SAM COOPER is confident Leeds Knights can build on the “big step forward” taken last weekend when they host Solway on Friday night.
The Knights welcome Martin Grubb’s team in the unfamiliar position of being beneath them in the NIHL National standings, albeit only by virtue of having less regulation wins.
Leeds’ third win inside 60 minutes - from their first 10 games - came on the road last Saturday when they overcame Basingstoke Bison 5-3.
It was a swift response to the previous night’s 4-1 loss at 2026-27 league champions Swindon Wildcats, as well as to the previous weekend’s 3-2 loss at home to the Bison.
For Cooper, the performance in Hampshire - which saw the Knights out-shoot their hosts 46-19 - was evidence of progress being made amidst what is the organisation’s worst-ever start to a season.
“Winning Saturday in Basingstoke, that was good for us as a group,” said the 22-year-old defenceman. “I think we're starting to find our feet a bit more and the group really needed that win.
“I know it will be carried over into this weekend and moving forward after that.”
Solway arrive in West Yorkshire after back-to-back wins over Peterborough Phantoms last weekend and three wins in the last four games overall.
Having gone through a change of ownership during the close-reason - and a slight name change - Solway boast a couple of familiar faces in the shape of former Knights’ forwards Jordan Buesa and Matt Haywood.
Buesa has started the season promisingly with six goals and seven assists in just seven appearances, while Haywood - with a goal and three assists - has been restricted to just three home appearances and is unlikely to make a competitive return to Leeds, where he became a folk hero before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2024-25 season having helped the Knights win three straight league titles.
Cooper said he and his Knights’ team-mates were aware of the threat posed by Solway but are confident they can back up the performance in Basingstoke with what would only be a second victory in front of their own fans.
“We're moving the right way forward and confidence is good,” added Cooper. “I think we're going to start to see the Leeds Knights hockey we all know and love coming back now.”