who had a very good season last year where he was called up to Basenstoke to help out when Max Wright was injured. Um and he performed very well. Obviously, been a part of the Swindon youth setup for a while as well, um, playing for the Wildcats too. Um, and he's getting his chance and he's been rewarded with a GB call up. And I think that it's it was a brave decision to go down that route, especially as import netminder for those teams that have been nearer the bottom of the table and that lower end. Um import netminders are normally the route that you go down. Um, but to give someone like Ben Clark Leechell, I think, is probably one of the best up-and-coming Brit netminders um in the country, giving him a chance, and for him to be in a tandem with Ethan James, who spent a lot of his career at this level, um spent last year as the coach of the Romford Buccaneers, he's got coaching um on his side as well as the ability of playing. So to have someone like Ethan James be your goalie partner is gonna benefit him no end.

Mike 1:08:14

Definitely, and uh promises to be a very, very good game. They've got a lot of local lads there. Should also mention another former Lightning man as well with a bison in Adam Rosbottom as well, who was with the Lightning last season. He's picked up a couple of points as well with the bison. I know he's down at that area, so it's a lot more convenient for his work as well. It's a solid, solid team at the bison. They've picked a few of the former B's guys there, but they've they've they're tapping into that sort of M3, M4 corridor where there's a good lot of developing and talented players coming through. Should be a should be two very good games, I think. And uh teams as well that we've not faced so far this season. And uh you'll be able to see the bison up against the Lifestack MK Lightning on the Sunday. It is a 530 face-off at the Flanderdome, and you can get your tickets for it if you haven't already at mk-lightning.co.uk. And if you can't get to the rink, you can definitely join Harrison. I know you'll be on the stream again, won't you, for that visit of the bison?

Harrison 1:09:16

I like the fact that you assume it and you or your assumption is very much correct. Uh, it is me and Aaron on commentary um for that one. Um, but yeah, it'll be a great game, uh, as you said. I think the Saturday will promise to be an interesting one because again, teams always take it um to the Lightning at their own barn and they they play their own hockey, and it'll be interesting to see uh how the lightning deal with deal with the ice pad down there.

Mike 1:09:42

Definitely, and uh Bison fans they they get behind their team as well. And uh obviously they've been through a tough couple of years with the rink free development and uh the future of the rink maybe not being certain, but they are back now. And uh they had that season which was last year, which almost was a bit of a mulligan for them. It was just getting back on their feet, they'll be aiming for a top eight finish and an opportunity to try and crack and get it through to Coventry. I think they're they're out of the running, I think, mathematically for the cup, but they'll can now focus on cementing that playoff space. And they're a team they probably won't be challenging for that league title, but they could well have a say in who wins that title. And though that they said they're taking points off Hull early already this season, they're taking points off of Leeds. They'll be eyeing Lightning as another top team that they want to take a take a dump victory over.

Harrison 1:10:34

100%. And if you go back through the history of the the Bayes and Stoke Bison, they've always been a team that have been up there and in and around the the conversation of trophies, and um, they've got a very strong fan base down there. You saw it when it was announced that they were coming back at Coventry playoff weekend, that it was brought with great reception from the entirety of the of the fan base of the National League. So it's first and foremost, it is good to have them. Um obviously I know this is their second year now, but it's always good to have the the teams stay in the league. Um, and yeah, they're gonna be wanting to they're gonna be gunning for blood on that Saturday, and I know the Hull fans will be keeping an eye on that one because they had their struggles.

Mike 1:11:22

Definitely. Promises to be two very, very good games, and that brings us to the end of this week's podcast. If you haven't done so already, be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your podcast platform of choice or on the YouTube channel where you can also get notifications of all the highlights to come up from Lightning TV. So we'll be back next week with the next edition. Harrison, thanks for joining in on us. Uh let you go uh rest that voice ahead of the weekend now.

Harrison 1:11:52

Yeah, I'm gonna need it. I've I'm going away to Basinsnoke on the Saturday as well, so I've got to make sure I don't go too hard because I'm on comms on Sunday.

Mike 1:12:00

Maybe getting Aaron to do uh a bit more of the uh bit more of the accommodated on on the Sunday on for that one if you've got a bit of a bit of a sore throat. Just don't go too hard on the Barmy Army chance. Um I'd say on that Saturday. Amazing. Thanks, Harrison, and uh thanks for listening in, and we'll see you very soon for the next edition.