Leeds Knights coach Ryan Aldridge backs Matty Davies for Hull Seahawks success Yorkshire News

The 32-year-old center will be in charge of hockey operations in his hometown next season, likely in a player-coach role, after partnering with local businessmen Ian Mowforth and Joe Lamplough to form the Hull Seahawks.

Along with the Bristol Pitbulls, the Seahawks are one of two new teams the Knights will face next season, ending a two-year absence from second-tier hockey in East Yorkshire.

Former UK international Davies first played for Aldridge when he began working with Pete Russell as player-manager at Swindon Wildcats in 2008-09 in the English Premier League.

Davies then returned home to play in the Elite League with Hull Stingrays, while Aldridge remained at Wiltshire, eventually succeeding Russell and remaining behind the bench, mainly as a player-manager, until 2015.

The two were reunited last season when Aldridge was hired to succeed the sacked Dave Whistle in January, the 43-year-old making Davies his captain, with the 32-year-old posting a 62-point haul for the season. of 47 games and including 15 goals.

And it’s those leadership qualities that Aldridge believes will serve the Seahawks well, as Davies last represented his hometown when he played for the Hull Pirates in the first year of the NIHL National in 2019-20 before the pandemic, an event that ultimately saw the demise of owner Shane Smith’s team.

“Matty obviously has a passion for hockey, but he also has a passion for Hull, so there’s probably no better person to bring this level of hockey there,” said Aldridge, who this week agreed to a two-year deal to stay as Head Coach of the Knights.

“I think he will do a great job. He has a wealth of experience and I hope he can turn that into his training. And when she was talking to Matty about who was joining him, it sounded exciting.

“It will be a huge loss and it will be one of the gaps we have to fill this summer.

“But looking at the big picture, it will be great for both teams in terms of the rivalry that will come as a result of Hull having a team in this league again.”