Leeds Knights II's young guns braced for tough double home challenge
HEAD COACH Aaron Jordan has hailed the impact of teenagers Evan Bradon and Josh Hartley for Leeds Knights II.
Both in their first full season of senior hockey, the pair have led the way for the NIHL North One team with their on-ice contributions this season.
They were to the fore once again last week as the Knights snapped a five-game losing streak with a deserved 7-4 win at home to Telford Tigers 2.
Bradon, 16, bagged a hat-trick, while 17-year-old Hartley pounced to register his eighth and ninth goals of the season.
This weekend presents another tough challenge for a team with an average of just over 17, when they take on Deeside Dragons and Hull Jets.
“The way those two are contributing is very impressive,” said Jordan. “They experienced a few games at the end of last season but both are in their first full season of senior hockey.
“We know they can skate well, but both of them have also shown composure around the net.
“The powerplay goal Evan scored (against Telford) would not have looked out of place in any league in the world.
“Josh’s calmness to find the five-hole when on the breakaway was outstanding and it shows his growth as a player.”
Back-to-back home games at Elland Road see Leeds pitted against two teams they have already faced before this season.
The Jets visited on the opening night of the season and were beaten 4-2, but got their revenge in Hull the following weekend when coming from behind to win 3-2.
The Knights visited Deeside three weeks ago and again got ahead before being dispatched 7-4 by a team which boasts the only remaining 100 per cent record in the division, albeit after just four games.
“This weekend will test us,” admitted Jordan, whose team host Deeside on Saturday. “But it’s exactly the kind of challenge we want. Two games, two opportunities to compete, and a chance to show the progress we’re making as a group.
“We know we made too many mistakes in our previous meeting with Deeside and they made us pay for them.
“That’s part of the game, but we’ve looked at where we need to be better and now it’s about putting that work into practice.
“We’ll be looking to put things right and make sure we give ourselves the best chance to get the result we want.”