Hard times embraced by Pákozdi at Knights ahead of return to Wildcats

Bálint Pákozdi freely admits one of the first NIHL National fixtures he looked for when Leeds Knights schedule was revealed in the summer was that of Swindon Wildcats.

- by Phil Harrison

It should come as no surprise, really, the 26-year-old having spent the majority of his senior career in Wiltshire.

The fiercely competitive left-hander spent four enjoyable years at Swindon under player-coach Aaron Nell, even winning an Autumn Cup in late 2021 at the expense of the Knights.

But a desire to work again with Knights' head coach Ryan Aldridge - who he first played under at Okanagan Hockey Academy - was the chief driving force behind his wish to make the switch.

The fact Aldridge had made Leeds serial winners was clearly also a factor.

For the past four years, Pákozdi and his Swindon teammates used their games against the Knights as a yardstick for where they were as a team.