Milton Keynes Lightning refuse to travel to Leeds amidst coronavirus fears

MK Lightning took their fates in their own hands by refusing to travel to their game against Leeds Chiefs on Sunday.

With the English Ice Hockey Association failing to mirror the decision by the Elite League to abandon the season before the weekend Lightning players voted with their feet after Saturday’s game and refused to travel to Leeds Chiefs on Sunday because of the risks posed by the Corona Virus outbreak. They were swiftly followed by Bracknell Bees and Basingstoke Bison players who also declined to travel on Sunday – Telford Tigers wrapping up the league title with a 7-3 win over Raiders.

There was no EIHA response to those decisions on Sunday or early Monday but it seemed it will have little choice but to abandon the season – including the end of season play-offs. The lack of action highlighted the need to have a more professional body to administer the National Ice Hockey League.

Captain Russell Cowley said: “With recent events of Covid 19, we, the players of MKL, met after our game against Sheffield. As a group, we have extremely high levels of concern that travelling would not only put us at risk as players, but more importantly to our young families, pregnant partners, and close contact with elderly family members. It would be selfish of us to even consider putting those around us at risk.

“Many of us, if any, have never been in a position like this before. Whilst we certainly appreciate that this is far from ideal for Leeds and their players, we aren’t going to make a decision to put life at risk for a game of hockey. Important to us also, is following government guidance, which travelling would only counteract. We hope our fans, Leeds fans and players, share and support our stance in this difficult time.”

The night before though, Lightning did take to the ice, and staged one of the greatest comebacks in their history, beating Sheffield Steeldogs 11-5.

After making one of the worst starts to any game this season Lightning looked dead and buried as they trailed 4-1 and then 5-2 towards the end of the second period against Steeldogs – not helped by the over-zealous officiating of referees Richard Belfitt and Stephen Matthews.

Then suddenly Grant McPherson sent Tom Carlon away for a one on one chance to cut the gap to two goals at 36mins 39secs. By the second break it was down to one at 5-4 after McPherson – who had marked his 500th appearance for the club with a pre-match presentation – set up Liam Stewart for a superb powerplay goal at 38mins 21secs while Vladimir Luka was in the sin bin for hooking.

No one could have predicted what would happened in the third period though as Lightning went on to score a further seven unanswered goals – making it in nine in total – to put Steeldogs out of sight. It was as if the team that played the first 35 minutes were imposters and then coach Lewis Clifford pulled the true MK side out of the locker room.

Sheffield had held a slender one goal lead at the first interval – scored after 1min 24secs through Kieran Brown, making his first appearance after a long-term injury. Although MK outshot their opponents they looked lethargic at times.

Lightning equalised at the start of the middle second when Cale Tanaka seized on a nightmare pass by Steeldogs behind the goal and beat goalie Dimitri Zimozdra on 22mins 58secs – the hosts a man short with Tomas Kana in the penalty box for hooking.

When James Griffin was called a for a late hit Steeldogs regained the lead with Nathan Salem finishing off while netminder Jordan Lawday was left stranded on the ice at 26mins 33secs. Two more quick Sheffield strikes from Luka at 28mins 50secs and 30mins 51secs – the second a powerplay with Harry Ferguson sidelined on a roughing call – put the visitors firmly in command.

As James Griffin tried to set up Tanaka the latter was impeded by Reece Cochrane who threw his stick. That resulted in a penalty shot which Griffin duly converted to make it 4-2 on 33mins 23secs, only for Alex Graham to reply 25 seconds later before Lightning’s two goals gave them a fighting chance at the next break.

The third session belonged completely to the home team with Kana equalising at 42mins 56secs with a rocket from a tight angle before he put MK in front on a powerplay resulting from a holding call on Tom Relf at 44mins 21secs.

Zimozdra was penalised for tripping a couple of minutes later and was soon made to pay when Russell Cowley set up Leigh Jamieson to give MK a two goal advantage at 46mins 52secs. Steeldogs were reeling by this stage and they fell further behind when Rio Grinell-Parke, at the left post, finished off a fine move also involving Stewart and Taylor Dickin.

Having conceded eight times Zimozdra had had enough was replaced by back-up Curtis Warburton who was soon put under pressure but managed to keep a clean sheet until Dickin supplied Stewart for a brilliant top right hand corner shot after 54mins 13secs.

Less than two minutes later Hallden Barnes-Garner and Jack Brammer decided to drop the gloves to earn an early shower for each of them with four minutes for fighting – neither had seen much ice action during the game.

By now the home crowd were demanding ten goals from Lightning and they were granted their wish with McPherson scoring one of his best ever strikes, firing high to the left of Warburton with 50 seconds remaining. Dickin then rounded off the win with the 11th goal with 15 seconds left to cap MK’s biggest league win since February 2018 and largest goals tally since March 2016.