Swindon Wildcats v Leeds Knights – Team news, previous meetings, players to watch, how to watch online

LEEDS KNIGHTS head to Wiltshire on Saturday for the first of back-to-back meetings with Swindon Wildcats, who visit Elland Road Ice Arena on Sunday (5.15pm face-off).
By Phil Harrison
Published 23rd Oct 2021, 09:44 BST
Updated 23rd Oct 2021, 10:45 BST
WE'LL MEET AGAIN: Leeds Knights forward Adam Barnes closes in on Swindon Wildcats goalie Renny Marr during a pre-season meeting between the two at the Link Centre. Picture courtesy of Kat Medcroft/Wildcats Media.WE'LL MEET AGAIN: Leeds Knights forward Adam Barnes closes in on Swindon Wildcats goalie Renny Marr during a pre-season meeting between the two at the Link Centre. Picture courtesy of Kat Medcroft/Wildcats Media.
WE'LL MEET AGAIN: Leeds Knights forward Adam Barnes closes in on Swindon Wildcats goalie Renny Marr during a pre-season meeting between the two at the Link Centre. Picture courtesy of Kat Medcroft/Wildcats Media.

The Knights will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season, while today’s hosts will be keen to avenge a heavy 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Knights in the Autumn Cup at the start of this month.

Here are a few things to make note of ahead of today’s game, which faces off at 6.30pm.

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When? Today – Link Centre, Swindon, 6.30pm; Tomorrow – Elland Road Ice Arena, Leeds, 5.15pm.

Webcast? Swindon will be streaming the game live for £10. To buy an online ticket for the game go HERE

The last time: Friday, Sep 24 – Swindon 3 Leeds 7 (Autumn Cup - Knights scorers: Houston, Brown (2), Barnes, Shudra (2), Davies).

Last five games: Wildcats: LWWLW; Knights: WLLWW.

Top scorers: Wildcats – Aaron Nell - 6+10, Tomasz Malasinski 5+10, Chris Jones 3+8, Sam Bullas 1+8, Balint Pakozdi 4+6, Emil Svec (CZE) 8+1; Knights – Kieran Brown 13+11, Brandon Whistle 14+10, Cole Shudra 7+11, Adam Barnes 4+9, Matty Davies 4+8.

Leeds Knights defenceman Jordan Griffin won't be fit to face Swindon Wildcats Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium PrintsLeeds Knights defenceman Jordan Griffin won't be fit to face Swindon Wildcats Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints
Leeds Knights defenceman Jordan Griffin won't be fit to face Swindon Wildcats Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints
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Goaltending: Wildcats – Renny Marr: Save percentage: 87.03%, GAA: 3.5, Shots Agst: 216; Goals Agst: 28; Knights – Gospel: SP: 93.2%, GAA: 2.66, SA: 352, GA: 24

Team news: Dave Whistle will be without defenceman Jordan Griffin once again, the 19-year-old out for a second weekend with an unspecified injury.

Two-way forward Cole Shudra is also missing as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury sustained in Sunday’s 5-3 win in Peterborough Phantoms. Another key loss will be captain Sam Zajac, who has work commitments.

With all three back-up goaltending options tied up with their own clubs, Whistle has moved to bring in Niks Trapans to support No 1 Sam Gospel against the Wildcats.

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The 24-year-old Latvian-born netminder has come through the British junior system, playing the majority of his senior hockey with Blackburn Hawks.

For Swindon, Renny Marr has had the majority of starts in net, but Dean Skinns impressed when he got the nod and back-stopped Aaron Nell’s team to a 4-3 win after a shoot-out at Telford Tigers last Sunday - turning away 33 of the 36 shots on his net and possibly earning himself the chance of at least one start this weekend.

Related topics:Leeds KnightsSwindonKnightsLeedsSam Zajac

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