CULLEN McLEAN began pre-season training with Leeds Knights later this week hoping he can go on to have a similar kind of impact that two of his former team-mates enjoyed after making the same move three years earlier.

During two years in West Yorkshire, forward Matty Barron and defenceman Noah McMullin carved their name into the club folklore by playing influential roles in the team winning two NIHL National league titles and a National Cup.

It wasn’t just the numbers they put up after landing in Leeds in the Autumn of 2023, it was the general impact they had on those around them on and off the ice which was their lasting legacy.

Both retired at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, heading home to Canada where Barron moved into coaching alongside his father Laurie, while McMullin took up the opportunity of a position in golf course management.

LEARNING CURVE: Cullen McLean believes his four years at the Ontario Tech Ridgeback was ideal preparation in turning pro for the 2025-26 season. Picture courtesy of Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

placeholder image — LEARNING CURVE: Cullen McLean believes his four years at the Ontario Tech Ridgeback was ideal preparation in turning pro for the 2025-26 season. Picture courtesy of Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

In Spring of this year, though, memories of their success with the Knights no doubt came flooding back when they were contacted by head coach Ryan Aldridge who was looking to see if his former players had any recommendations for his 2026-27 roster.

One of the names that came back from both was McLean’s, who played alongside the duo for Ontario Tech University in Canada’s USports league - the equivalent of the NCAA in neighbouring USA.

McLean spent his first year playing for the Ridgebacks in 2021-22 alongside both Barron and McMullin, who remained for a further year before reuniting with Barron in the summer of 2023.

It wasn’t just Aldridge who was in contact with the pair this summer, though, with McLean doing his own homework on his potential move to Leeds by taking on board their first-hand knowledge of playing at ‘The Castle’.

PROGRESS: Cullen McLean celebrates scoring a goal during his time at Ontario Tech. Picture courtesy of Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

“I know Noah and Matty, obviously, and they told me lots about their time here,” said McLean. “And I think the league, even since then, has grown a lot.

“I've heard lots of things. I mentioned both their names and I know they were fan favourites for sure. So if I can even come close to them, I'll be a happy man.”

McLean believes his time at Ontario Tech was pivotal to his development and ideal preparation for when he turned pro at Neuilly-sur-Marne Bisons in the French second tier last season.

“It was great, I was only 10 minutes away and I was 19, turning 20 when I first started at Ontario Tech and was there all the way through to 24 when I first came over to France,” said Cullen, now aged 25.

WINNERS: Matt Barron (centre) and Noah McMullin (second right) won two NIHL National league titles and a National Cup with Leeds Knights and are former college team-mates of the team's new import signing, Cullen McLean. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

“The older guys took me under their wings and I learned a lot. I got to play, I got to play a lot - the coach trusted me right from the get-go and guys like Noah and Matty, I was also learning from them, who came from junior programs that were really good - they won a couple of championships together, I think.

“And I think what helped was that I knew I was going to be there for four years - there was no one and done, or two and done - I knew I had time to get better year on year.

“My whole plan was - first year, get it over with, see what happens and reflect. So I would talk to my coaches and we would do some video analysis on where I need to get bigger, better and stronger.

“And then every year, I just got better and better and better and I wanted to see that progression develop vertically and I have nothing but great things to say about the coaching staff there.

“They trusted me, they believed in me through some bad games as well as the good games and by the end of my time there I was ready to go pro.”

Curtis Hodgins, McLean’s head coach at the Ridgebacks, believes the Knights fans are in for a treat watching his former forward over the coming months.

“It is fantastic to see Cullen taking his talents to England for the next step in his professional career,” said Hodgins.

“Cullen was a tremendous player for our Ontario Tech program over his four years with us and just got better and better with each year.

“The fans in Leeds will enjoy watching a player who has excellent skill and a nice mix of play-making and goal scoring, while also providing some size to the lineup.

“Cullen is a great human being and team-mate as well, and I am sure will be a fan favorite in no time.”