Ross Venus capped off a glittering career in perfect fashion at the NIHL Final Four, where he was named Tournament MVP. In the Playoff Final against Peterborough, Venus rose to the occasion with two superb goals, driving Lightning to a commanding 6-1 victory and securing the Playoff Champions title.

A player who has always led by example, Venus’ work rate, leadership, and ability to deliver in the big moments have made him a fan favourite in Milton Keynes and a respected figure across British hockey. His contribution on and off the ice has been immense, and fittingly, his final appearance in Lightning colours ended with silverware in his hands.

Following the Final Four, Ross announced his retirement from hockey – bringing an outstanding career to a close on the highest of highs. Everyone at MK Lightning thanks Ross for his incredible commitment and service to the game and wishes him the very best for the future.

We are excited to finally get back on the ice and test ourselves after a long summer. Pre-season is always about finding our game and building the chemistry that will carry us through the year. Tilburg are a strong, structured team that will make us work for every inch of the ice. That’s exactly the type of challenge we want to kick things off.

We don’t expect it to be perfect this early, but the focus will be on playing with pace, competing hard in all areas, and starting to put the details in place that define our style of hockey. It’s about laying the foundation, and every shift matters in helping us get there.

Most importantly, it feels great to be back in front of our fans. The energy in this building gives us a huge boost and we can’t wait to feed off that again. Tonight is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to building something special together.

Goaltender (#31)

Bedford-born goaltender William Kerlin is already a proven and reliable presence for the Lightning. At 24 years old, the English netminder combines size (6’1”, 194 lbs), athleticism, and calmness in the crease, giving MK confidence whenever he starts. Kerlin came through the MK and Guildford youth system before heading to Canada with the Ontario Hockey Academy, where he sharpened his game against top junior competition. He has also iced in the Elite League with Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers, before firmly establishing himself at NIHL National level. Last season he featured in 17 games for MK, posting an impressive .909 save percentage and 2.44 GAA, showing he can deliver at the highest standard in the league. With his reflexes, composure, and big-game mentality, Kerlin gives the Lightning true depth and quality in the goaltending position.

View from the Coach “Will has been working hard and continues to progress. He gives us real depth in the goaltending position and is someone we know we can rely on when called upon,” said Tim Wallace.

Quick Facts Age: 24 | Nationality: English | Height/Weight: 186 cm / 88 kg | Catches: Left 2024/25 Stats (NIHL National, MK Lightning): 17 GP – .909 SV% – 2.44 GAA Style: Athletic goalie with quick reflexes and calm under pressure

One to watch: A proven, reliable netminder who brings quality to every game"

Keep an eye out for number 86 in blue and yellow tonight. Canadian forward Phil Marinaccio is Tilburg’s offensive spark plug and one of the most dangerous players in the Oberliga. Last season he racked up an incredible 82 points in just 42 games, with 51 goals to his name – a true game-changer every time he steps on the ice.

Marinaccio brings pace, skill, and finishing touch in equal measure. Having played across North America and Europe – including stints in Norway, Denmark, France, Sweden and the ECHL – he’s a seasoned pro who knows how to deliver under pressure.

Lightning’s defence will need to stay sharp whenever Marinaccio hits the ice, as he only needs a split-second to punish mistakes. If Tilburg find the net tonight, chances are #86 will be right in the middle of it."

Another key man for the Trappers is Dutch forward Max Hermens, a homegrown talent who has become a mainstay of the Tilburg line-up. Wearing number 81, Hermens combines speed, tenacity, and a real nose for the net, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone.

Now 27, Hermens came through the Zoetermeer Panters system before testing himself in Sweden with Nacka HK and Malmö Redhawks at junior level. Since returning to the Netherlands, he has been a consistent performer for Tilburg, regularly putting up 40+ point seasons and stepping up in the big moments – including strong playoff performances year after year.

Hermens also brings international experience, representing the Netherlands at U18, U20 and senior level. That pedigree shows in the way he plays: quick on the forecheck, dangerous around the crease, and never afraid to battle for possession.

MK Lightning will need to keep close tabs on #81 tonight – give him space, and he’s more than capable of punishing mistakes."

Number 11, Kobe Roth, is one of Tilburg’s newest attacking weapons – and he’s already proving himself a player to watch. The American forward joined the Trappers this season after a year in the Elite League with Coventry Blaze, where he posted 41 points in 54 games.

Roth brings speed, energy, and a scoring touch, developed through a strong NCAA career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he twice won the NCAA national championship. He has also spent time in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades and Kalamazoo Wings, showcasing his ability to adapt and contribute at a high level.

Since arriving in Tilburg, Roth has hit the ground running, adding 48 points in 44 games in his debut Oberliga season and continuing that form into the playoffs. Small in stature but fearless on the ice, he’s the kind of player who can spark offence from nothing.

MK Lightning will need to keep a close eye on #11 tonight – Kobe Roth is a proven winner with the ability to tilt the game in Tilburg’s favour."

We also have a new WhatsApp Channel – search for MKL and MKLSC to get updates this way too.

Milton Keynes Lightning are pleased to confirm the fixture schedule for the upcoming 2025/26 season.

The League campaign will begin on home ice at Planet Ice Milton Keynes on Saturday 20th September, with a 7:00pm face-off against the Bristol Pitbulls. The team will then travel to Telford on Sunday 21st September with face-off scheduled for 6pm.

As in previous seasons, the majority of MK Lightning home fixtures will take place on Saturday evenings, with a small number of exceptions throughout the calendar.

Wednesday 29th October vs Basingstoke Bison (Half term)

Sunday 2nd November vs Sheffield Steeldogs

Sunday 7th December vs Bristol Pitbulls

Sunday 21st December vs Swindon Wildcats

Sunday 25th January vs Basingstoke Bison

Sunday 8th March vs Bristol Pitbulls

Friday 20th March Vs Romford Raiders

Home fixtures around Christmas and New Year are Sunday 21st December vs. Swindon, 27th December vs Peterborough Phantoms and 3rd January vs Telford Tigers.

We have a Solway double header this year, 17th and 18th January for the Barmy Army Travelling fans.

This season, the cup competition will be the same as last season.  The qualifying stage will consist of 10 games, Each team will play every other team once, resulting in 5 home and 5 away games. The semi-finals and finals of the cup competition (both over 2 legs home and away) will aim to be completed by the end of December, subject to fixture availability.

The final weekend of the regular season is 20th March 2026, which will then be followed by three weekends of playoffs and Coventry weekend on 18th-19th April if we qualify.  Playoff format will be shared in due course.

Full fixtures are available here: https://mk-lightning.co.uk/fixtures and will automatically appear in your calendar in due course if you have subscribed to our calendar service.

Tickets are not yet on sale (we’ll let you know when they are).  The website fixtures page does show on sale dates for each fixture, but please note these may be subject to change as the fixtures are loaded on (we hope the first 3 matches will go on sale at 10am 2nd August 2025 – we will confirm on social media and email our mailing list).

Bookings for VIP, Bench with the Lightning will open in due course – please subscribe to our mailing list to get all info directly to your email.