Cullen McLean taking the simple approach to make mark for Leeds Knights
CULLEN McLEAN admitted it had been a long time since he last scored a hat-trick - but was delighted to have pulled off the achievement so early in his Leeds Knights career.
It could not have been better timed, either, for both player and team, the Canadian’s treble helping secure a 5-1 win at Romford Raiders last Sunday, a touch less than 24 hours after the Knights had suffered the team’s biggest-ever defeat at home to Milton Keynes Lightning.
Ahead of Saturday’s visit from Basingstoke Bison to The Castle, McLean is joint-top of the points-scoring for the Knights, both he and fellow import Owen Sobchak having posted five goals and three assists apiece.
The 25-year-old has quickly settled into life in the UK - both on and off the ice - and is keen to kick on to help the Knights put an indifferent start to the 2026-27 NIHL National campaign behind them, their first six games producing just two wins to leave them eighth in the regular season standings.
“It felt good scoring a hat-trick,” said McLean. “I mean that was my first hat-trick in a long time since minor hockey back home, so it felt good to definitely get that.
“I feel good around the group and I feel more comfortable with each individual in the room, - confidence is growing as you get rewarded with some points and some wins.”
Having been on the receiving end of a heavy 8-2 defeat against the Lightning - the only team in the league still boasting a 100 per cent record - McLean said it was pleasing to be able to produce such a positive response when they headed south the following day.
“I thought we just played our game (in Romford),” added McLean. “We played simple, did the little details right.
“There were a lot of turnovers in the first game and I thought we were kind of out-battled by Milton Keynes.
“Against Romford we battled in front of the net, kept pucks out and just capitalised on our chances.
“Hopefully we can take that two points in Romford and keep it rolling into this Saturday.”