Matt Bissonnette hoping 'magician' Owen Sobchak can cast winning spell over former club Hull Seahawks
MATT BISSONNETTE believes Leeds Knights team-mate Owen Sobchak has proved something of a magician on the ice since arriving and is hoping he can produce something special this weekend to get the better of former club Hull Seahawks.
When news came out of the 32-year-old’s switch to Leeds from Hull in early January, many people were taken by surprise.
But he has had the desired effect since landing at The Castle, scoring 15 goals and 33 assists in just 28 league, Cup and play-off appearances.
Last season, Sobchak finished as the top points scorer in the league, posting a staggering 131 points in just 59 league and play-off games – 86 of them assists.
Before coming to Leeds at the turn of the year, he had 33 points to his name in 27 games, including nine goals.
Quite often, Bissonnette has been out on the same line as his fellow Canadian and quickly learned to appreciate what he brings to the Knights and hopes he can cast a spell over former club Hull when they meet for the first time this weekend at Elland Road on Saturday (6.30pm).
“He's a special player,” said Bissonnette, second-highest points scorer for Leeds this year with 21 goals and 44 assists in 55 league, Cup and play-off games.
“Me and Browny (Knights’ captain, Kieran) were excited when we heard we had a chance to pick him up and that we were going to sign him.
"It was a no-brainer, I guess, because he’s a magician out there with a puck.
“He's just a phenomenal passer. He sees the game so well and he plays to his strengths. He just makes the people around him on the ice better.”
After being rested for the last couple of games of the regular season, Bissonnette returned for the opening week of play-offs and the double-header against Telford Tigers – scoring a goal and three assists as the Knights picked up three valuable points across the two nights.
But Bissonnette feels the Knights need to be better in their remaining four Group B games.
“I think the whole weekend was kind a little bit of a wash for us,” he said. “It wasn't our best stuff, but coming away with three points was a positive.
“Going forward we take the positives and kind of put that behind us - but we've got to learn from it.
"Last weekend wasn't our best, but we’ve got our captain back this weekend, so we're happy. We're a better team with him on the ice.”
Now nearing the end of his second season with the Knights, Bissonnette knows about the rivalry developed against the Seahawks, having also spent three seasons with another Yorkshire team, Sheffield Steeldogs.
Bissonnette also knows what hockey means to the people of Hull having played for the pirates franchise in the first-ever NIHL National season back in 2019-20.
He expects two typically fierce encounters this weekend – starting on Saturday at Elland Road (6.30pm).
"We know what they bring,” added Bissonnette. “They come hard, they play hard, so we've just got to answer the bell and set our own tone and go from there. The rivalry with them has been fun the last two years.
“It's real. I think it's pretty even but it's a good rivalry. It's spirited.
"We know a lot of the guys on the other team, and there's friendships and stuff, but there's bragging rights on the line, too.”