Zach Brooks making right kind of impact to put Leeds Knights in pole position

Much like fellow import forward Grant Cooper, Brooks didn’t offer a resume that screamed out him being a multiple point-scorer in NIHL National.

But in both cases, Aldridge has hit the jackpot – Cooper the team’s leading man with 70 points from 30 games - split equally between goals and assists – and 21-year-old Brooks not far behind with 57, including 18 goals.

Initially the duo were paired up either side of Cole Shudra but, over time, lines have changed and been swapped about – sometimes out of necessity, other times because Aldridge felt an adjustment was necessary to give a particular line a jump.

MORE – Grant Cooper explains 'tough decision' to leave Leeds Knights to pursue Elite League ambition

Brooks currently hits the ice with Shudra and captain Kieran Brown and the trio clearly revel playing alongside one another, something which was clearly evident at the weekend when Leeds put Bristol Pitbulls to the sword twice, winning 8-1 on the road before a comprehensive 9-0 win on home ice 24 hours later.

When Brooks agreed to come to Leeds in the summer, he was still only 20-years-old. But the daunting prospect of uprooting and continuing his hockey career in a foreign land clearly never fazed him, his move abroad made far more comfortable thanks to the warm welcome he and Cooper got from their new team-mates, both on and off the ice.

His no-nonsense physical style and willingness to stand up for his team-mates also quickly endeared him to the Knights’ fans, who have never been slow to show their appreciation for the impact both he and Cooper have had.

“It’s gone well so far and the team is clearly doing really well,” said Brooks. “Obviously it’s not all about the points but when you can have an offensive impact and help the team win that is always a good feeling.

“I knew when I signed that we were putting together a great team - but I didn’t know that we were going to win as many games as we have, we’ve still only had the one loss in regulation.

“I thought there would be more of an adaptation for me personally at the beginning of the year but I’ve got great team-mates and great linemates that have helped me.”

Christmas away from home and family was always likely to be a strange time for Brooks - Cooper at least had his girlfriend for company - but, again, he had no need to worry, with Brown and Shudra taking it in turns in having him over for the festive season with their own families.

His family have yet to make it over to watch, although he is hopeful they will do so in the next few weeks. They are able to keep track of his success on the ice via the Knights’ live web streams and are regularly in touch to make sure they know how proud they are of him.

With the halfway point of the 2022-23 regular having just passed, the Knights find themselves in an enviable position, sitting top, three points clear of their nearest rival - Milton Keynes Lightning - and with three games in hand.

Some would argue it is the Knights’ title to lose, but there is still a lot of hockey to be played.

To that end, Brooks is quick to point out how the experienced heads in the Knights’ room will not allow anyone to get ahead of themselves or take a backwards step over the next three months or so.

“We’ve got big ambitions as a group and we know we’re in a good position to win trophies,” added Brooks. “That is the goal, we would love to win a trophy of some sort - it’s why we play. But it’s all about controlling our emotions.

“Ryan is doing a good job with us in that respect, when we might be losing track, while the more experienced guys like Sammy Zajac, Matty Haywood and Cole are showing that they are a great leadership group by helping us younger guys stay level-headed and not get carried away.”