Leeds Chiefs

The Leeds Chiefs are a professional ice hockey team based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The team is a member of the National League and plays at Planet Ice Leeds.

Leeds Chiefs
CityLeeds, West Yorkshire
LeagueNational League
Founded2019
Home arenaPlanet Ice Leeds
Owner(s)Planet Ice
Head coachSam Zajac
CaptainLuke Boothroyd
Websiteleedschiefs.co.uk
Franchise history
2019–presentLeeds Chiefs

History

The team was announced, along with the new National League, on 16 March 2019.[1] However, rumours of a Leeds-based team playing out of the 1800 capacity[2] Planet Ice Leeds arena were circulating months beforehand.[3] In joining the league, they became the first ever hockey team to play out of the city.[4]

The Chiefs name was selected by Planet Ice following the results of a fan poll. The 'Chiefs' moniker won the poll, results of which were announced on 16 May 2019, having beaten the alternatives; Cotton Kings and Mighty Mammoths.[5]

Former Whitley Warriors Defenceman Sam Zajac was announced as Player-coach of the team on 10 May, 2019.[6] Zajac's first signing for the Chiefs was former Manchester Phoenix captain, Defenceman Luke Boothroyd.[7]

In November 2019, head coach Sam Zajac launched an urgent appeal after a large amount of the team's equipment was stolen from an apartment block in Batley. This included new helmets that hadn't even been worn yet, along with sticks and gloves used by the players all season.[8] Despite this, the Chiefs confirmed their weekend games would go ahead as planned via a statement on Twitter.

In their first National League season, the Chiefs finished 10th. They won 13 games, losing 36, achieving 28 points overall. The season was curtailed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] For the first five months of the season, the Chiefs were required to play home games elsewhere, due to a delay in the opening of their rink.[10] The first game at their Elland Road arena was against Sheffield Steeldogs on 31 January 2020.[11]

Club roster 2020–21[12]
Netminders
No. Nat. Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
31 Sam Gospel L (1994-03-27) 27 March 1994 Nottingham, England 2019 from Nottingham Panthers 20/21
Defencemen
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
4 Sam Zajac R (1989-06-23) 23 June 1989 Whitley Bay, England 2019 from Manchester Storm 20/21
14 Lewis Baldwin R (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 Billingham, England 2019 from Solway Sharks 20/21
TBA Jordan Griffin R (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 Crewe, England 2020 from Sheffield Steelers 20/21
Forwards
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Acquired Contract
9 Joe Coulter R (1995-06-12) 12 June 1995 Dumfries, Scotland 2019 from Solway Sharks 20/21
18 Lewis Houston R (2001-08-09) 9 August 2001 Dumfries, Scotland 2019 from Solway Sharks 20/21
TBA Kieran Brown L (2001-02-27) 27 February 2001 Bradford, England 2020 from Sheffield Steelers 20/21
Team Staff
No. Nat. Name Position Acquired Place of birth Joined From
N/A Sam Zajac Player-Coach 2019 Whitley Bay, England Manchester Storm, EIHL
N/A Simon McGuinness General Manager 2019 Manchester, England Blackburn Hawks 2, NIHL 2


2020/21 Outgoing
Outgoing
No. Nat. Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth Leaving For


References
  1. "New National League announced". British Ice Hockey. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  2. "Planet Ice rink is starting to take shape in Leeds". Planet Ice. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  3. "How an ice hockey team in Leeds could prove popular and be successful at the top level". The Yorkshire Post. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  4. "Leeds ice hockey secures place in newly-formed National League". Yorkshire Evening Post. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  5. "Leeds settles on name for new ice hockey team ahead of 2019-20 National League season". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  6. "Sam Zajac named as first player-coach of new Leeds ice hockey team". Yorkshire Evening Post. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  7. "SLeeds Chiefs signal their intent with signing of Luke Boothroyd for new National League season". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  8. "Leeds Chiefs launch urgent appeal for help after ice hockey equipment is stolen". Yorkshire Evening Post. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  9. "NEWS: Board meeting confirms competitive hockey cancelled through May 31 – English Ice Hockey Association". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  10. Planet Ice (16 December 2019). "Confirmed Leeds Ice Rink Opening Date". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  11. "FixturesLive". w.fixtureslive.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  12. "Leeds Chiefs - Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com.
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