Leeds Knights suffer further injury blow with season-ending diagnosis on forward Innes Gallacher
IN a season dominated by injuries, Leeds Knights have suffered a further blow this week with confirmation that forward Innes Gallacher is done for the season.
The 21-year-old has had a breakout year for the Knights, posting 14 goals and 11 assists in 40 NIHL National league and cup games, a return which makes him the team fourth-highest goalscorer in 2025-26.
Now in his second full season with the Knights, the Scottish winger has been out since going down awkwardly during the third period of the 7-5 home win against Milton Keynes Lightning on February 1.
Knights’ head coach said losing Gallacher for the rest of the season was a significant blow, particularly for the player, who has made himself a vital part of the Knights line-up in a short space of time.
“It’s just a shame given the year he has had for us,” said Aldridge of a player who has often formed a formidable third line for the Knights with Finley Bradon and Oli Endicott. “At one point he was our second-highest goalscorer on the team.
“He’s really showed up in some big games, he’s been way more consistent this season, the top end of his game is more consistent this year.
“It’s a massive blow for us but, more importantly, it’s an even bigger blow for him.
“He’s a big part of that line with Fin and Oli, but I’ve also split the three of them up at times this year and put them on different lines and he’s been great for us - he has excelled with every opportunity that he’s been given.
“He’s been playing with a bit more strength and a bit more size which has been great to see.”
The loss of Gallacher is just the latest in a long line of injury blows endured by the Knights this season.
It began at the very start of the season when D-man Jordan Griffin was sidelined with an upper-body injury, before fellow blue-liners Lewis Baldwin and Matt Staudacher were ruled out with respective lower-body injuries, the American import eventually heading home after just seven games and the long-serving Baldwin missing for two months.
Mac Howlett was restricted to just 11 appearances due to an illness before he made the switch to Milton Keynes Lightning last month.
Import forward Arturs Mickevics has not played since January 10 because of a lower-body injury, while the likes of Kieran Brown, Sam Cooper, Finley Bradon, Jonas Bennett, Danny Harrison and import D-man Sam Dunn have all been hit with short-term lay-offs with various injuries.