It was another weekend of standout performances for Lightning, with Carter Hamill and Harry Gulliver taking home the Man of the Match honours.

On Saturday night, Carter Hamill led the way with a brilliant attacking performance, scoring two goals and adding an assist to help Lightning secure a 4–2 victory over the Romford Raiders.

On Sunday, it was Harry Gulliver who took the honours in a hard-fought 5–3 win over Bristol. Harry’s third-period fight proved to be a huge momentum-shifting moment, sparking the team into action and helping ignite the determination that saw Lightning score two more goals to seal all two points.

Two big performances, two important wins and another four points on the board.

It was a tough weekend and that’s how it should be! We secured two hard-fought victories against two teams that truly came to battle, they made it hard for us to score, and both teams had real offensive threats by the way they played. I liked our groups resilience and unity, they were key in managing those challenges effectively. We stuck together, communicated well, and found a way to win both nights. Proud of the effort and determination from everyone. We are definitely seeing opposing teams A games each night so far.

The 25-year-old forward, born in Edmonton, Alberta, stands at 6'0" (183cm) and weighs 185lbs (84kg). A centre/left wing who shoots left, Weight has developed through some of the most competitive hockey programmes in North America, including the U.S. National Team Development Program, Penticton Vees, Boston College and Colorado College.

Weight enjoyed a productive junior campaign with the Penticton Vees in 2019/20, recording 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points in 58 BCHL appearances. He later made the move into professional hockey, featuring for the Birmingham Bulls in the SPHL during the 2025/26 season, where he registered nine goals and 17 assists in 29 games.

A U17 World Championship gold medallist with the USA, Weight also entered the 2020 NHL Draft ranked 142nd by NHL Central Scouting.

Now in Lightning colours, Weight will be looking to bring his experience, skill and offensive ability to the Thunderdome as he begins the next chapter of his career.

https://www.nihlnational.com/game/727-mkl-sol

Power and production define Jonathan Yantsis’s threat. The right-shot Canadian forward brings an imposing frame to Solway’s attack and has opened the NIHL campaign with an emphatic scoring return (2026-2027 • NIHL • Solway IHC: GP 4, G–A–P 5–3–8, PIM 6). That output is not an isolated burst: his previous Solway campaign also featured prolific finishing and strong playmaking, alongside a sizeable penalty total. Lightning therefore have to account for both his ability to complete moves and his capacity to create for others. Yantsis arrived in the league after ECHL spells with Trois-Rivières, Rapid City and Greenville, following a productive USports campaign at Queen’s University. That background gives Solway a forward accustomed to different competitive settings, while his size adds another consideration. MK’s priority is denying him clean possession in dangerous ice and avoiding loose coverage when he shifts from shooter to provider. If he receives repeated touches around the scoring areas, the early evidence says Solway can turn them into offence quickly.

Balance is the immediate feature of Alex Johnston’s start in Solway colours. The left-shot Canadian has contributed as both finisher and supplier, giving Solway another forward whose early production is not tied to a single route (2026-2027 • NIHL • Solway IHC: GP 4, G–A–P 3–3–6). His university record at Carleton reinforces that picture: each listed regular-season campaign contains meaningful returns in both scoring columns, with his strongest output coming before another productive final season. Johnston also brings major-junior experience from an OHL campaign in Ottawa, adding a different competitive background to Solway’s forward group. For Lightning, concentrating solely on taking away his shot would leave only half the assignment completed. His passing return shows that he can also advance Solway’s attack by finding a team-mate. MK must pressure his possession without opening an easy outlet, particularly when Solway establish attacking-zone time. Johnston’s early contribution has been evenly constructed, making him a player who can punish defensive attention directed too narrowly elsewhere.

Distribution has been central to Owen Cole’s early impact for Solway. The left-shot Canadian forward has supplied more goals than he has scored while still carrying a direct finishing threat of his own (2026-2027 • NIHL • Solway IHC: GP 4, G–A–P 2–4–6, PIM 2). That playmaking thread runs through his earlier record with the Brooks Bandits and Ottawa Jr. Senators, while his NCAA career at UMass-Lowell produced contributions in both scoring columns across several campaigns. Cole was listed as captain during his final UMass-Lowell season and now carries an assistant’s designation with Solway, giving them a forward whose leadership responsibilities have followed him into the NIHL. His current scoring split should shape MK’s defensive decisions: closing his shooting lane is necessary, but overcommitting can expose the passing option. Lightning need sticks in the routes around him and disciplined coverage away from the puck. Cole’s record shows sustained creative value across junior, university and British hockey, with enough scoring output to prevent defenders treating him solely as a provider.

HOWDY, LIGHTNING FANS!    Dust off your boots and grab your cowboy hat… it’s Country Night at the rink!

Doors open: 18:00 | Face off: 19:00

Enjoy:
Great food & drink
Ice-cold beer
Singing, cheering, clapping
Free* after match skating
And edge-of-your-seat hockey action from start to finish