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February has been a huge month for Lions Inline Hockey Club — and what a fun, action‑packed one it’s been!

Between non‑stop training sessions, 4 senior game days, and 3 junior game days, the club has been busier than ever. Coach James has been clocking up the miles too, travelling between our league rinks in Market Drayton and Atherton — but it’s all been worth it seeing the progress across every team.

🏒 Senior Hockey Update

February marked the start of our Senior Lions West League campaign. While the opening weekend didn’t bring any points, there were plenty of positives to take away as the group continues to build and develop.

The big story, though, belongs to Lions Black 🔥
In their last 6 games, Lions Black recorded: ✅ 4 wins
✅ 1 draw
✅ 1 loss

That incredible run means they now need just 1 point from their final 3 game days to win the West D League — a massive turnaround from last season, where the club finished bottom of the league.

Every player is pushing hard with their sights firmly set on progressing into the C League next season, showing just how far this group has come.

🦁 Junior Hockey – A Month to Be Proud Of

Our junior teams have also been busy, and the development across the Cubs has been fantastic to see.

🐾 Under 8s

Our Under 8s wrapped up their regular season by finishing 3rd, securing a place in the Playoff A Division — a brilliant achievement.

A huge congratulations to Ellis Allatt #40, who finished as top points scorer in the Under 8s division with: 🏒 43 goals
🏒 1 assist
🏒 7 games played

That’s an incredible improvement from last season, where he scored 17 goals — an increase of over 2.5 times in just one year, and in his final season at Under 8s.

We’d also like to congratulate Eden Roberts #58, who played with our friends Predators and finished 5th overall in points for the Under 8s season — a fantastic achievement.

🏒 Under 10s

We still have one final Under 10s game day to come in March, and we’re looking forward to finishing the season strong.

🏒 Under 12s

Our Under 12s have now completed their season. While the team picked up 1 win, this was a very young and inexperienced group, many of whom were playing up an age group.

Despite that, the effort and improvement across the season were clear, with: ⭐ Ellis Allatt & Eden Roberts finishing 1st and 2nd in team points and leading by example throughout the campaign.

🏒 Under 14s & Under 16s

Our Under 14s also completed their league, finishing in 8th place with another young squad gaining valuable experience.

Lucas Roberts #85 led the Cubs at Under 14s with: 🏒 9 points in 10 games

Lucas also stepped up into Under 16s, leading the way there too with: 🏒 5 points in 8 games

While our Cubs finished bottom of the Under 16s group, it’s important to note that most of this team is made up of Under 12s players and newer players to the sport. The experience gained at this level will be massive for their long‑term development.

🌟 A Club on the Rise

When we step back and look at the bigger picture, this season has been a huge success for Lions Inline Hockey Club:

🦁 A team in every junior division for the first time in club history
🦁 4 senior teams competing
🦁 A growing pathway from Under 8s to Senior hockey
🦁 Massive improvement across all age groups

The future of the club looks incredibly bright, especially with the strength of our junior development programme.

🏒 Want to Join the Lions?

If you’re looking for: ✅ A new team
✅ The next step in your hockey journey
✅ A fun, supportive club focused on improvement

Then drop us a DM or Email: info@lionsihc.co.uk

Now is the perfect time to join. We currently offer 5 training sessions a week and are preparing our players for:

• Junior A & B Playoffs
• Next season’s league progression across Cubs and Seniors

We’re welcoming players and netminders of all ages and experience levels — there’s never been a better time to become part of the Lions family 🦁

#LionsIHC #LionCubs #InlineHockey #UKIHF #FebruaryRoundUp #JuniorHockey #SeniorHockey #HockeyDevelopment #ClubGrowth #FutureIsBright #HockeyFamily #PlayUp #RollerHockeyUK

Yes… we know this post is very late 😅
January and February have been non‑stop for the club, with 7 game days in February alone — but that doesn’t take away from how special this moment is.

🥁 Drum roll please…

Massive congratulations to Joseph & Noah, our January Players of the Month 👏👏

This month, our coaches genuinely couldn’t pick just one player, because both of these young Cubs have been outstanding throughout January.

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🏒 Two of Our Youngest… and Brightest Stars

Joseph and Noah may be two of the newest and youngest players at the club, but the progress they’ve made in such a short time has been incredible.

During our Under 8s sessions, both players have: ✅ Been some of the best listeners on the rink
✅ Followed every instruction given by the coaches
✅ Taken part in all drills with focus and enthusiasm
✅ Even mastered one of the trickiest instructions for new players…
👉 “When you finish the drill, sit in a spot on the rink”

Something many new players understandably struggle with — but not these two!

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😄 Always Smiling, Always Learning

Joseph and Noah are an absolute bundle of joy every time they step onto the rink.
They’re always smiling, always trying their best, and always supporting the session — which is exactly what Lions Cubs hockey is all about.

Because of their attitude, effort, and rapid development, our coaches believe both players will be ready to take on the UKIHF Under 8s League at the start of next season, which is incredible considering they’ve only been with the club for a few weeks.

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🌟 Proof That Experience Isn’t Everything

This award is a perfect example of how: 🦁 Children aged 6 and under can thrive on the rink
🦁 You don’t need previous experience to succeed
🦁 Listening, effort, and enjoyment go a long way

We couldn’t be prouder of both Joseph and Noah — keep smiling, keep learning, and keep loving hockey 🏒💙

Well done, Cubs 🌟🌟

#LionsIHC #LionCubs #PlayerOfTheMonth #JanuaryPOTM #Under8sHockey #JuniorHockey #KidsInSport #InlineHockey #UKIHF #FutureStars #HockeyIsForEveryone #ProudClub

Today our Lion Cubs Under-10s hit the rink for their second league day of the season! 🏒🔥

They’ll be facing off against Bauer Heat and Seakings, ready to put all that hard work from training into action. Expect big smiles, plenty of laughs, and loads of learning as our young Cubs show off their skills and teamwork.

It’s all about fun, friendship, and hockey magic – because every game is a chance to grow and enjoy the sport we love! 💙🤍

#LionCubs #JuniorHockey #HockeyFamily #FunOnTheRink #FutureStars #LionsIHC

Eden joined Cubs in the second half of last season and hit the ground rolling—already brilliant on wheels and getting better every single week. This season she’s formed a fantastic partnership with Ellis #40, especially when they’ve been playing up two age groups in U12s—speed, smarts and serious teamwork.

What sealed December’s award? Eden earned an invite to train with our Lions Senior players on Thursday night—and every single player praised her relentless work rate, pinpoint passing, vision to find the right option, and knack for arriving in the perfect spot to receive the puck.

Sometimes players like Eden can be overlooked because they consistently set a high bar and make progress look “normal.” But being recognised by our senior group says it all: she’s talented, humble, always learning from the older players, and already leading by example for our newer and younger Cubs.

We’re incredibly proud to have Eden in the pride. Well done, Eden! 👏🦁

#LionsIHC #LionCubs #PlayerOfTheMonth #DecemberPOTM #Eden58 #Ellis40 #InlineHockey #RollerHockey #HockeyFamily #HockeyLife #WorkRate #TeamFirst #PlayUp #JuniorHockey #GirlsInHockey #ProudCoach #DevelopmentJourney #TrainHardPlayHard #ClubSpirit

Yesterday, our youngest Cubs hit the rink in the UKIHF Under-8s League and gave it their all in two nail-biting games against the Mooseheads and Predators! 💪

This young squad showed incredible growth as the day went on, gaining that all-important game day experience. We couldn’t be prouder of their effort and teamwork!

✨ Players’ Player of the Day
Chosen by last week’s winner Clovos, this time it goes to Freddie! 🏅 Carson said Freddie never stopped skating and was a rock in defence throughout both games. Amazing work!

✨ Coaches’ Player of the Day
Big shout-out to Clovis! 🏅 He was everywhere on the rink, making big blocks and tackles, dominating the face-off circle, and even grabbing an assist straight from a winning face-off. Outstanding hustle!

👏 Massive well done to our Under-8s Cubs for yesterday’s games! We’re so proud of you all. See you next Monday when Under-8s training kicks off again!

#LionsIHC #LionCubs #UKIHF #JuniorHockey #Under8s #FutureStars #HockeyFamily #GameDayHeroes #Teamwork #HockeyLife #ProudMoment

What a shift from our young Cubs! We faced a strong Mooseheads side and an evenly matched North Stars team—coming away with a loss to the Mooseheads and a well-earned win against the North Stars to bag two points. 💪

Coaches’ Player of the Day: Jack
Debut day and playing up from U12s, Jack slotted right in and led by example—relentless hustle, positive attitude on and off the rink, driving play forward and tracking back hard in both games. A real “never give up” engine and a leader from the first face-off. 🔥

Players’ Player: Leo (picked by last U14s game day winner, Toby)
Leo showed grit beyond his experience—feet always moving, fearless shot blocks, and stood tall against the bigger shooters (especially vs the Mooseheads). Huge blocks, huge heart. 🧱⭐

Massive well done to every Cub today—everyone showed improvements from game one to game two. We’re laying solid foundations for a young team, and the momentum is building. Let’s keep roaring! 🦁💛

#LionsCubs #U14s #PlayersPlayer #CoachesPlayer #Jack #Leo #Toby #NeverGiveUp #Teamwork #Leadership #ShotBlocking #TwoPoints #GameDay #Mooseheads #NorthStars #YoungTeam #CubsFamily #InlineHockey #HockeyJourney #RiseOfTheCubs #ManchesterHockey #LionsIHC

As we say goodbye to 2025, we want to send a massive thank you to everyone who’s been a part of Lions Inline Hockey Club this year—players, parents, coaches, volunteers, officials, and our brilliant supporters. You’ve filled the rinks (and our hearts) with energy, effort, and smiles.
~ Thank you for making 2025 unforgettable. ~

We can’t wait for 2026—our biggest ever season is already underway, and with more events in the pipeline, this year could be our most exciting yet. Let’s keep growing, learning, competing, and having fun together. 💛🖤

We’re still on our Christmas break, but here’s what’s coming up next:

🏆 UKIHF Junior Leagues (this weekend)
• Saturday: Under‑14s
• Sunday: Under‑8s

📍 North West Roller Sports Rink — Thursday 8 January
• Under‑16s: 7:00–8:00pm (new session)
• Lions Black: 8:00–9:00pm
• Senior Lions: 9:00–10:30pm

📍 Ardwick Sports Centre — Monday 12 January
• Under‑8s: 6:00–7:00pm
• Under‑12s: 7:00–8:00pm

Whether you’re lacing up for your first session or chasing the next milestone, there’s a place for you in our pride. If you’re curious about joining, drop us a DM or email info@lionsihc.co.uk—the first steps start with a hello. 📨

Here’s to fresh starts, fast breaks, and fearless hockey in 2026.
Happy New Year from all of us at Lions IHC! 🥳🏒

#HappyNewYear #LionsIHC #UKIHF #InlineHockey #JuniorLeagues #SeniorLions #LionsBlack #Cubs #NorthWestRollerSports #ArdwickSportsCentre #ManchesterHockey

Over the last 18 months, Lions Inline Hockey Club has grown across every age group. A big part of that success has been offering our older junior players the chance to join both Hockey Hustlers and Senior Lions training sessions—which has led to massive improvement over the first few months of the 2025/2026 season.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been working hard to add capacity to our already packed timetable. We’re pleased to announce we’ve secured an extra half hour on our North West Roller Sports Rink allocation, which now enables us to offer a dedicated Under‑16s training session and completely refresh our weekly schedule. The result is a clear pathway from Rookie Cubs all the way to Seniors.

New weekly schedule (from January 2026)

Monday – Ardwick Sports Centre

• Under‑8s: 6:00–7:00pm
• Under‑12s: 7:00–8:00pm

Thursday – Senior Lions (unchanged)

• Senior Lions: 9:00–10:30pm

Sunday – North West Roller Sports Rink

• Under‑16s: 7:00–8:00pm
• Lions Black: 8:00–9:00pm

This complete pathway means more hockey than ever before—and a structured progression for every player.

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A coach-led “play‑up” pathway that accelerates development

To recognise different rates of growth and readiness, we will be offering additional training opportunities for players who meet age and ability criteria, assessed by our coaching team:

• Ages 7+ may be invited to train with Under‑12s
• Ages 10+ may be invited to train with Under‑16s
• Ages 12+ may be invited to Lions Black and Senior Lions sessions

Playing up is always at coach discretion and based on player readiness, safety, and confidence. With this structure, Lions can now offer all junior players the chance to play up one or more age groups in the UKIHF Junior Leagues—helping to push Lion Cubs forward at the right pace.

Why playing up (with guidance) is a good thing

• Higher pace & intensity: Exposure to faster play builds reaction speed, decision‑making under pressure, and stamina.
• Skill acceleration: Training with advanced teammates raises the technical bar—stick handling, shooting mechanics, and first touch improve quickly.
• Hockey IQ growth: Older age groups use more complex systems; learning forecheck/backcheck, breakouts, and positioning boosts game understanding.
• Safe physical progression: Controlled, coach‑supervised drills develop body contact skills (angling, body positioning) before they’re needed in games.
• Confidence & resilience: Meeting tougher challenges, with support, grows grit and belief—key traits for stepping into the next age group.
• Readiness for transitions: Playing up smooths the move to higher age brackets and prepares players for Lions Black and Senior Lions.

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What each session focuses on (age‑appropriate drills)

Under‑8s (foundations through fun)

• Balance, basic stride, stopping & turning; “games‑based” skill learning
• Introduction to safe stick lifts and spatial awareness
• Simple passing & receiving; early puck control
• Mini scrimmages to build confidence and enjoyment

Under‑12s (skills under pressure)

• Edge work, crossovers, speed control, transition skating
• Clean first touch, give‑and‑go passing, shooting technique
• Small‑area games for puck protection and quick decisions
• Intro to breakouts, line changes, and positioning principles

Under‑16s (systems & speed)

• High‑tempo transitions, zone entries & exits
• Forecheck/backcheck patterns, angling & body positioning
• Special teams basics (PP/PK) and situational awareness
• Decision‑making: reading numbers, support, and risk management

Lions Black (advanced junior performance)

• Pace tolerance, conditioning, and execution at speed
• Tactical systems: set plays, faceoff roles, and unit cohesion
• Pressure scrimmages that mimic game scenarios
• Individual skill refinement for competitive readiness

Senior Lions (adult‑speed team play)

• Systems execution, communication, and leadership
• Specialist skills (net‑front battles, breakout responsibilities)
• Game‑scenario drills with match‑tempo intensity
• Physical readiness and consistency across full sessions

Across the pathway, drills are age‑appropriate and progressive, ensuring every player learns the skills needed for the age group they play in, and the one they are growing into.

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Building the sport in the North West—together

This pathway means we’re offering more hockey than ever and creating a clear route for players to become part of Lions Black or the Senior Lions when they reach age 15 (subject to coach assessment and league rules). We’re also excited to be working with T‑Wrex on female development in the sport, and we’re exploring the return of a Wild Lions training session later in 2026.

If you’re looking to get your children into inline hockey—or you’re keen to get back into it yourself—we’re always open to new players joining.

Get in touch:
📧 info@lionsihc.co.uk
💬 DM us for more information

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#LionsIHC #LionCubs #InlineHockey #RollerHockey #NorthWestHockey #ManchesterHockey
#ArdwickSportsCentre #NorthWestRollerSportsRink #HockeyHustlers #SeniorLions #LionsBlack
#Under8s #U8s #Under12s #U12s #Under16s #U16s #PlayUpPathway #HockeyDevelopment
#UKIHF #JuniorHockey #GirlsInHockey #TWrex #WildLions #HockeyFamily #HockeyCommunity
#TrainToCompete #HockeySkills #HockeyIQ #PlayerPathway #2025_2026 #January2026
#WeAreLions #JoinThePride #NewPlayersWelcome #MoreHockeyMoreGrowth

This weekend our Under-14s and Under-16s Cubs hit the rink for their final UKIHF games before the festive break – and wow, what a show of grit, growth, and teamwork! 💪🔥

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Saturday – Under-14s Battle Scorpions & Ducks

Our young Cubs faced two tough, experienced teams, but they didn’t back down! Most of this squad usually plays U12s, so stepping up was no small feat.

• Game 1: Hard-fought defensive work kept the pressure on.
• Game 2: The Cubs cracked the code with the box game, catching teams on the break and scoring some brilliant goals while working the keeper!

🏅 Players’ Player: Toby – chosen by Lucas for fearless defending and a positive attitude all game.
🏅 Coaches’ Player: Lucas – a true leader on the rink, never giving up and inspiring the team with positivity.

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Sunday – Under-16s Take on PGKA & T-Wrex

Four of our eight-player squad were U12s, but that didn’t stop them!

• Game 1 vs PGKA: End-to-end action and a nail-biting draw thanks to every player giving 100% and both netminders pulling off huge saves.
• Game 2 vs T-Wrex: Against one of the most experienced teams, our Cubs focused on defence, forcing outside shots and letting Lottie shine with big saves. T-Wrex took the W, but not without a fight – our Cubs frustrated them by locking down the middle of the rink!

🏅 Players’ Player: Hallie – picked by Lottie for fearless blocks (puck marks to prove it!) and leading by example in defence.
🏅 Players’ Player: Theo – stepped up massively, applying lessons from Saturday and making things click on Sunday.

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Massive Shout-Out!

To all the parents and coaches who drove miles to make this weekend happen – THANK YOU! 🙌 Especially those juggling two game days. Your support makes these moments possible.

And… BIG NEWS COMING THIS WEEK to help our Cubs improve even more after an incredible 18 months of progress. Stay tuned!

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Our Cubs smashed it on the rink – proud doesn’t even cover it! 🖤
#LionsIHC #CubsOnTheRise #UKIHF #HockeyFamily #FutureStars #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork

This month’s spotlight shines on Lottie-Lee, our incredible under-14s and under-16s goalie who has been an absolute wall between the pipes!

Lottie has been guarding the net for just over a year, and wow – what a journey! Since joining Lion Cubs, Lottie has levelled up massively:
✅ Training with our Senior Lions every Thursday
✅ Playing in a senior friendly against Northern Lights – only 2 goals conceded in 20 minutes!
✅ Bringing her A-game every time she hits the rink, especially for our young Cubs teams

But what makes Lottie truly special? It’s not just the saves – it’s the smile, the positivity, and the hunger to learn. Always taking advice, always improving, and always making us proud. Coaches, teammates, and even UKIHF Junior League opponents can’t stop talking about her!

👏 Well done, Lottie! November’s Player of the Month was an easy pick – keep shining bright and stopping those shots!

#LionCubs #PlayerOfTheMonth #GoalieLife #HockeyFamily #UKIHF #LionsInlineHockey #HockeyStars #TeamSpirit #GoLottie