High-speed skating, body checks and more goals than you can shake a (hockey) stick at – it’s time for a night at the ice rink.
If you’re looking to get your fix of live sporting action, head on down to Planet Ice to watch the high-flying Leeds Knights. Ice hockey’s a unique sport to witness up close – you can expect free-scoring, high adrenaline games and a friendly and inclusive atmosphere, but that’s not all. Here’s why a Leeds Knight match is fun for all the family.
Goals, goals, goals
Fun fact – in ice hockey, league games can’t end in a tie, so you’re guaranteed to catch at least one goal. What’s more, the Knights love to bang the goals in and they’ve been finding the back of the net all season long, racking up scores as high as 9-0 against Raiders IHC. Nothing beats that just-scored feeling, so if you’re sick of boring nil-nil draws, maybe it’s time to switch sports.
The hardest of hits
It’s not just goals, oh no. A huge part of hockey’s appeal is those ultra-hard hits. As a full contact sport, it’s incredibly physical, packed with high-speed collisions, board slams and body checking. As you’d expect, things tend to get heated and it’s not uncommon to see players drop their sticks, take off their gloves and start scrapping with the opposition, earning them a spot in the sin bin.
Fast and furious
Adding speed, skill and physicality in equal measures, ice hockey’s known for its fast-paced, high-intensity gameplay. Players launch themselves around the rink at speeds of over 32 kilometres per hour, moving constantly as they manoeuvre that tiny puck. Unlike other sports, you’ll never be sat around waiting for something to happen, this is end-to-end stuff – blink and you’ll miss it.
Get closer to the action
Credit: Oliver Portamento
While there are great views from the seats, one of the best spots to catch the action is down by the ice, and a rink-side standing ticket gets you there. With players bashing into the sides and plenty of wild celebrations, you’re at the heart of the action. Looking to get your shirt signed? Stick around after as two players per match will meet the fans and do signings.
Plenty of entertainment
As if the hockey itself wasn’t enough, there are games and raffles to join in with on the night. Grab a ticket and you could be taking home a signed shirt from a player of your choice, as well as a bumper cash prize. The competition steps up a notch when it comes to chuck-a-puck, which sees fans throw a rubber puck at a bucket in the centre of the ice – closest to the bucket wins!
Delicious food and drink
Peckish? You can chow down on a range of food options fit for all the family. Alongside hotdogs with lashings of ketchup and mustard, you can dig into cheesy burgers, oozy pizza and oh-so-tempting chips, with smaller portions available for the kids. To wash it all down there’s a range of soft drinks, slushes and freshly-brewed Lavazza coffee to pick from.
