Leeds Knights not allowed any excuses as they strive to deliver on great expectations

So far, he is being proved right.

Ahead of a one-game weekend which brought the returning Basingstoke Bison back to Elland Road Ice Arena for the first time since the 2023 play-off quarter-finals, there will have been some in the crowd who expected a similar outcome to that game.

On that occasion, the Knights triumphed 11-2 on their way to completing a 15-4 aggregate win the following night in Hampshire.

The Bison, back after two seasons away while they waited for their rundown rink to be refurbished, had arrived in West Yorkshire bottom of the standings after the start of their season had been hampered due to issues with their facility.

But they headed back down south celebrating a four-point weekend, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against the defending champions.

An injury-hit and disjointed Knights had been leading 2-1 with just 46 seconds remaining, when the visitors deservedly equalised through Zack Milton.

Fast forward into overtime and the home fans were silenced further when William Stead completed the comeback when he fired past Sam Gospel to clinch the extra point.

It was no more than they deserved, said Aldridge.

“Some guys need to be better,” said Aldridge. “Yeah, we’re tired, there are lots of excuses right now, lots of things that we could use as excuses but, for me tonight, we should still win that hockey game.

“The way we played, we probably got what we deserved.”

The setback leaves the Knights in third, two points off Sheffield Steeldogs in second, with leaders Swindon a point further ahead.

“Every season is tough,” added Aldridge. “I think everyone just expects us to win and that’s just not real.

“Of course we still want to win - we still plan to and our goal is to win - but sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and right now it’s not working out.”