Leeds Knights centre Matt Haywood explains why Canadian imports have been so crucial to team's success

Alongside Mac Howlett, the trio had formed a formidable line for the Knights at around the same time the previous year when American winger Witkowski arrived for his first-ever taste of second-tier UK hockey.

Individually and as a collective unit, they played a pivotal role as the Knights recorded a memorable NIHL National league and play-off double.

When it came to Witkowski’s fellow 2023-24 imports, however - forward Matt Barron and defenceman Noah McMullin - already in place when he returned, they were something of an unknown quantity.

They will always have been hard-pressed to match the production of Witkowski and Zach Brooks, as well as that of Grant Cooper earlier in the double-winning 2022-23 campaign, but Ryan Aldridge never put such pressure on them, even following the unplanned exit of Cole Shudra - another prolific points-scorer - late on in the summer.

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By the time of Witkowski’s return, the Canadian duo had more than delivered on the promise that made the Knights head coach sign them both up last summer.

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They may not be as prolific as, say, Milton Keynes’ Rory Hermann, or Hull Seahawks’ top-scoring defenceman, Brock Bartholomew, but Aldridge has been undoubtedly impressed with the pair. It is a view shared by centre Haywood.

“I’ve been very impressed with them,” said Haywood. “They do things that a lot of people won’t see or notice, they’ve both put quite a few points up but with those two it is not about that - they are team-first guys and without those two we would be in a lot different position this year.”

So far this season, the ever-present Barron has posted 35 goals and 41 assists in 60 league, cup and play-off games. For his part, McMullin has weighed in with seven goals and 26 assists in 54 games.

“I don’t think either of them get the credit they deserve,” added Haywood. “Matty definitely helps our team in terms of its balance.

“He is very good in the defensive zone and blocks a lot of shots for us, I don’t envy him at times to be honest. And, just as importantly, they are also two great guys to have in the locker room - and that always goes a long way.”

The benefits of having McMullin on board were once again highlights last weekend, when he took a cross-check to the face in the first game in Peterborough and bounced back the following night to score the game-winner on home ice.

"He’s been an unbelievable player for us this year there’s no doubt about that,” said head coach, Aldridge. “And he’s even better as a person.

"As a hockey player, I think he’s a little warrior and if there was anyone on our team who was going to play after that (getting injured on Saturday) then it was him.

“None of us were shocked that he was prepared to play the following night – I thought he was phenomenal.”