David Thomson takes home Man of the Match honours the past Saturday after a strong showing against the Peterborough Phantoms. Thomson made his mark on the scoresheet with a power-play goal, capitalising on the extra-man opportunity and helping keep the Lightning pushing forward. A composed performance from the forward, who brought energy and attacking intent throughout the night.

Jordan Hedley takes Man of the Match honours following a composed performance between the pipes against the Peterborough Phantoms. The netminder stood tall throughout the contest, making a number of important saves to keep the Lightning in the game and give his side a chance at the other end. A confident showing from Hedley, who once again demonstrated his reliability when called upon.

#7 Cameron Hamill returns to Milton Keynes Lightning for the 2026/27 season, bringing valuable NIHL experience and a proven ability to contribute offensively.

The Northern Irish forward, who plays on the right wing, first joined Lightning during the 2022/23 season before spending the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns with the Bristol Pitbulls. During his latest season in Bristol, Hamill recorded 21 points from 38 NIHL appearances, including eight goals and 13 assists.

Now back in MK, the 21-year-old has already built an impressive NIHL record, with 170 appearances, 25 goals, 50 assists and 75 points to his name. His previous spell with Lightning saw him register 12 points in 42 league games during the 2023/24 season, following a seven-game introduction to the senior side the year before.

With plenty of experience already under his belt and his best years still ahead of him, Hamill adds another exciting attacking option to the Lightning line-up for 2026/27.

Central to Leeds’ attack, Kieran Brown is the left-shot English forward MK must prevent from dictating the night. His latest regular-season line shows both finishing weight and substantial creative output (2025-2026 • NIHL • Leeds Knights: GP 41, G–A–P 37–33–70, PIM 53). Goals led assists, but the balance matters: Brown’s threat is not confined to the final touch, so Lightning cannot defend him solely as a shooter. The supplied record also shows sustained elite NIHL production across successive Leeds campaigns, followed by further scoring in the play-offs. That combination makes his involvement relevant whether Leeds need a finish or the pass that creates it. Brown’s recent post-season return maintained the same broad pattern, adding goals and assists over a short run. MK’s defensive detail must therefore begin before he reaches a dangerous area: manage possession cleanly, deny easy entries and avoid giving Leeds repeated attacking opportunities with Brown available to finish or create. Discipline matters too, because his production makes preventable Leeds possession particularly costly.

Behind Leeds sits Sam Gospel, a left-catching English goaltender whose workload and efficiency make him central to how the Knights manage games. The most recent NIHL regular season combined heavy usage with a strong save rate, a controlled goals-against average and a shutout (25-26 • NIHL • Leeds Knights: GP 51, SV% .915, GAA 2.81, SO 1). That is the correct frame for assessing Gospel: volume of appearances, percentage of shots stopped and goals conceded, not skater production. His supplied record shows he has carried a substantial league schedule for Leeds across successive campaigns, while also appearing in the play-offs and cup. Earlier regular seasons produced even stronger save percentages and lower goals-against averages, underlining the level already present in his Leeds body of work. For Lightning, the challenge is practical: make Gospel handle sustained pressure and repeatedly reset, rather than allowing isolated shots to support an already credible stopping profile. His ability to keep the score controlled can give Leeds time to impose their attack.

On Leeds’ blue line, Jordan Griffin offers a right-shot English defensive presence whose recent numbers point to a role built more around defending than driving the scoring totals. His latest league return was modest offensively and carried a notable penalty-minute figure (2025-2026 • NIHL • Leeds Knights: GP 27, G–A–P 1–3–4, PIM 36). That contrast is useful for Lightning: Griffin may not lead the Knights’ production, but his disciplinary load can still shape shifts and special-teams opportunities. The wider supplied record shows continued NIHL service with Leeds, including previous campaigns with greater assist and points output, plus further contributions in the play-offs. His earlier senior record also includes cup hockey with Widnes before his Leeds run. MK should test his decisions through pace and pressure, while staying alert to his right-shot outlet and avoiding unnecessary engagement after whistles. Griffin’s value is best read through the full defensive assignment, but the penalty column provides a clear area for Lightning to probe without losing their own structure.

🤠 HOWDY, LIGHTNING FANS! 🤠

Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hat — Country & Western Night is coming to the rink! 🐎

Join us on Saturday 10th October as the Lightning take on the Sheffield Steeldogs or a night of hockey with a country twist! 🌵

Expect plenty of themed fun, a few surprises and all the ice-cold action you’d expect from a Lightning game night.

🎟️ 10 October | MK Lightning v Sheffield Steeldogs

Round up your crew and saddle up for a night at the rink! 🤠🏒

Tickets on sale now bit.ly/WatchMKL