There’s still nothing to choose between Leeds Knights and MK Lightning at the top of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division as an action-packed festive schedule came to an end last night.
Lightning went into the final set of games before Christmas with a two-point lead at the top, but not even four wins from their five matches over Christmas and the New Year would be enough to see them remain at the division’s summit.
That crown belongs to the Knights, who recovered from a 4-2 defeat at home to Hull Seahawks on December 22 by winning their next five over the festive period – scoring 26 goals and conceding just six during that time.
The two teams are locked together on 46 competition points, with Peterborough Phantoms nine further back in third. They won twice and lost twice over the festive period, meaning their gap to fourth now stands at just one point.
Closing them down are Swindon Wildcats. A tally of five wins and two defeats over Christmas and the New Year saw them rise a place in the standings, leapfrogging a Hull Seahawks side that won just one of their six matches during that time.
Another side with just one win to show from the festive period is Telford Tigers. They remain sixth, with a 3-0 win at Solway Sharks on December 30 their only triumph over the last 10 days.
One win and three defeats was enough to see Sheffield Steeldogs drop two places in the division. They now trail behind Raiders IHC and Bees IHC, with the former picking up three wins and two overtime losses in their last five matches.
Bristol Pitbulls remain bottom of the pile, despite winning twice against Swindon Wildcats and Bees IHC on Boxing Day and December 30 respectively.
Full results for the festive period can be found below. Thanks to our friends at NIHL Stats, you can also check out the latest results from the WNIHL and junior leagues as the season continues into 2024.
Thu 21st Dec 7:30pm Swindon Wildcats 8-4 Bees IHC L/C
Fri 22nd Dec 7:30pm Leeds Knights 2-4 Hull Seahawks L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 7:00pm Bristol Pitbulls 0-7 Milton Keynes Lightning L
Sat 23rd Dec 5:30pm Hull Seahawks 0-5 Leeds Knights L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 5:15pm Raiders IHC 4-5 (OT) Solway Sharks L
Sat 23rd Dec 4:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs 2-3 Bees IHC L/C
Sat 23rd Dec 6:30pm Swindon Wildcats 7-3 Telford Tigers L/C
Tue 26th Dec 4:00pm Bees IHC 1-10 Raiders IHC L/C
Tue 26th Dec 7:30pm Leeds Knights 3-1 Solway Sharks L/C
Tue 26th Dec 2:00pm Swindon Wildcats 1-4 Bristol Pitbulls L
Wed 27th Dec 7:00pm Peterborough Phantoms 4-5 (OT) Milton Keynes Lightning L/C
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Bristol Pitbulls 2-3 Swindon Wildcats L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Raiders IHC 5-2 Bees IHC L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Solway Sharks 5-4 (OT) Hull Seahawks L
Wed 27th Dec 7:30pm Telford Tigers 1-4 Leeds Knights L
Thu 28th Dec 7:45pm Milton Keynes Lightning 7-5 Peterborough Phantoms L
Thu 28th Dec 7:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs 5-4 Telford Tigers L
Fri 29th Dec 7:30pm Swindon Wildcats 8-3 Hull Seahawks L/C
Sat 30th Dec 7:00pm Bristol Pitbulls 4-2 Bees IHC L
Sat 30th Dec 6:30pm Leeds Knights 5-1 Sheffield Steeldogs L
Sat 30th Dec 5:15pm Raiders IHC 4-2 Peterborough Phantoms L
Sat 30th Dec 6:00pm Solway Sharks 0-3 Telford Tigers L
Sat 30th Dec 6:30pm Swindon Wildcats 5-3 Milton Keynes Lightning L
Sun 31st Dec 1:30pm Hull Seahawks 3-4 Solway Sharks L
Sun 31st Dec 3:30pm Bees IHC 7-4 Bristol Pitbulls L
Sun 31st Dec 1:30pm Sheffield Steeldogs 3-9 Leeds Knights L
Mon 1st Jan 7:30pm Peterborough Phantoms 3-2 (SO) Raiders IHC L
Mon 1st Jan 7:45pm Milton Keynes Lightning 5-1 Swindon Wildcats L
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