How, where and when to see Leeds Chiefs in January

THE FINISH line is in sight, but before Leeds Chiefs get chance to step out for the first-ever match at their new Elland Road ice rink, they will spend the rest of this month playing ‘host’ at various other venues.
By Phil Harrison
Published 6th Jan 2020, 16:18 BST
Updated 7th Jan 2020, 11:00 BST
NOT LONG NOW: Leeds Chiefs will play out of the new Elland Road rink for the first time on Friday, January 31 against Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture courtesy of Chris Stratford.NOT LONG NOW: Leeds Chiefs will play out of the new Elland Road rink for the first time on Friday, January 31 against Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture courtesy of Chris Stratford.
NOT LONG NOW: Leeds Chiefs will play out of the new Elland Road rink for the first time on Friday, January 31 against Sheffield Steeldogs. Picture courtesy of Chris Stratford.

The Chiefs’ home opener will be against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Steeldogs on Friday, January 31, with a face-off time of 7.30pm.

An initial allocation of 500 tickets released for sale last Monday sold out within 24 hours, with around another 300 expected to be made available in the coming days.

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It is the kind of interest rink and team owners Planet Ice were hoping for and shows the potential for the first-ever semi-professional ice hockey team to grow in the city.

GETTING THERE: Construction continues on the new Ealland Road ice rink. Picture via Planet Ice.GETTING THERE: Construction continues on the new Ealland Road ice rink. Picture via Planet Ice.
GETTING THERE: Construction continues on the new Ealland Road ice rink. Picture via Planet Ice.

The clash against the Steeldogs will bring an end to endless weekends of playing on the road for Sam Zajac’s team, who were given special dispensation to play their first 10 games away by NIHL National bosses while work continued on the rink.

Then, in November, due to further delays, the Chiefs were forced to use other Planet Ice-owned rinks in Blackburn and Widnes as their home, while games against teams based in other rinks owned by the same company were ‘reversed’ and staged as home games for the Chiefs, including Peterborough, Milton Keynes and Basingstoke.

It has been far from ideal for the team, who becauswe of the continbued delays have also had to rely on one, 90-minute training session per week at Blackburn.

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Now, just four more home games are scheduled for guest rinks before the eagerly-anticipated opening night against the Steeldogs in Leeds.

This Saturday, the Chiefs play host to leaders Telford Tigers at Solihull (5.30pm face-off) before using Peterborough as a home venue once more on January 18 (7pm) against the Phantoms.

On Saturday, January 25, they return to Coventry for a second time to welcome Milton Keynes Lightning (7pm) before, just under 24 hours later, they head back to Solihull to take on Swindon Wildcats (5.30pm).

Tickets for those four games can be bought via the club’s website at: https://leedschiefs.co.uk/fixtures/

Related topics:Elland RoadYorkshirePeterboroughMilton KeynesSam ZajacTickets