Why Leeds Knights' teamwork is making the dream work for Oli Endicott
UNDERSTANDABLY, Oli Endicott was delighted when he recently passed through the 100-point mark for Leeds Knights - but he credits his team-mates as the main reason behind him reaching the milestone.
The 21-year-old winger is on course for his best season yet for the Knights, having already posted nine goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season, comfortably more than half the points tally he has managed in each of his two previous full seasons at the club.
Overall, through 159 games for the Knights, Endicott has 36 goals and 68 assists - having added two goals and an assist in last weekend’s games against Swindon Wildcats and Milton Keynes Lightning.
Endicott humbly credits his team-mates for this accomplishment, one that puts him ninth in all-time scoring for Leeds.
From goaltender Sam Gospel through the defencemen and his regular linemates Fin Bradon and Innes Gallacher, Endicott says he has needed everyone working together to help him reach three figures..
“Even if they don't have a lot of points, their defensive chips out of the zone or defensive efforts, Gozzy with saves and stuff like that - it's just an all-round team performance,” he said.
“Obviously, I'm really happy with getting to 100 points. It's a massive thing for me, but I can't do it without every single player on the team.”
This weekend sees the Knights host Romford Raiders on Saturday before hitting the long road south to face Basingstoke Bison the following day.
If they can repeat last weekend’s four-point haul and other results go the Knights’ way, they could emerge top of the standings come Monday.
The Raiders will arrive in West Yorkshire having undergone a recent change of coach with Sean Easton replacing the sacked Jason Buckman until the end of the season, returning to the club he coached between 2017-24.
They also come in on the back of a 5-0 win over Basingstoke, who had been on a five-game winning streak prior to last Sunday’s clash in Romford.
“We're looking to take four points again,” added Endicott. “We have to win that Romford game as we need to be winning games at home. We're a good team and we want to make this place a fortress.”