The Knights – with whom Leeds Trinity recently formed a partnership – won a third consecutive National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) National Division title and first ever NIHL National Cup earlier this year, also reaching the semi-final stage of the end-of-season play-off series. 

Keen to build on another strong campaign, the Knights have started work with Dr Danielle Davis – a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Leeds Trinity with expertise in assessment of sport performance and biomechanical analysis of performance – to determine how they can improve further through integrated sport science support such as athlete monitoring and performance analysis. 

The research began at a recent pre-season testing day in the sport and exercise science facilities at Leeds Trinity’s Main Campus in Horsforth. Each member of the Knights’ first team squad completed a range of physical assessments to evaluate their strength, speed, agility, and overall fitness, providing a comprehensive snapshot of each athlete’s readiness for the season.  

The results are the first stage in the athlete profiling process and will be developed throughout the upcoming season, assisting players and coaches in making more effective decisions to enhance performance outcomes. 

The testing was supported by Sport and Exercise Sciences and Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students from Leeds Trinity, an opportunity which underpins the University’s approach to practical and career-led learning. The data recorded will also be analysed by current undergraduate students to help support the Knights plan training sessions and introduce recovery methods to meet the individual needs of players. 

Dr Davis said: “A key element of the University’s partnership work with the Knights is creating opportunities for the team to benefit from our expertise in sports science and allowing students to apply their skills and knowledge while working with athletes, so I’m really excited about this project. 

“Although they have experienced a lot of success in recent seasons, Leeds Knights are determined to continue their growth, and this testing and support can play a role in helping them stay on an upwards trajectory. We look forward to tracking the data recorded in the months ahead and offering our support to the players and coaches at the Knights.” 

Ryan Aldridge, Head Coach of Leeds Knights, said: “To do the testing in the facilities that Leeds Trinity University has to offer is incredible, it doesn’t happen very often for teams at our level, so I’m really thankful to the University for supplying it for us. We’ve been successful, but we want to be bigger and better every year, and this work will allow us to do that. Having the data to prove that players need to rest or slow down, or even to show that some of them need to push themselves more, will be very valuable. 

“Our partnership with the University is very new but we have big plans. We’ve spoken over the summer about what we want to do together, and I think it could grow into something really special in the coming years. I’m excited to be a part of it.” 

To find out how Leeds Trinity University’s sports scientists and sports therapists can support you, your sports club or athletes, contact trinityperformance@leedstrinity.ac.uk 

For more information about sport and wellbeing courses at Leeds Trinity, visit the University website.