On Saturday night, Lightning secured a hard-fought 2–0 victory over the Leeds Knights, with Archie Salisbury named Man of the Match. In an exciting, action-packed contest, Salisbury was outstanding at the back, throwing himself into every challenge. He dealt confidently with Leeds’ offensive threats, blocking shots, making big hits, and driving the puck out of the defensive zone time and time again. It was a fantastic all-round performance from the young Brit and a key contribution to the shutout win.

On Sunday in Sheffield, the Man of the Match award went to Harry Gulliver. Gulliver got on the scoresheet with MK’s third goal of the night and worked tirelessly across the ice throughout the game. His pace and skill were on full display, creating offensive opportunities and causing problems for the opposition defence with his speed and energy.

Saturday, we played as a team. We were desperate, we were smart, and we were ready for the moment. The crowd was unbelievable, and everyone was locked in.

Sunday was the opposite. Night and day. The heavy minutes might of caught up to us, we weren’t on the same page, and our execution wasn’t good enough. We’ve got another tough challenge this weekend, and we’ll need everyone going for 120 minutes.

Elliot Lewis – Forward (#29)

New signing Elliot Lewis brings power, pace, and plenty of energy to the Lightning line-up for the 2025/26 season. The 23-year-old forward arrives from the Bristol Pitbulls, where he hit 12 goals and added 6 assists in 52 games last year. Known as a strong skater who isn’t afraid to use his size, Lewis thrives on the physical side of the game while still carrying a scoring touch. He is expected to add depth and physicality to MK’s forward group while chipping in with offence, making him a player to watch as he grows into the Lightning system. Fans can expect a hard-working forward who battles every shift, gets in the tough areas, and isn’t shy about making his presence felt.

View from the Coach “Elliot is a smooth-skating winger power forward,” said Tim Wallace. “He can create offensively and also use his strength and size to play physical and win battles. We believe Elliot has what it takes to reach the next level, and we’re excited to work with him.”

Quick Facts Age: 23 | Nationality: English | Shoots: Left 2024/25 Stats (NIHL National, Bristol Pitbulls): 52 GP – 12 G – 6 A – 18 PTS Style: Strong skater, power forward, thrives in physical battles One to watch: Brings grit and scoring touch to the Lightning offence

Swindon arrive into Milton Keynes with a forward group that can stretch any defence, and MK Lightning will need full focus to keep their key playmakers quiet.

Tyler Watkins brings a reliable scoring touch built across a varied North American career, and his first NIHL season shows how quickly he has adapted. His 2025–2026 return with Swindon has been sharp, with a balanced output across goals and primary contributions (2025–2026 • NIHL • Swindon Wildcats: GP 25, G–A–P 18–14–32, PIM 2). Watkins’ speed through the neutral zone and ability to link play make him a central threat.

Photo credit: Lewis Moran @lewismoranphotography

Logan vande Meerakker arrives with a profile built on progression through multiple North American systems, each step adding weight to his all-situations game. His NIHL form is already eye-catching, blending transition pace with clever puck movement (2025–2026 • NIHL • Swindon Wildcats: GP 24, G–A–P 14–18–32, PIM 17). His experiences last season in the SPHL, combined with earlier NCAA III production, make him one of Swindon’s most versatile forwards and a consistent possession threat.

Photo credit: Lewis Moran @lewismoranphotography

Ryan Wells offers a different angle: a composed defender and distributor, who has accumulated significant experience across the OHL, USports and the NIHL. His 2025–2026 output shows how effectively he has once again settled into Swindon’s structure (2025–2026 • NIHL • Swindon Wildcats: GP 25, G–A–P 10–18–28, PIM 4). With clear playmaking instincts and smart reads under pressure, he remains one of the most influential defencemen in Swindon’s lineup.

Photo credit: Lewis Moran @lewismoranphotography