Leeds Knights comeback kings as they crush Hull Seahawks' hearts to win NIHL National play-off crown

Hull looked comfortable as they entered the final five minutes 3-2 ahead, themselves having come twice from behind twice themselves to take the lead through captain Bobby Chamberlain late on in the second period.

But Leeds had other ideas Balint Pakozdi the creator on both occasions, first setting up Edgars Vengis to equalise in the 56th minute before he then found Liam Peyton to score from a similar position just over a minute later.

Captain Kieran Brown made sure of a remarkable turnaround when he scored a last-minute empty netter.

As was the case in Leeds’ semi-final against Sheffield Steeldogs the previous day, there was an early goal, only this time it came for them - and in even quicker time.

A face-off win by Edgars Vengis - back from GB Under-18 duty along with Jonas Bennett - saw the puck worked to Kieran Brown, he found Dunn on the right, from where he fired through traffic, Heiskanen saving but the puck breaking kindly for Bissonnette to fire into the gaping net after just 19 seconds.

It wasn’t long before the Seahawks’ fans were on their knees, however, again a face-off win instrumental when it led to Svec equalising at 1.46.

Chances then became a premium for the next 10 minutes or so until Leeds were presented with a great opportunity of a 5-on-3 power play after Tom Stubley joined Johnny Corneil in the box on a hooking call.

It only took four seconds for Leeds to make their superiority in numbers count, Heiskanen parrying an initial shot through traffic with the puck falling to Liam Peyton who made it 2-1 at 12.38 from a similar position to Bissonnette’s earlier strike.

Finn Bradon and Peyton then tried their luck but were denied by Heiskanen before play broke up the other end to bring a Hull equaliser.

Former Knights forward Ethan Hehir drove into the Knights zone, set himself up on the left boards from where he found Thomas Stubley rampaging down centre ice, the 6ft 2ins defenceman showing great hands to work an opening for himself before back-handing past Gospel at 16.26.

As it probably had to, the game eased off in pace slightly and chances were slightly harder to come by, the first real Grade A one coming on the Hull goal, Vengis doing well to enter the zone down the left before switching across ice to Brown, who teed up the advancing Bradon but his one-timer from 10 yards out was dealt with by Heiskanen.

At the other end, Svec was denied by Gospel when he was found low down in the left circle by Corneil in the 29th minute shortly before Josh Hodgkinson created trouble with a wraparound that nearly saw Svec force home the rebound from the edge of the crease.

Hull killed off a boarding call on Alex Kent but Leeds were not so fortunate when they went a man down after Finn Bradon was called for hooking on former team-mate Ethan Hehir.

The power play was just under a minute old when Hull profited, Corneil driving towards the left hash marks before switching to Chamberlain on the opposite side, the Seahawks captain making no mistake as he fired past Gospel at 39.35.

The third period was rather tame by comparison, the clearest chance not coming until the 54th minute when Jordan Stallard was denied by Gospel.

When the next chance came, Leeds didn’t miss it, Pakozdi switching play from the right circle towards the net where his pass found a rampaging Vengis who steered the puck home from three yards out to make it 3-3 at 55.36.

Just 67 seconds later, Leeds were ahead, Pakozdi was again involved, again throwing the puck towards net where, this time, Peyton was on hand to lift the puck over Heiskanen and into the roof of the net.

As a stunned Hull pushed desperately for a way back, they understandably pulled Heiskanen, allowing Brown to make sure of the play-off crown with an empty-netter at 59.13, both sets of fans knowing that the game was truly over.