For the third season in a row, the Morley Glass Leeds Knights will be able to call upon players developed through Knights 2.


Established to bridge the gap between junior hockey and the National League, LK2 has already delivered on its mission: providing talented young players with the opportunity, experience and confidence to step into the Knights’ first team.


In year one, Bailey Perre dropped down a level to gain valuable minutes and rediscover his game. He did exactly that, returning to the Knights’ roster and playing a key role in their league title run. The season also saw the emergence of Edgars Vengis and Danny Harrison.


In year two, Vengis established a more prominent role with the Knights, as did Jonas Bennett, leaving both with only limited opportunities to play in NIHL 1. When injuries began to bite, Harrison and Daragh Spawforth turned their LK2 experience into significant first-team minutes during the second half of the season.


They were joined by Liam Hine, Kurts Baumanis and Frank O’Sullivan once he became eligible. Lawrence Dean and Tom Dermott also stepped in on the blue line, while Junior Knights Jake Wigginton, Josh Hartley and Evan Bradon earned opportunities late in the season.


That is without mentioning goaltenders Dan Norton and Ollie Booth, who gained crucial minutes and valuable senior experience with LK2.


In just two years, LK2 has become a conveyor belt of talent, providing a bridge between junior and senior hockey and an important development environment in which players can make mistakes, learn and gain the experience required to progress.


“I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the number of players we have been able to expose to National League hockey,” said Knights Head Coach Ryan Aldridge.


“It is not easy having a development team when you don’t know from one week to the next who might be available to sit on the bench, but it has worked incredibly well for us.


“I am delighted not only with the ability of the players coming through, but also with the kind of people they are. They have all fitted seamlessly into our locker room and with the rest of the team.”


Leeds Junior Knights Director of Hockey, Seth Bennett said: “I can only applaud Steve Nell and Ryan for the support they have given LK2. They have put their money where their mouth is when it comes to creating a proper, fully functioning player pathway.


“It has been amazing to watch the journey of these young players. Many of them were just 11 or 12 years old when the junior club launched in 2021, and they are now exciting prospects demanding ice time in the National League.


“Ryan has done a fantastic job of embracing the junior club and helping us produce the right kind of players. Crucially, he has also shown that he is prepared to trust them in the biggest situations.


“I am sure there are several clubs around the country looking at Leeds and wondering how he has managed to bring so many young players through while keeping the team so competitive.”


As LK2 approaches its third season, here are six players whom Knights supporters may not have seen much of yet, but who are already very much on the radar.


Josh Hartley


The 17-year-old forward has progressed through the ranks in Leeds after joining the Junior Knights at the club’s inception.


A Great Britain Under-16 international, Hartley made his Knights debut towards the end of last season and was part of the team that won the play-off final in Coventry.


He is a smooth-skating, skilful forward who brings plenty of speed to the line-up. Hartley began last season in Canada with Epic Hockey Academy before returning to complete the campaign at the Castle. He recorded 16 points in 10 games for the Under-19s as they reached the national semi-finals.


Frank O’Sullivan


O’Sullivan holds the distinction of being the youngest goalscorer in the history of both the Leeds Knights and Knights 2.


After making his senior debut at the age of 15, he impressed immediately, scoring 16 goals in 28 games and finishing the season as LK2’s leading scorer. He also made 10 appearances for the Knights, contributing one goal and two assists.


A big, strong forward with a heavy shot, O’Sullivan’s season ended prematurely after he suffered a shoulder injury during the play-offs. The injury also denied him the opportunity to represent Great Britain Under-18s.


Evan Bradon


Another day-one Junior Knight, Bradon has already been part of four national championship-winning teams.


A big, strong forward who is equally comfortable playing through the middle or on the wing, Evan offers a different style of play to his older brother, Finn. He was selected for the Great Britain Under-16 Futures programme last season.


Bradon made his LK2 debut shortly after his 16th birthday and was called into the Knights’ squad during the play-offs, earning a winner’s medal for his contribution.


Lawrence Dean


Dean is a high-compete defenceman who played a major role for LK2 last season, logging substantial minutes against the opposition’s best players night after night.


He also made his first appearance for the Knights during the campaign.


A Great Britain Under-16 and Under-18 international, Dean will enter his second season of senior hockey despite only turning 17 earlier this summer.


Ben Elliot


At just 16, Elliot is the next exciting young defenceman to emerge from the Junior Knights programme.


He has been part of the club since its very first training session and has continued to progress, representing both England and Great Britain.


An offensively minded defenceman with a huge amount of skill and ability, Elliot moves the puck well and possesses an excellent shot. He is expected to play an important role on the LK2 power play this season.


Elliot is yet to make his senior debut for either team because he did not turn 16 until June. However, his potential is clear, and he was named as a reserve for the Great Britain Under-18 squad at last season’s World Championship.


Harrison McCourt


McCourt is one of the brightest young goaltending prospects in British hockey.


At 6ft 2in, he has the size required for the position, but it is his competitive nature that truly sets him apart. He is a ferocious competitor who hates conceding goals.


Over the past five seasons, McCourt has become a serial winner in Leeds, backstopping Junior Knights teams to four national championships.


He made his senior debut at the end of last season, during the week of his 16th birthday. His talent is clear, and the club will continue to nurture his development as he works towards fulfilling his considerable potential.


If you would like to support the development of the best young players in Leeds, a range of sponsorship opportunities is available. Please contact the club office by emailing verity@leedsknights.com.