A festive double-header against the Peterborough Phantoms brought the final games of the year to a close last weekend, delivering fast-paced, loud, and exciting action right to the very end.

Saturday night at home saw a 5–3 victory for the Lightning, with the Man of the Match title awarded to Elliot Lewis after two breathtaking goals that had fans filling the Thunderdome with cheers and applause. In a game that remained tense until the final whistle, Lewis was driven and determined, earning the Lightning a power-play goal in the first period. Continuing his strong form, he played hard and powerfully, clinching another goal in the second period to level the score ahead of the rest of the match. His performance on the ice and work with his teammates earned him a well-deserved title.

The Lightning were away to Peterborough on Sunday, with Harry Gulliver named Man of the Match. Gulliver opened the scoring in the first period, with his offensive style carrying through to the third, where he delivered a well-timed assist to help secure the second goal. Without a moment to waste, he then drove forward to score a third, lighting up the rink with his unique playing style and effortless goal-scoring, making him a worthy winner of the Sunday title.

Back-to-back games against Peterborough over the Christmas period are always intense and hard-fought, and I was pleased with the effort and compete level from our group this weekend. We need to be smarter with the puck in certain situations, as too many of their opportunities came from our own mistakes. There were plenty of positives to build on, but we have to continue to grow mentally and structurally, particularly in road games. Friday in Romford will be a big test, and we know we have to be ready.

James Griffin – Defence (#15)

James Griffin is a seasoned English defenceman and has captained MK Lightning since the 2024-25 NIHL season, bringing commitment, physical play and leadership to the blue line (born 8 April 1993, Swindon). A player with strong skating and a willingness to engage physically, he has become a mainstay of the squad and an influential figure both on and off the ice. In recognition of his decade of service to the club, Griffin was honoured with a testimonial match on 26 April 2025.

View from the Coach “He’s exactly the kind of player and person we want wearing a Lightning jersey. He continues to improve every season and did an outstanding job as our captain last year. I expect him to keep leading by example with his hard-nosed, relentless style of play.” said Tim Wallace.

Quick Facts Age: 33 | Nationality: British | Shoots: right 2024/25 Stats played 52 games, 2 goals, 3 assists for 5 points.

Saturday night brings a sharp test for MK Lightning as Telford arrive at Planet Ice with a roster built around pace through the middle and quick puck movement. David Thomson is central to that, driving their top six with a blend of north–south speed and an instinct for finding space between the dots. His output last season shows why he is so difficult to contain, especially on quick transitions and broken plays (2024–2025 • NIHL • Telford Tigers: GP 31, G–A–P 29–33–62, PIM 73). He plays with edge, isn’t shy of traffic, and has a knack for arriving late into scoring areas when defenders are already committed.

Across the ice, Eric Henderson brings a different problem: vision first, execution second, and rarely in the obvious lane. His game is built on timing and awareness, often holding the puck just long enough to draw pressure before slipping a pass into a seam that did not look open a moment earlier. That patience was reflected in his distribution-heavy numbers last year, underlining his role as a facilitator as much as a finisher (2024–2025 • NIHL • Telford Tigers: GP 42, G–A–P 29–55–84, PIM 12). If Lightning overcommit to Thomson, Henderson is usually the one who makes them pay.

Meanwhile, Rhodes Mitchell-King provides the connective tissue on Telford’s blue line, linking defence to attack with direct skating and simple, efficient decisions. He is not flashy, but from the back end he advances the puck quickly, supports underneath the play, and keeps shifts moving in the right direction with clean first passes. His steady production last season points to reliability rather than streakiness, underlining his value in tight, low-margin games (2024–2025 • NIHL • Telford Tigers: GP 54, G–A–P 10–31–41, PIM 28). As a defender who reads the game well, he quietly tilts possession and makes life easier for the headline names ahead of him.

If you can’t make the trip north, make the trip into town instead…

MK Lightning’s first Watch Parties of the New Year take place on 17th and 18th January at the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes Central, bringing supporters together to follow the team’s road double header against the Solway Sharks.

Lightning will be away for both games, but the action won’t be missed. Fans can watch the live away-game stream in a superb shared setting, enjoy great food and drinks from the MKL-themed menu, and soak up the atmosphere alongside fellow supporters.

Tickets are just £2.50 per person, but availability is limited and demand is always high, so early booking is strongly recommended.

🦈 Solway Sharks vs MK Lightning ⚡
Saturday 17 January
Entry: 6:00 pm | Face-off: 7:00 pm

Sunday 18 January
Entry: 4:00 pm | Face-off: 5:00 pm

Bring your friends and family, meet other supporters, and cheer the team on together as Lightning look to make their mark on the road. Tickets can be booked now at www.bookwhen.com/mklightning — don’t miss out on the action.