Leeds Knights not lacking in motivation to meet their own 'great expectations'
WHEN Liam Peyton signed for Leeds Knights last summer, he knew he was coming into a team where the expectation was to win.
In three years under Ryan Aldridge, the Knights had lifted three successive regular season league titles, a play-off crown and, last year, finally, their first NIHL National Cup.
So far this season, the Knights are yet to add to that success. It’s a sense of frustration to Canadian Peyton, no doubt also to the other new faces and those players already in place who had grown accustomed to winning.
This weekend, at the Final Four Play-off Weekend in Coventry, the Knights have one last chance to extend their remarkable winning sequence.
To do so will be extremely tough. First up on Saturday are Sheffield Steeldogs in the semi-finals, the team who took their National Cup from them in early March.
Victory - if secured - will then bring the Knights up against either Swindon Wildcats - who inherited the league title they had made their own for the previous three years - or Hull Seahawks, a team galvanised and desperate to lift their first-ever piece of silverware.
If the Knights can prevail, they will have undoubtedly done it the hard way - but then Peyton has grown accustomed to them having to do that for most of his time here.
Last weekend, needing a win from one of their two final group play-off games against Milton Keynes Lightning, the Knights rolled within just seven forwards and five defencemen.
Somehow - thanks largely to a remarkable second period where they scored five unanswered goals - they booked their spot at the SkyDome Arena at the first time of asking.
Just for good measure, having ended their hosts’ season, they also went and beat the Lightning on the Sunday.
It means that while they might go to Coventry light on bodies again - a combination of injuries and international call-ups for Great Britain Under-18s - they will not be short on confidence.
“There's not a team in the league that we feel we struggle against,” said Peyton ahead of Wednesday night’s optional practice. “I think we can come out and play against anyone, so we took the hard road, obviously, going through some adversity, injury trouble and losing some depth in the line-up, but I think we're confident.
“We know what we're capable of in that locker room and we've kind of proven it time and time again, so now it's just a matter of staying hungry and stepping into it and getting something done.”
As well as overcoming the odds as they did in Milton Keynes, Peyton believes the Knights are also driven by the experience of seeing other teams lift trophies right in front of them.
It happened first when, despite doing their best to be party poopers by winning the game 5-4 in overtime, they had to then stand and watch as Swindon lifted the regular season trophy on home ice.
Four days later, the Steeldogs did the same after winning the National Cup at Ice Sheffield after a two-legged final that went all the way to the last 11 seconds of overtime.
As tough as those experiences may be to go through as the losing side - particularly so close together - they can, in the long-term, lead to something positive.
“I think when you've watched teams accomplish what you've been working for towards the whole year - and obviously we battled against the odds in the cup and were right there watching Sheffield put a cup over their heads - it does leave you hungry,” added Peyton.
“It makes you realise that you're right there and that it's just a couple more sacrifices, a little bit more of a grind, and then maybe that trophy's over your head.
“I think those experiences have left us all hungry in the room to really make sure come out on top here this weekend.”
The expectation to win Peyton was aware of when he joined Leeds could indeed be met this weekend and the adversity the team has had to face at various times this season will, he believe, serve them well at the weekend.
“If we can get through to Sunday and lift that trophy, it would be special,” he added. “I think when you've worked towards something the whole year, and you have the expectation to win and with the history here, the expectations are high.
“There's a big fan base that is supporting us, and we want to win for them. The culture and everything that surrounds the Knights is winning championships and I think we have a great opportunity to do that.”