ELITE LEAGUE FIXTURES RELEASED FOR 2018/19
Date: Jul 22, 2018
New Milton Keynes Lightning netminder Patrick Killeen said a previous visit to London sparked an interest in moving to the UK.
The 28-year-old has moved from Ritten Sport in Italy after two seasons to try his hand in the Elite League after signing for Doug McKay’s side.
And Killeen spoke highly of the standard of the league and British ice hockey in general following the success of the national team in the World Championships.
“My wife and I visited London last season when I had a few days off and it was easily one of my favourite cities,” he told the Lightning website.
“We talked the whole time about how great it would be to play there. Plus I have an old coach who played in London a while back and lived in Milton Keynes for his two years.
“He told me how much he loved it and how great of an experience it was for him and his family. Basically, everything added up and it just seemed like a great fit.
“I know that the quality of hockey in the EIHL is very high, having played against Nottingham and Sheffield during the past two seasons and was very impressed.
“The national team in the UK has consistently improved and had an amazing showing at this past World Championship. It’s great to see hockey growing as a sport in places all over the world.”
Killeen had also done his homework when it came to netminding colleague Adam Goss, who has returned to the UK after four years at Mercyhurst University in the US.
And he’s looking forward to working with him and the challenge of both men vying for the spot between the pipes as he gets ready for his new experience in Britain.
He added: “I know where Adam played and his career experience and I think he will be a great addition to the team.
“His career has been outstanding so far and Mercyhurst is a very good D1 school in the USA. They’ve put quite a few goalies into the pro ranks, including the NHL and Adam’s a great example of the type of talent that the UK can produce.
“It’s always important to have two good goalies on a team as it produces a great competitive camaraderie and you are always pushing each other to be better.
“It’s something that I am very much looking forward to as well as what will be a great opportunity for my family and I to experience a new culture and explore a new area of Europe.”
PHOTO: Pattis