Leeds Knights aiming to use their big match experience to champion effect against Sheffield Steeldogs
SINCE making the move to Leeds Knights in the summer of 2022, Bailey Perre has enjoyed his fair share of big game experiences. Some good, some bad.
So far it is an even split, winning the play-off final against Romford Raiders in 2023 and last year’s NIHL National Cup final against the same opponents.
On the flip side are defeats - both to Peterborough Phantoms - first in the Cup in 2023, then in the play-off final the following year.
But regardless of the outcomes of any of those games, the 21-year-old defenceman feels those experiences will serve him well both tonight, in the first leg of the Cup final against Sheffield Steeldogs and when the tie concludes in Sheffield on March 11.
He also believes the big-game mentality he and others on the Knights roster have enjoyed over the past three-and-a-half years will rub off on some of the younger players who will be going through such an experience for the first time.
“The team has been in a few finals before, so we kind of know what we’re getting ourselves into,” said Perre earlier this week.
“And I think that will help us with some of the younger guys who probably haven’t had that kind of experience yet.
“Between us, we’ve got a lot of finals experience, both here in the NIHL National and we’ve also the (North American) college guys and Coast (ECHL) guys with that sort of finals and play-off experience from over there.
“So we know it’s a different game, we know it is going to be way more intense. The energy is a bit higher and the fans will pack out this place, so our experiences of these kind of games definitely helps.”
Largely because of endless injury issues, it has been a tough season from the first puck drop for the three-time champions, whose hopes of landing a fourth straight league crown have effectively gone.
That in turn places greater emphasis on the Cup final, with Perre aware there would be no better way to snap a four-game losing streak than by beating the Steeldogs in the biggest game of the season so far.
“It’s a different competition, it’s not about the longevity of the league season and resting bodies and stuff like that, it’s just about these two games now,” added Perre.
“It’s about putting all our focus into these two games against Sheffield.
“Especially coming off the patch of games that we’ve just had - we’re really looking to bounce back from that losing streak and this game is the perfect opportunity for us to do that.”