Leeds Chiefs benefitting from Lewis Houston’s timely strikes

IT IS fair to say that Leeds Chiefs’ player-coach Sam Zajac is happy with the impact being made by Lewis Houston.
HISTORY: Lewis Houston, is mobbed by his team-mates after becoming the first Leeds Chiefs' player to score at Elland Road, albeit in a 4-1 opening night defeat to Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.HISTORY: Lewis Houston, is mobbed by his team-mates after becoming the first Leeds Chiefs' player to score at Elland Road, albeit in a 4-1 opening night defeat to Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
HISTORY: Lewis Houston, is mobbed by his team-mates after becoming the first Leeds Chiefs' player to score at Elland Road, albeit in a 4-1 opening night defeat to Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

The 18-year-old winger from Dumfries was persuaded to make the switch from Solway Sharks in mid-December, his arrival coming in the same week as forwards James Archer and Radek Meidl chose to leave.

His impact was almost instantaneous, thrown in for his first taste of NIHL National hockey in a weekend double-header at Basingstoke, his overtime winner in the second game delivering the Chiefs’ first-ever four-point weekend.

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After 17 games, he has posted 13 points, including 10 goals, and is currently on a four-game scoring streak, six games if you count his shootout strike in the recent 3-2 win at Telford Tigers.

ON TARGET: Lewis Houston goes on the attack against Telford Tigers last Friday, supported by line-mate Adam Barnes, right. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss.ON TARGET: Lewis Houston goes on the attack against Telford Tigers last Friday, supported by line-mate Adam Barnes, right. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss.
ON TARGET: Lewis Houston goes on the attack against Telford Tigers last Friday, supported by line-mate Adam Barnes, right. Picture courtesy of Mark Ferriss.

He made history when scoring the first-ever goal by a Chiefs player at the new Elland Road rink in the 4-1 opening night loss to Sheffield Steeldogs and was at it again when firing the overtime game-winner to sink Telford 3-2 on Saturday.

“He’s a clutch player, he’s exciting and a little bundle of energy every time he is on the ice – he makes things happen,” said Zajac. “He showed everyone again on Saturday why we put him in the positions that we do, like in overtime and in other key times in games.

“He’s a perfect example of the younger, faster, hungrier guys we’ve looked to bring in over the past two months.”

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