On Saturday night, Sean Norris led the way with an impressive hat-trick in front of over 2,500 fans at the Thunderdome. His clinical finishing helped Lightning secure a convincing 7–3 victory over the Sheffield Steel Dogs, giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate on Country Night.

Sunday brought a much tighter contest, with Liam Stewart earning the Man of the Match award after a determined performance against Romford. Stewart contributed a goal and an assist as Lightning fought back from 2–0 down to take the game to a penalty shootout. Despite their efforts, Lightning narrowly missed out, falling to a 3–2 shootout defeat.

The weekend games against Sheffield and Romford showcased the team's resilience and skill.

In the Sheffield match, the team performed exceptionally well, demonstrating strong offensive play throughout the game, culminating in a fantastic win. It was a great opportunity to see their hard work pay off.

Sunday we travel to London, the game against Romford was a real battle in a challenging environment. Despite putting in a tremendous effort and coming from 2 goals down, the team fell short in a shootout, which reflects the intensity of the match.

Overall, you should be really proud of the lads for their dedication and performance over the weekend!

Bringing youthful energy, strong defensive play and an impressive ability to contribute offensively, Kell Beattie joins Milton Keynes Lightning for the 2026/27 season.

The Belfast-born defenceman, who shoots right, stands at 5'10" (178cm) and weighs 181lbs (82kg). A product of the Junior Belfast Giants setup, Beattie has developed through the British game while gaining valuable experience at both Elite League and NIHL level.

Beattie featured for the Belfast Giants during their treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, making 14 appearances across the Elite League and Challenge Cup. He has continued to develop his game through loan spells in the NIHL, including a productive 2025/26 season with the Solway Sharks, where he recorded an impressive 30 points in 48 regular-season games.

Joining Lightning colours on a two-way agreement with Belfast, Beattie will have the opportunity to continue his development while bringing valuable experience to the blue line. His ability to contribute at both ends of the ice makes him an exciting player to watch as he looks to build on his progress and help Lightning push for success at the Thunderdome.

https://www.nihlnational.com/game/740-mkl-hul

Arriving in Hull after a highly productive campaign with Hijs Hokij Den Haag, Cody Monds has transferred his scoring touch directly into the NIHL National. The right-shot Canadian forward has made an immediate impact for the Seahawks, supplying goals as well as distribution through the opening stretch (2026-2027 • NIHL • Hull Seahawks: GP 6, G–A–P 4–6–10). His route to British hockey includes NCAA spells with Providence College, Clarkson University and Robert Morris University, following productive junior seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies and Fargo Force. That background shows a forward accustomed to adapting across leagues while retaining offensive value. Milton Keynes must account for both parts of his game: allowing Monds room to shoot carries an obvious threat, but overcommitting towards him can create opportunities for Hull’s other forwards. Denying him controlled possession and disrupting his links through the offensive zone should therefore be central to Lightning’s defensive work.

Already familiar with the demands of the NIHL National, Patrick Brown gives Hull a right-shot Canadian forward with proven production in this competition. His start for the Seahawks has been driven particularly by finishing, making him an immediate concern whenever Lightning lose structure around their own net (2026-2027 • NIHL • Hull Seahawks: GP 6, G–A–P 5–3–8, PIM 4). Brown joined Hull after a productive campaign with Telford Tigers, where his output combined regular scoring with substantial playmaking. His career record also includes USports hockey with Wilfrid Laurier University, adding a different competitive setting to his experience before his move into the British game. For Milton Keynes, the priority is to prevent Brown from receiving possession in dangerous areas rather than reacting after the puck reaches him. Hull’s forward has demonstrated that he can punish delayed coverage, while his assists this term underline that defenders cannot simply sell out to block his release.

Returning to Hull with extensive experience across the British game, Finlay Ulrick offers the Seahawks a familiar source of pace, scoring and puck distribution. The English right-shot forward has opened the campaign by contributing in each offensive category, while also accumulating penalty minutes (2026-2027 • NIHL • Hull Seahawks: GP 6, G–A–P 2–4–6, PIM 11). Ulrick’s previous Hull record establishes the scale of his attacking capability at NIHL level, and his career has also featured EIHL duty with Manchester Storm and Sheffield Steelers. He additionally produced effectively for Sheffield Steeldogs during his time split between Sheffield’s teams. That blend of top-flight exposure and established National League output makes him difficult to reduce to a single role. Lightning will need to manage his movement before Hull can build speed through the neutral zone, then remain alert when he shifts from carrying the puck to finding support. His early balance of goals and assists demands disciplined coverage.