Smits is back between the AIB MKL pipes and is raring to go!
He emerged as our starting nettie last year, finishing the season with a great playoff run including the very first shutout for a zeus shirted MK netminder. We’re delighted that Matt Smital is returning in net for All In Black MKL for 2022/23! 23 year old Matt was born in Brno in the Czech republic and by virtue of his junior experience with Bracknell qualifies as a ‘British Trained Player’ under league rules. Matt previously played for Slough Jets where he spent the 19/20 regular season and 20/21 cup series. Last year in a Lightning shirt he played 37 times [...]
Dynamic young D-Man Milique Martelly commits to AIB MK Lightning
He’s an exciting and dynamic young player and one of the hottest prospects in the NIHL, so we are delighted that Milique Martelly has committed to AIB MKL for 2022/23. Milique joins us on a full MKL contract, with a 2 way in place with Streatham to allow him to appear for them when appropriate.  18 year old Milique started life as a roller hockey player, and first took to skates when he was just 18 months old. He started playing competitive junior hockey around 8 years ago, and has developed quickly into one of the country’s top defensive [...]
Lightning speed for your AIB MK Lightning as Rio returns!
He’s one of the fastest players in the league and we are delighted that Rio Grinell-Parke is returning to MK and will be pulling on a Lightning jersey this upcoming season. 23 year old London born Rio last iced in a full season for the Lightning in 2019/20 when he appeared 45 times last year, amassing 13 goals and 29 points as well as 79 PIMs. He moved to Raiders last year and suffered some interruption to his season due to injury, appearing 19 times and picking up 5 points. He’s a favourite amongst many supporters for his work ethic, [...]
Ten on Tuesday – First Players Announced for Jaimo’s Testimonial
With tickets now on sale and the date and primary sponsor confirmed, we know that the next big question on Lightning fans’ lips is: who’s going to be playing? Every Tuesday for the next four weeks we’ll reveal ten players on the squad invited personally by Leigh Jamieson, to help him celebrate his ten seasons with the Milton Keynes Lightning! The first group of players has names to whet the appetite of fans both old and new…. Stephen Wall: our Geordie-born netminder wore the black and gold for [...]
Slick skating defenceman Ed Knaggs is back on the AIB MK Lightning Blueline
Welcome back to top defenceman Ed Knaggs who is returning to AIB Milton Keynes Lightning for 2022/23. Knaggsy didn’t score, but bagged 24 assists in league and playoffs last year putting him eighth in the AIB MKL scoring charts.  24 year old Knaggsy started life as an MK junior before progressing his career in the Bracknell system. He made his Lightning debut in the 2014-15 season and played 2017-18 before spending some time at Peterborough and back in Bracknell. He returned to MK in the 20/21 season.  Ed had this to say about his return: “I’m thrilled to [...]
Player’s Player of the year Hallden Barnes-Garner is back for AIB MKL
He’s always there for the team, and he is the Player’s Player of the Year. Please welcome back Hallden Barnes-Garner to AIB MK Lightning MK local Halds grew up in the MK Storm junior system, then spent some time in Slough and Eastern Europe. He then returned to MK to play for Thunder, before stepping up into Lightning for the 2019/20 season. Halds had his most productive season in terms of points in 2021/22, bagging 4 goals and 8 assists in 43 games, and a crucial 3 goals and 4 assists in the playoff run to Coventry. Halds is delighted [...]
Planet Ice NIHL National Division: 2022/23 Season Begins on 17th September
The Planet Ice NIHL National Division Owners Group met last week to finalise the structure and dates for the 2022/23 League campaign. The league will comprise 11 teams and 56 regular season games per team followed by Playoffs and Championship Finals weekend. Here’s the details: 11 teams playing 56 games Each team plays 3 times home and away, except that each team drops 2 home and 2 away games to make up the 56 game season. These games have been decided on a semi-random basis, taking account of which would be the longest road trips to make. See the [...]
Joe Wilson joins AIB MKL as Assistant Coach
Building out the All In Black MKL coaching team for 2022/23, we are delighted to welcome Joe Wilson as our Assistant Coach.  27 year old Joe had a playing career exclusively in Peterborough where he appeared at junior and NIHL2 level, before moving into coaching in 2017/18 as Assistant Coach of the Peterborough Phantoms NIHL 2 side. Joe then moved to Chelmsford Chieftains as Head Coach in a role which he held for nearly 4 seasons before moving on in March 2022.  Joe also plays a key role in junior coaching and development, working alongside former MK King [...]
Sam Russell signs for AIB MKL and is working hard to make his return
Our sixth signing of 2022/23 brings back a young All In Black MK Lightning stalwart with Sam Russell returning to his hometown club. Sam is working to get back to fitness following some surgery over the summer and is as dedicated and committed to his performance as ever! 21 year old Sam split his time between AIB MKL and Coventry last year, making 20 appearances for Lightning and 17 for the Blaze, a number of which came in the latter part of the season when he stepped up into their forward lines for a run of fixtures. Traditionally a defenceman, [...]
Solid D from Mr. C. Lewis Christie is back for AIB MKL!
Our fifth signing of 2022/23 adds to our defensive core, bringing experience, skill and a huge work ethic. Please welcome back Lewis Christie to All In Black MK Lightning! 32 year old Lewy was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and began his career with Dundee and Edinburgh before earning his first international call up with GB U18s for whom he iced 9 times. Lewy then forged his career in the Elite League with Belfast Giants, and a brief stint in Basingstoke, before joining MKL in 2008. He has remained with the MK hockey family since then, and made 38 appearances for [...]
