Key Points
- Leeds Knights beat Swindon Wildcats 3–0 in the second leg of the National Cup semi-final to win 6–4 on aggregate.
- Goals from Mac Howlett, Matthew Bissonnette and Oli Endicott secured a composed home performance and a shutout.
- Head coach Ryan Aldridge described it as the team’s best 60 minutes of the season as Leeds advanced to the National Cup final.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) January 9, 2026 – Leeds Knights booked their place in the National Cup final with a 3–0 home victory over Swindon Wildcats, overturning a first-leg deficit to clinch the semi-final 6–4 on aggregate after what head coach Ryan Aldridge hailed as the team’s most complete performance of the season.
The reigning National Cup holders produced a controlled and clinical display at their home rink, scoring once in the second period and twice in the third while shutting out Swindon, who had carried a narrow advantage into the second leg after a high-scoring opening game of the tie.
How did Leeds Knights secure their National Cup final place?
According to the Leeds Knights’ official match report, the hosts seized the initiative midway through the second period when forward Mac Howlett opened the scoring at 30:16, assisted by Balint Pakozdi, swinging momentum firmly towards the home side in front of a lively crowd.
Leeds then tightened their grip early in the third period as forward Matthew Bissonnette struck at 51:34 to double the lead on the night and put the Knights in command of the aggregate scoreline, with the pressure shifting heavily onto Swindon as time began to run out in the semi-final.
With the visitors pushing forward in search of a response, the Knights capitalised again when Oli Endicott added a third goal at 55:57, finishing off a move created by Finley Bradon and Samuel Cooper to complete the 3–0 victory and spark celebrations as Leeds closed out the game defensively.
Reporting by the club’s official channel states that the result completed a comeback across the two legs, with the Knights overturning the deficit from the first meeting to progress 6–4 on aggregate and keep alive their bid for more silverware in the 2025–26 campaign.
What did head coach Ryan Aldridge say about the performance?
In a post-game interview published by Leeds Knights’ media team, head coach Ryan Aldridge described the display as “unbelievable” and said he believed the team had delivered their best full-game performance of the season, highlighting their consistency over the full 60 minutes against a strong Swindon side.
Aldridge told the club’s video channel that he felt the Knights were “brilliant from start to finish”, praising the way his players managed the game, limited Swindon’s chances and maintained intensity in all three zones as they protected their lead and built on their advantage.
He singled out the defensive effort in front of the Leeds netminder, noting that Swindon were restricted to few clear-cut opportunities over the course of the night, and emphasised the importance of composure and discipline in a high-stakes semi-final environment.
Why was Matthew Bissonnette’s contribution considered decisive?
In the same interview, Aldridge highlighted the impact of Matthew Bissonnette, who was named man of the match, pointing to the forward’s crucial third-period goal as a key turning point that effectively broke the game open and shifted the tie decisively in Leeds’ favour.
The coach described Bissonnette’s finish as a composed, game-changing moment, noting the way he forced a turnover before scoring and underlining the importance of individual execution within a broader team performance that he felt was the most complete Leeds had produced all year.
What are the implications of this result for Leeds Knights?
The club’s official report confirms that the win sends Leeds Knights into the National Cup final, where they will face the winners of the other semi-final between Peterborough Phantoms and Sheffield Steeldogs, with that series due to be decided later in January.
Leeds, who are aiming to add further honours after recent strong seasons in the NIHL National structure, will now prepare for the showpiece final while also returning to league action, beginning with a home fixture against Peterborough Phantoms scheduled for 10 January.
As reported by the Leeds Knights organisation, details of the National Cup final dates and venue are to be confirmed in due course, with supporters advised to follow official club channels for updates as the team turns its focus towards challenging for another major trophy.
