Returning Ethan Hehir out to help Leeds Chiefs fulfil playoff goal

BACK AT IT: Ethan Hehir, seen above in action against Bracknell recently, is determined to help Leeds Chiefs realise their playoff ambition. Picture courtesy of Kevin Slyfield.

Leeds Chiefs looking to get ahead of the game for 2020-21

He was equally impressive for Great Britain Under-20s in Vilnius, Lithuania, last week, helping the team clinch a silver medal in Division 2A of the World Championships.

The winger is hoping to repeat the experience with the national set-up next year but, for now, his focus is purely on helping his team make the post-season.

Two weeks today, the Chiefs will finally get to play host for real when they welcome Sheffield Steeldogs to Leeds for the first-ever game to be played out of the new Elland Road rink.

It makes for exciting times for everybody connected to the Chiefs, not least the players, who have had to endure far more than their fair share of travelling as a result of the construction delays.

But while opening night will be a moment for the team to savour, Hehir is under no illusions that results need to start improving sooner rather than later if bottom-of-the-table Leeds are to stand any chance of overturning the 12-point gap that exists between them and Bracknell Bees - the team that currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot.

“This is the time now where we definitely have to start turning good performances and narrow losses into two points,” said Hehir ahead of a weekend which sees them ‘host’ fourth-placed Peterborough Phantoms (in Peterborough), before heading to Shropshire 24 hours later to face leaders Telford Tigers.

Great Britain Under-20s after winning silver at the recent World Championships Division 2A tournaent in Lithuania. Picture courtesy of Ice Hockey UK.

“There are still plenty of games left, which is key, but like Sam (Zajac) said recently, we have to start putting the wins together now. We can’t go another six games without winning and we can’t just rely on other teams.

“But if we can start putting a winning run together now - say a four-point weekend this weekend - then that starts to close the gap and put pressure on those teams above us.”

Hehir understandably returned from his international adventure in a positive frame of mind, Martin Grubb’s team denied gold and the accompanying promotion due to their opening day defeat to eventual winners Japan.

But securing second spot by going unbeaten for the rest of the tournament ensured Hehir and his team-mates boarded the plane home justifiably proud of their efforts.

“It was my first taste of playing for the Under-20s,” added Hehir, who was part of the GB Under-18s team in Hungary last year. “I was just happy to make the team to be honest, that was my goal at the start of the season before I’d even trialled - I’d never made it as a lower-age player before, so I was happy.

“It would maybe have been better had we played Japan at the end of the week, that was obviously the key game - but there was still a positive atmosphere around the team when it was all over. Hopefully, I’ll get to be part of it again next year.”