MAC HOWLETT says illness issues which have kept him off the ice for most of the 2025-26 season led to his decision to leave Leeds Knights and move closer to home.

Thursday saw the 26-year-old winger bring an end to his time with the NIHL National league and cup champions having first arrived just over three years ago.

A move to rivals rivals Milton Keynes Lightning – sought by Howlett – was announced on Thursday evening.

“I’ve battled with some health issues this year,” said Howlett, who has been limited to just a handful of appearances in 2025-26. “Luckily now, I’m better but it has made me want to move closer to home.

“I’ve loved playing in Leeds and I want to say thanks to the Knights, Ryan, the fans and the best team-mates I’ve ever had!

“I’ll miss it, but I’m excited for a new challenge.”

Head coach Ryan Aldridge said Howlett had played a huge part of the Knights’ success over the last three years.

“Mac explained that he’d reached out to Milton Keynes and that they were interested in taking him right away and I said I thought he should take it,” said Aldridge, who first worked with Howlett when he was a teenager at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Swindon.

FAREWELL: Mac Howlett, in action on what proved to be his final appearance for Leeds Knights in Saturday's 5-3 defeat at home to Peterborough Phantoms. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

placeholder image — FAREWELL: Mac Howlett, in action on what proved to be his final appearance for Leeds Knights in Saturday's 5-3 defeat at home to Peterborough Phantoms. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

“I think he needs a change for him and so we agreed to part ways. It is an amicable parting of the ways, 100 per cent.

“Mac and I have a lot of history before working together in Leeds and we are certainly not going to lose our friendship over it.

"We wish him good luck in the next chapter of his career and thank him for his time here and what he has helped us accomplish."

The Woking-born forward has made just 13 appearances for the Knights all season because of illness, the left-hander making his most recent comeback two weeks ago in the Cup semi-final first leg against Swindon Wildcats. He joined in December 2022 having spent the previous three-and-a-half years in the Elite League.

WINNER: Mac Howlett helped Leeds Knights win three NIHL National league titles, a play-off trophy and, last year, a NIHL National Cup. Picture: Ben Gordon/Knights Media.

He joined shortly before Christmas in 2022 having spent the previous three-and-a-half seasons in the Elite League, a journey which took him from Glasgow Clan to Guildford Flames and then Dundee Stars.

He had an instant impact once reunited with Aldridge at Elland Road Ice Arena, scoring a remarkable 71 points in in just 37 games, 27 of them goals, as the Knights followed up winning their first league title by lifting the play-off crown.

The following season he posted a 91-point haul in 65 games, the Knights retaining their league crown.

HEADING OUT: Mac Howlett left Leeds Knights for pastures new yesterday. Pic: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

Last season saw him drop below his previous points-per-game ratio, but still proving to be an important part of the Knights success story as he scored 29 goals in a 56-point haul from 65 games as the team won a third league title and their first NIHL National Cup.